Organic Farming

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Theodore J. K. Radovich
Keyword(s):  
Human Health ◽  
Organic Farming ◽  
Rapid Growth ◽  
Soil Health ◽  
Farming Systems ◽  
Long Distance ◽  
Sustainable Food ◽  
Early 21St Century ◽  
Integrated Agriculture ◽  
Organic Products

Organic farming occupies a unique position among the world’s agricultural systems. While not the only available model for sustainable food production, organic farmers and their supporters have been the most vocal advocates for a fully integrated agriculture that recognizes a link between the health of the land, the food it produces, and those that consume it. Advocacy for the biological basis of agriculture and the deliberate restriction or prohibition of many agricultural inputs arose in response to potential and observed negative environmental impacts of new agricultural technologies introduced in the 20th century. A primary focus of organic farming is to enhance soil ecological function by building soil organic matter that in turn enhances the biota that soil health and the health of the agroecosystem depends on. The rapid growth in demand for organic products in the late 20th and early 21st centuries is based on consumer perception that organically grown food is better for the environment and human health. Although there have been some documented trends in chemical quality differences between organic and non-organic products, the meaningful impact of the magnitude of these differences is unclear. There is stronger evidence to suggest that organic systems pose less risk to the environment, particularly with regard to water quality; however, as intensity of management in organic farming increases, the potential risk to the environment is expected to also increase. In the early 21st century there has been much discussion centered on the apparent bifurcation of organic farming into two approaches: “input substitution” and “system redesign.” The former approach is a more recent phenomenon associated with pragmatic considerations of scaling up the size of operations and long distance shipping to take advantage of distant markets. Critics argue that this approach represents a “conventionalization” of organic agriculture that will erode potential benefits of organic farming to the environment, human health, and social welfare. A current challenge of organic farming systems is to reconcile the different views among organic producers regarding issues arising from the rapid growth of organic farming.

EVALUATION OF THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THE DEVELOPMENT OF ORGANIC CROP PRODUCTION

2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (5) ◽  
pp. 749-763
Author(s):  
A.V. Shelenok ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Organic Farming ◽  
Organic Agriculture ◽  
Crop Production ◽  
Farming Systems ◽  
Developed Countries ◽  
Agricultural Crops ◽  
Advantages And Disadvantages ◽  
Slow Development ◽  
Organic Products ◽  
The World

The article examines intensive and organic technologies for growing agricultural crops, their impact on the environment, human health, indicates what are the advantages and disadvantages of organic agriculture. It is noted that with intensive technologies for growing agricultural crops, their yield increases, but if the doses of chemicals are not observed, soil fertility is disturbed, the environment is polluted. Devoid of the disadvantages inherent in intensive technologies, organic farming is significantly inferior in productivity to it, due to which it is not able to reach the same production volumes, to ensure a comparable level of domestic consumption, which is demonstrated by traditional farming. The article compares the effectiveness of traditional and organic agronomic farming systems. It is shown that in the case of comparability of yield indicators, traditional technologies at lower selling prices are more effective in terms of profit and profitability indicators. The reasons for the slow development of the organic segment in the agricultural production of Russia are revealed. In this regard, the topic of support for foreign and Russian agricultural producers, including organic products, as well as the underdevelopment of its domestic market is touched upon. It is noted that, in contrast to developed countries, Russia’s share in the world market for organic products is insignificant. Therefore, it is too early to talk about the prospects for the development of organic agriculture in Russia. In the world, organic farming is stimulated, it occupies its own niche, but in all respects it lags far behind the traditional method of growing agricultural products. Its share in the world food market ranges from 2.6 to 3%.

scholarly journals Organic Farming Research in India: Present Status and Way Forward

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gopinath KA ◽  
Jayalakshmi Mitnala
Keyword(s):  
Organic Farming ◽  
Agricultural Sector ◽  
Dynamic Change ◽  
Soil Health ◽  
Farming Systems ◽  
National Project ◽  
North East ◽  
The Government ◽  
Certified Organic ◽  
Knowledge Intensive

