Marcian Baciu Agricultura 2 - Organic Farming

8/12/2019 Marcian Baciu Agricultura 2 - Organic Farming

1/31

S T U D E N T M A R C I A N B A C I U

F A C U L T Y O F E N V I R O N M E N T A L P R O T E C T I O N O R A D E A


2/31

Organic farming is a form of agriculture that relies on techniques such as

crop rotation, green manure, compost, and biological pest control.Depending on whose definition is used, organic farming uses fertilizersand pesticides (which include herbicides, insecticides and fungicides) if

they are considered natural (such as bone meal from animals or pyrethrinfrom flowers), but it excludes or strictly limits the use of various methods(including synthetic petrochemical fertilizers and pesticides; plant growth

regulators such as hormones; antibiotic use in livestock; geneticallymodified organisms; human sewage sludge; and nanomaterials.) for reasons

including sustainability, openness, independence, health, and safety.

ORGANIC FARMING?


3/31

Organic agriculture is an ecological production management system that

promotes and enhances biodiversity, biological cycles and soil biological

activity. It is based on minimal use of off-farm inputs and on management

practices that restore, maintain and enhance ecological harmony."

Since 1990 the market for organic food and other products has grown rapidly,

reaching $63 billion worldwide in 2012. This demand has driven a similar

increase in organically managed farmland which has grown over the years

2001-2011 at a compounding rate of 8.9% per annum. As of 2011,approximately 37,000,000 hectares (91,000,000 acres) worldwide were farmed

organically, representing approximately 0.9 percent of total world farmland

(2009).

ORGANIC FARMING?


4/31

Organic Farming was the original type of agriculture.

Forest gardening, a fully organic food production system which dates

from prehistoric times.

The organic movement began in the mid-1920s in central Europe.

HISTORY OF ORGANIC FARMING


5/31

There are several organic farming systems.

Biodynamic farming is a comprehensive approach, with its own international

governing body.

The Do Nothing Farming method focuses on a minimum of mechanicalcultivation and labor for grain crops.

French intensive and biointensive, methods are well-suited to organic

principles.

Other examples of techniques are holistic management, permaculture, SRI

and no-till farming (the last two which may be implemented in conventional

or organic systems).

ORGANIC FARMING SYSTEMS


6/31

"An organic farm, properly speaking, is not one that uses certain methods and

substances and avoids others; it is a farm whose structure is formed inimitation of the structure of a natural system that has the integrity, the

independence and the benign dependence of an organism"

Wendell Berry, "The Gift of Good Land"

ORGANIC FARMING METHODS


7/31

Organic farming methods combine scientific knowledge of ecology andmodern technology with traditional farming practices based on naturally

occurring biological processes. Organic farming methods are studied in thefield of agroecology. While conventional agriculture uses synthetic pesticides

and water-soluble synthetically purified fertilizers, organic farmers arerestricted by regulations to using natural pesticides and fertilizers. The

principal methods of organic farming include crop rotation, green manuresand compost, biological pest control, and mechanical cultivation. These

measures use the natural environment to enhance agricultural productivity:legumes are planted to fix nitrogen into the soil, natural insect predators areencouraged, crops are rotated to confuse pests and renew soil, and natural

materials such as potassium bicarbonate[25] and mulches are used to controldisease and weeds. Hardier plants are generated through plant breeding rather

than genetic engineering.

ORGANIC FARMING METHODS


8/31


9/31


10/31


11/31

conventional farmers can actually reduce production cost by over 25%.

eliminating the use of synthetic fertilizers and pesticides.

minimizing soil erosion by up to 50% and increasing crop yields up to five-

fold within 5 years.

free from harmful chemicals, artificial flavors and preservatives.

Eating organic foods may in fact, reduce the risk of heart attacks, strokes andcancer.

ADVANTAGES OF ORGANIC

FARMING:


12/31

Yield

Energy

Greenhouse gas emissions and climate changeWater use

Localisation

Pesticides

Ecosystem impact

Nutritional benefits

Seed-saving

Job creation

BENEFITS OF ORGANIC FARMING:


13/31

SOIL- building practices such as crop rotations, inter-cropping, symbiotic associations, cover crops, organic

fertilizers and minimum tillage are central to organic practices.

WATER- In many agriculture areas, pollution ofgroundwater courses with synthetic fertilizers and pesticides is

a major problem.

AIR&CLIMATE- Organic agriculture reduces non-renewable

energy use by decreasing agrochemical needs. And contributesto mitigating the greenhouse effect and global warming

through its ability to sequester carbon in the soil.

ENVIRONMENTAL BENEFITS

OF ORGANIC FARMING


14/31

Crop diversity is a distinctive characteristic of organic farming.

Conventional farming focuses on mass production of one crop in one

location, a practice called monoculture.

