Fields around organic farms have more types of wild plants, providing benefits for wildlife, say scientists.
The research is likely to fuel the debate over the environmental benefits of organic farming.
Studies suggest that organic farming produces lower yields than conventional methods but harbours more wildlife.
The new study, by researchers at the University of Swansea and institutes in France, looked at fields sowed with winter wheat in the region of Poitou-Charente.
They found that organic farming led to higher weed diversity on surrounding conventionally farmed fields.
"Wild plants are important for birds, bees and other farmland species," said Dr Luca Borger of the department of biosciences at Swansea University.
"Organic farming has advantages in maintaining these, but even a mixture of organic and non-organic farming in an area can help maintain this biodiversity.
"Even only 25% of fields being organically farmed can make a difference."
Farmland provides essential habitat for many animals but intensification of agriculture has led to a loss of biodiversity.
However, in order to provide the extra food needed by the bigger human population of the future, without destroying forests and wetlands, farming needs to be made more intensive.
Supporters of organic farming say the method could be a potential compromise between meeting food security needs and providing habitat for bees, birds and other wildlife.
The researchers say land-sharing between organic farms and non-organic farms could have benefits for both crop production and biodiversity.
This theory needs to be tested in follow-up studies, they say.
The study is published in the journal, Proceedings of the Royal Society of London B- Biological Sciences.

Comrade Akaash's statement comes after the rebels were blamed for Friday's train crash which left 148 people dead.
Police say Maoist rebels sabotaged the track, causing the derailment of the Calcutta-Mumbai express in West Bengal.
Maoists denied the charge. But Comrade Akaash also said they would investigate whether any rebels were involved.
Railway officials in eastern India have cancelled night trains in Maoist-affected areas after Friday's incident.
Comrade Akaash told the BBC that they were "appealing" to the railways to run trains through rebel strongholds even during the night.
Profile: India's Maoist rebels
In pictures: India train collision
"We are promising total security to all trains. We will not allow anyone to attack any train anywhere in the country and those trying to do it will face stern punishment," he said.
The railways have not reacted to the statement.
Police say they have "definite evidence" that a local rebel Maoist militia were behind the disaster - they have named two militia leaders as the prime suspects.
One of the suspects, Umakanta Mahato, was arrested last June and charged with sedition and waging war against the state.
But he was released on bail in December, and the police did not contest the bail, court records say.
Independent lawyers are asking why the police did not contest the bail plea of a senior Maoist militia leader.
Railway officials in eastern India have cancelled night trains in Maoist-affected areas after Friday's incident.
The restrictions would be in place until 0500 [2330GMT] on 3 June, the company said.
Report said other services were being rescheduled to ensure they travelled through Maoist areas of eastern India in daylight.
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has described the Maoist insurgency as India's biggest internal security challenge.
Organic farms act as a refuge for wild plants, offsetting the loss of biodiversity on conventional farms, a study suggests.
[NEXT_CONCEPT]
A Maoist leader in India has said that they will take "full responsibility" for the safety of trains travelling through areas under their control.