Organic farming is a knowledge intensive system and has been developed by practitioners themselves over the years. Organic farming is native to India. The farmers of ancient India are known to have evolved nature friendly farming systems and practices such as mixed farming, mixed cropping and crop rotation. The first “scientific” approach to organic farming can be quoted back to the Vedas of the “Later Vedic Period”, 1000 BC to 600 BC. There has been significant increase in the area under certified organic farming during the last 10 years. With less than 42,000 ha under certified organic farming during 2003-04, the area under organic farming grew by almost 25 fold, during the next 5 years, to 1.2 million ha during 2008-09. Organic farming is one such system which provides healthy and safe food without ecological harm. Hence, the Government started promoting organic farming through various schemes like National Project on Organic Farming (NPOF), National Horticulture Mission (NHM), Horticulture Mission for North East & Himalayan States (HMNEH), National Project on Management of Soil Health and Fertility (NPMSH&F) and Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (RKVY). The interest of several States in promoting organic farming indicates that organic agriculture is being viewed as a precursor to dynamic change for an otherwise stagnant agricultural sector. Despite the initiatives and rapid progress, apprehension about the economic viability and environmental and human health benefits of organic farming continue to bother agricultural researchers and policy makers.

scholarly journals Living Mulches For Organic Farming Systems

2000 ◽  
Vol 10 (4) ◽  
pp. 692-698 ◽  
Author(s):  
James Leary ◽  
Joe DeFrank
Keyword(s):  
Pest Management ◽  
Organic Farming ◽  
Production Systems ◽  
Soil Health ◽  
Farming Systems ◽  
Organic Production ◽  
Living Mulch ◽  
Organic System ◽  
Nutrient Runoff ◽  
Organic Farmers

An important aspect of organic farming is to minimize the detrimental impact of human intervention to the surrounding environment by adopting a natural protocol in system management. Traditionally, organic farming has focused on the elimination of synthetic fertilizers and pesticides and a reliance on biological cycles that contribute to improving soil health in terms of fertility and pest management. Organic production systems are ecologically and economically sustainable when practices designed to build soil organic matter, fertility, and structure also mitigate soil erosion and nutrient runoff. We found no research conducted under traditional organic farming conditions, comparing bareground monoculture systems to systems incorporating the use of living mulches. We will be focusing on living mulch studies conducted under conventional methodology that can be extrapolated to beneficial uses in an organic system. This article discusses how organic farmers can use living mulches to reduce erosion, runoff, and leaching and also demonstrate the potential of living mulch systems as comprehensive integrated pest management plans that allow for an overall reduction in pesticide applications. The pesticide reducing potential of the living mulch system is examined to gain insight on application within organic agriculture.

scholarly journals Organic farming - Deep genotyping reveals specific selection footprints in barley populations

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael Schneider ◽  
Marissa Barbosa ◽  
Agim Ballvora ◽  
Jens Leon
Keyword(s):  
Organic Farming ◽  
Stress Responses ◽  
Critical Role ◽  
Root Traits ◽  
Farming Systems ◽  
Sustainable Food ◽  
Exotic Alleles ◽  
Whole Genome Resequencing ◽  
Novel Strategy ◽  
Pooled Samples

Abstract Organic farming has the potential to tackle the imminent task of sustainable food production, if the yields could be raised. Here, the benefits of additional exotic alleles, the necessity of increased genetic heterogeneity in organically farmed systems and the buffering capacities by the pronounced plasticity of root traits are demonstrated. Two barley populations, naturally adapted for more than two decades to organic and conventional farming systems, were compared by a novel strategy of whole genome resequencing of pooled samples. Substantial allele frequency deviations between the farming systems were uncovered (for various agronomically relevant chromosomal regions) by testing multiple generations. In contrast to the organic adapted population, an early equilibrium in the conventional population was observed, accompanied reduced genetic diversity. Differences between the populations were revealed in root morphology, developmental processes and abiotic stress responses. These findings indicate that wild genetic resources play a critical role in the development of organically adapted varieties and distinct variations in ecosystems demand different genetic compositions.

scholarly journals     Cocktails of pesticide residues in conventional and organic farming systems in Europe – legacy of the past and turning point for the future

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Vera Silva ◽  
Violette Geissen ◽  
Esperanza Huerta Lwanga ◽  
Nicolas Beriot ◽  
Klaas Oostindie ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Organic Farming ◽  
Pesticide Residues ◽  
Soil Health ◽  
Farming Systems ◽  
Potato Production ◽  
Organic Soils ◽  
Organic Farms ◽  
Conventional Farms ◽  
Organic Farming Systems ◽  
Study Sites