The science of agroecology has revealed the benefits of polyculture (multiplecrops in the same space), which is often employed in organic farming.

Planting a variety of vegetable crops supports a wider range of beneficial

insects, soil microorganisms, and other factors that add up to overall farm

health.

Crop diversity helps environments thrive and protect species from going

extinct.

CROP DIVERSITY


15/31

Biological research into soil and soil organisms has proven beneficial to

organic farming.

Varieties of bacteria and fungi break down chemicals, plant matter and animal

waste into productive soil nutrients.In turn, they produce benefits of healthier yields and more productive soil for

future crops.

Fields with less or no manure display significantly lower yields, due to

decreased soil microbe community, providing a healthier, more arable soil

system.

SOIL MANAGEMENT


16/31


17/31

Organic Agriculture should sustain and enhance the health of soil, plant, animal, humanand planet as one and indivisible.

This principle points out that the health of individuals and communities cannot be

separated from the health of ecosystems - healthy soils produce healthy crops that fosterthe health of animals and people.

Health is the wholeness and integrity of living systems. It is not simply the absence ofillness, but the maintenance of physical, mental, social and ecological well-being. Immunity,

resilience and regeneration are key characteristics of health.

The role of Organic Agriculture, whether in farming, processing, distribution, orconsumption, is to sustain and enhance the health of ecosystems and organisms from the

smallest in the soil to human beings. In particular, organic agriculture is intended toproduce high quality, nutritious food that contributes to preventive health care and well-being. In view of this it should avoid the use of fertilizers, pesticides, animal drugs and

food additives that may have adverse health effects.

PRINCIPLE OF HEALTH


18/31

Organic Agriculture should be based on l iving ecological systems and cycles, work with them, emulate themand help sustain them.

This principle roots Organic Agriculture within living ecological systems. It states that production is to bebased on ecological processes, and recycling. Nourishment and well-being are achieved through the ecology of

the specific production environment. For example, in the case of crops this is the living soil; for animals it isthe farm ecosystem; for fish and marine organisms, the aquatic environment.

Organic farming, pastoral and wild harvest systems should fit the cycles and ecological balances in nature.These cycles are universal but their operation is site-specific. Organic management must be adapted to localconditions, ecology, culture and scale. Inputs should be reduced by reuse, recycling and eff icient management

of materials and energy in order to maintain and improve environmental quality and conserve resources.

Organic Agriculture should attain ecological balance through the design of farming systems, establishment ofhabitats and maintenance of genetic and agricultural diversity. Those who produce, process, trade, or consumeorganic products should protect and benefit the common environment including landscapes, climate, habitats,

biodiversity, air and water.

PRINCIPLE OF ECOLOGY


19/31

Organic Agriculture should build on relationships that ensure fairness with regard to the commonenvironment and life opportunities

Fairness is characterized by equity, respect, justice and stewardship of the shared world, both among peopleand in their relations to other living beings.

This principle emphasizes that those involved in Organic Agriculture should conduct human relationships in amanner that ensures fairness at all levels and to all parties - farmers, workers, processors, distributors, traders

and consumers. Organic Agriculture should provide everyone involved with a good quality of life, andcontribute to food sovereignty and reduction of poverty. It aims to produce a sufficient supply of good

quality food and other products.

This principle insists that animals should be provided with the conditions and opportunities of life that accord

with their physiology, natural behavior and well -being.

Natural and environmental resources that are used for production and consumption should be managed in away that is socially and ecologically just and should be held in trust for future generations. Fairness requiressystems of production, distribution and trade that are open and equitable and account for real environmental

and social costs.

PRINCIPLE OF FAIRNESS


20/31

Organic Agriculture should be managed in a precautionary and responsible manner toprotect the health and well-being of current and future generations and the environment.

Organic Agriculture is a living and dynamic system that responds to internal and external

demands and conditions. Practitioners of Organic Agriculture can enhance efficiency andincrease productivity, but this should not be at the risk of jeopardizing health and well -being. Consequently, new technologies need to be assessed and existing methods reviewed.

Given the incomplete understanding of ecosystems and agriculture, care must be taken.

This principle states that precaution and responsibility are the key concerns in management,development and technology choices in Organic Agriculture. Science is necessary to ensure

that Organic Agriculture is healthy, safe and ecologically sound. However, scientificknowledge alone is not sufficient. Practical experience, accumulated wisdom and traditionaland indigenous knowledge offer valid solutions, tested by time. Organic Agriculture shouldprevent significant risks by adopting appropriate technologies and rejecting unpredictable

ones, such as genetic engineering. Decisions should reflect the values and needs of all whomight be affected, through transparent and participatory processes.

PRINCIPLE OF CARE


21/31

As of 2001, the estimated market value of certified organic products was estimated to be$20 billion. By 2002 this was $23 billion and by 2007 more than $46 billion. By 2012 the

market had reached $63 billion worldwide.