<p>Considering that pesticides have been used in Europe for over 70 years, a system for monitoring pesticide residues in EU soils and their effects on soil health is long overdue. In an attempt to address this problem, we tested 340 EU agricultural topsoil samples for multiple pesticide residues. These samples originated from 4 representative EU case study sites (CSS), which covered 3 countries and four of the main EU crops: vegetable and orange production in Spain (S-V and S-O, respectively), grape production in Portugal (P-G), and potato production in the Netherlands (N-P). Soil samples were collected between 2015 and 2018 after harvest or before the start of the growing season, depending on the CSS. Conventional and organic farming results were compared in S-V, S-O and N-P. Soils from conventional farms presented mostly mixtures of pesticide residues, with a maximum of 16 residues/sample. Soils from organic farms had significantly fewer residues, with a maximum of 5 residues/sample. The residues with the highest frequency of detection and the highest content in soil were herbicides: glyphosate and its main metabolite AMPA (P-G, N-P, S-O), and pendimethalin (S-V). Total residue content in soil reached values of 0.8 mg kg-1 for S-V, 2 mg kg-1 for S-O and N-P, and 12 mg kg-1 for P-G. Organic soils presented 70-90% lower residue concentrations than the corresponding conventional soils. There is a severe knowledge gap concerning the effects of the accumulated and complex mixtures of pesticide residues found in soil on soil biota and soil health. Safety benchmarks should be defined and introduced into (soil) legislation as soon as possible. Soil remediation techniques should be developed to keep the levels of pesticide residues below such benchmarks. Furthermore, the process of transitioning to organic farming should take into consideration the residue mixtures and their residence time in soil.  </p>

scholarly journals Legumes as a Cornerstone of the Transition Toward More Sustainable Agri-Food Systems and Diets in Europe

2021 ◽  
Vol 5 ◽  
Author(s):  
Helena Ferreira ◽  
Elisabete Pinto ◽  
Marta W. Vasconcelos
Keyword(s):  
Food Systems ◽  
Agricultural Land ◽  
Soil Health ◽  
Farming Systems ◽  
Conservation Agriculture ◽  
Organic Production ◽  
Major Protein ◽  
Sustainable Food ◽  
Gastrointestinal Side Effects ◽  
Legume Production

Legume grains are important sources of nutrients in human and animal diets and have been so for millennia. Their history as part of traditional diets dates to the origins of agriculture when their benefits for soil health and agricultural productivity started to be realized, mostly empirically, by farmers. In time, legumes have lost their popularity as human food, either because of a negative connotation as “poor man's meat,” occasional gastrointestinal side effects, or habitually longer preparation times when compared to other types of plant foods. Also, the steep rise in the consumption of meat derived foods in the last half of a century has taken a toll on replacing legumes as a major protein source. Alongside this negative trend in consumption, a negative drift in production was also observed, especially in Europe, where legumes currently occupy a minimal fraction of agricultural land. One of the main factors is a loss in competitive edge amongst farmers due to sustained lower public and private investments in breeding programs and legume adapted technology for planting, managing, harvesting, processing, and storing, when compared to cereals. Recently, increased awareness of the need to move to sustainable food systems is revitalizing legume production and consumption in Europe, leading to a compilation of policies and initiatives that aim to put legumes again as foundations for this transition. Legumes have been reinvented in a multitude of products (drinks, cereal bars, bread, meat replacers, snacks, flours, and several others) and included in farming systems of conservation agriculture, organic production, intercropping, and crop rotation, combining ancient traditions of legume production “with a spin,” incorporating new legume technological knowledge in farming systems. However, the transition has been slow and hampered by many cultural, societal, political, and economic impediments. This paper summarizes initiatives that aim to enable the comeback of legumes and their placement in a more prominent position in human diets and agricultural fields and highlights strategies that aim at overcoming the obstacles that impede achieving the development of more sustainable agri-food systems and sustainable diets in Europe.

scholarly journals Organic farming as the basis for the long-term health of the soil ecosystem

2021 ◽  
Vol 26 (52) ◽  
pp. 131-135
Author(s):  
Aleksandr Semenov ◽  
Dragutin Đukić ◽  
Leka Mandić ◽  
Vesna Đurović ◽  
Alexey Glinushkin
Keyword(s):  
Organic Farming ◽  
Positive Impact ◽  
Soil Health ◽  
Farming Systems ◽  
Soil Ecosystem ◽  
Health Maintenance ◽  
Soil Ecosystems ◽  
Harmful Organisms ◽  
Knowledge Intensive ◽  
Definition Of

This study compares and discusses two farming systems that differ in content - organic and conventional (intensive) systems. In this regard, a modern definition of soil content is proposed, with the "soil ecosystem" concept used as the modern alternative to the traditional representation of what the soil is. Some features of the functioning of soil ecosystems in the two different farming systems, conventional and organic, are examined. The inner essence and the external performance of these two alternative land-use systems are revealed. The importance of the development of organic agriculture is emphasized by the documents of international organizations (IFOAM). The tasks that need to be addressed during the transition to a knowledge-intensive system of production of environmentally friendly agricultural products under organic farming conditions are briefly listed. The focus is on those aspects that are important in the transition from intensive to organic farming. The need to introduce a new characteristic of soil ecosystems - soil health - is discussed. A modern definition of "soil health" is given. The positive impact of organic farming and its technologies on soil health is discussed. The list of actions for the continuous maintenance and reproduction of soil health is presented. Much attention is paid to soil health maintenance, remediation and rehabilitation. The problems of protecting plants and crops from harmful organisms in organic farming are discussed. The phenomenon "oligotrophication of agro ecosystems" as an unconventional way of healing and maintaining the health of soil ecosystems is considered and discussed. The thesis about the necessity to consider soil quality and fertility as components of the new characteristic - "soil health" - is proposed.

Regime of soil humus rural residential areas organic farming systems

2018 ◽  
Vol 2 (95) ◽  
pp. 78-81
Author(s):  
L.I. Shkarivska
Keyword(s):  
Organic Farming ◽  
Rural Areas ◽  
Humus Content ◽  
Farming Systems ◽  
Farming System ◽  
Organic Substrates ◽  
Residential Areas ◽  
Typical Chernozem ◽  
Podzolic Soils ◽  
Organic Farming System

The changes of the soil’s humus soil within the rural areas are investigated for the organic farming system. The most significant impact of organic agriculture on humus content over 55% was observed on soddy podzolic soils (V>75%), the lowest –7,5% on typical chernozem (V≈16%). Changes in the qualitative composition of humus for the introduction of various types of organic substrates are analyzed.

scholarly journals Stable Characteristics of Cover Crops for Weed Suppression in Organic Farming Systems

2011 ◽  
Vol 14 (1) ◽  
pp. 75-85 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hiroshi Uchino ◽  
Kazuto Iwama ◽  
Yutaka Jitsuyama ◽  
Keiko Ichiyama ◽  
Eri Sugiura ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Organic Farming ◽  
Cover Crops ◽  
Farming Systems ◽  
Weed Suppression ◽  
Organic Farming Systems

scholarly journals Camelina, an ancient oilseed crop actively contributing to the rural renaissance in Europe. A review

2021 ◽  
Vol 41 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Federica Zanetti ◽  
Barbara Alberghini ◽  
Ana Marjanović Jeromela ◽  
Nada Grahovac ◽  
Dragana Rajković ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cropping Systems ◽  
Critical Evaluation ◽  
Soil Health ◽  
Farming Systems ◽  
Crop Productivity ◽  
Oilseed Crop ◽  
Crop Diversification ◽  
Pests And Diseases ◽  
European Farming ◽  
European Agriculture

AbstractPromoting crop diversification in European agriculture is a key pillar of the agroecological transition. Diversifying crops generally enhances crop productivity, quality, soil health and fertility, and resilience to pests and diseases and reduces environmental stresses. Moreover, crop diversification provides an alternative means of enhancing farmers’ income. Camelina (Camelina sativa (L.) Crantz) reemerged in the background of European agriculture approximately three decades ago, when the first studies on this ancient native oilseed species were published. Since then, a considerable number of studies on this species has been carried out in Europe. The main interest in camelina is related to its (1) broad environmental adaptability, (2) low-input requirements, (3) resistance to multiple pests and diseases, and (4) multiple uses in food, feed, and biobased applications. The present article is a comprehensive and critical review of research carried out in Europe (compared with the rest of the world) on camelina in the last three decades, including genetics and breeding, agronomy and cropping systems, and end-uses, with the aim of making camelina an attractive new candidate crop for European farming systems. Furthermore, a critical evaluation of what is still missing to scale camelina up from a promising oilseed to a commonly cultivated crop in Europe is also provided (1) to motivate scientists to promote their studies and (2) to show farmers and end-users the real potential of this interesting species.

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