Europe (2011: 10.6 million hectares, which is 5.4 percent of Europe's farmland and anincrease of 6% from the prior year; Europe has 29% of the worlds organic agriculturalland) and North America (2011: 2.8 million hectares, 7.5% of the worlds organic

agricultural land) have experienced strong growth in organic farmland. In the EU it grew by21% in the period 2005 to 2008. However, this growth has occurred under different

conditions. While the European Union has shifted agricultural subsidies to organic farmersdue to perceived environmental benefits, the United States has not,[86] continuing to

subsidize some but not all traditional commercial crops, such as corn and sugar. As a result

of this policy difference, as of 2008 4.1% percent of European Union farmland wasorganically managed compared to the 0.6 percent in the U.S.

As of 2012 the country with the most organic land was Australia (12 million hectares),followed by Argentina (3.8 million hectares), and the United States (1.9 million hectares).

GROWTH


22/31

The decreased cost of synthetic fertilizer and pesticide inputs, along with the higher pricesthat consumers pay for organic produce, contribute to increased profits. Organic farms

have been consistently found to be as or more profitable than conventional farms. Withoutthe price premium, profitability is mixed. Organic production was more profitable in

Wisconsin, given price premiums.

For markets and supermarkets organic food is profitable as well, and is generally even soldat significantly higher rates than non-organic food

However, when the buyer compares prices and buys consciously, organic food is not always

more expensive for the buyer than non-organic food. For example, in 2000, Phillipe Renardmade his restaurant to switch to use 85% organic food, without increasing the cost for the

clients. In the documentary "Architects for Change", he also stated that since 2000, the costof organic products has come down even more, and at present, it is no longer a problem to

attain organic products at a price comparative to products of non-organic agriculture.

PROFITABILITY


23/31

Supporters claim that organically managed soil has a higher quality and higher waterretention. This may help increase yields for organic farms in drought years. Organic farming

can build up soil organic matter better than conventional no-till farming, which suggestslong-term yield benefits from organic farming. An 18-year study of organic methods on

nutrient-depleted soil, concluded that conventional methods were superior for soil fertilityand yield for nutrient-depleted soils in cold-temperate climates, arguing that much of thebenefits from organic farming are derived from imported materials which could not be

regarded as "self-sustaining".

In Dirt: The Erosion of Civilizations, geomorphologist David Montgomery outlines acoming crisis from soil erosion. Agriculture relies on roughly one meter of topsoil, and that

is being depleted ten times faster than it is being replaced. No-till farming, which someclaim depends upon pesticides, is one way to minimize erosion. However, a recent study by

the USDA's Agricultural Research Service has found that manure applications in tilledorganic farming are better at building up the soil than no-till.

SOIL CONSERVATION


24/31

A wide range of organisms benefit from organic farming, but it is unclear whether organicmethods confer greater benefits than conventional integrated agri-environmental programs.Nearly all non-crop, naturally occurring species observed in comparative farm land practicestudies show a preference for organic farming both by abundance and diversity. An average

of 30% more species inhabit organic farms. Birds, butterflies, soil microbes, beetles,earthworms, spiders, vegetation, and mammals are particularly affected. Lack of herbicides

and pesticides improve biodiversity fitness and population density. Many weed speciesattract beneficial insects that improve soil qualities and forage on weed pests. Soil-bound

organisms often benefit because of increased bacteria populations due to natural fertilizersuch as manure, while experiencing reduced intake of herbicides and pesticides. Increasedbiodiversity, especially from beneficial soil microbes and mycorrhizae have been proposed

as an explanation for the high yields experienced by some organic plots, especially in lightof the differences seen in a 21-year comparison of organic and control fields.

Biodiversity from organic farming provides capital to humans. Species found in organicfarms enhance sustainability by reducing human input (e.g., fertilizers, pesticides).

BIODIVERSITY


25/31

"Organic agriculture is a production system that sustains the health of soils,

ecosystems and people. It relies on ecological processes, biodiversity and

cycles adapted to local conditions, rather than the use of inputs with adverse

effects. Organic agriculture combines tradition, innovation and science tobenefit the shared environment and promote fair relationships and a good

quality of life for all involved..."

International Federation of Organic Agriculture Movements

PROPONENTS OF ORGANIC

FARMING


26/31

There is no doubt that organic vegetables and other products are important these days. If

you value your health and those of your family you can buy these from the store or plant

it yourself


27/31


28/31

For those who dont have a big garden, they can try growing these organically

grown vegetables in containers. They require more water than those planted in the

soil so give doses frequently


29/31


30/31


31/31

For those who decide to buy organically grown vegetables, remember to

wash before cooking them. This will remove any harmful substances or

residue that may still be there which is invisible to the naked eye

Documents

Marcian Baciu Agricultura 2 - Organic Farming