scholarly journals Organic Farming Lessens Reliance on Pesticides and Promotes Public Health by Lowering Dietary Risks

Agronomy ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (7) ◽  
pp. 1266
Author(s):  
Charles Benbrook ◽  
Susan Kegley ◽  
Brian Baker
Keyword(s):  
Organic Farming ◽  
Environmental Impacts ◽  
Production Systems ◽  
Crop Protection ◽  
Organic Food ◽  
Dietary Exposure ◽  
Organic Production ◽  
Pesticide Use ◽  
Organic Farms ◽  
Conventional Farms

Organic agriculture is a production system that relies on prevention, ecological processes, biodiversity, mechanical processes, and natural cycles to control pests and maintain productivity. Pesticide use is generally limited or absent in organic agroecosystems, in contrast with non-organic (conventional) production systems that primarily rely on pesticides for crop protection. Significant differences in pesticide use between the two production systems markedly alter the relative dietary exposure and risk levels and the environmental impacts of pesticides. Data are presented on pesticide use on organic and non-organic farms for all crops and selected horticultural crops. The relative dietary risks that are posed by organic and non-organic food, with a focus on fresh produce, are also presented and compared. The results support the notion that organic farms apply pesticides far less intensively than conventional farms, in part because, over time on well-managed organic farms, pest pressure falls when compared to the levels on nearby conventional farms growing the same crops. Biopesticides are the predominant pesticides used in organic production, which work by a non-toxic mode of action, and pose minimal risks to human health and the environment. Consequently, eating organic food, especially fruits and vegetables, can largely eliminate the risks posed by pesticide dietary exposure. We recommend ways to lower the pesticide risks by increased adoption of organic farming practices and highlight options along organic food supply chains to further reduce pesticide use, exposures, and adverse worker and environmental impacts.

scholarly journals Technical Efficiencies and Yield Variability Are Comparable Across Organic and Conventional Farms

2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (10) ◽  
pp. 4271
Author(s):  
Amritbir Riar ◽  
Lokendra S. Mandloi ◽  
Ramadas Sendhil ◽  
Randhir S. Poswal ◽  
Monika M. Messmer ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Technical Efficiency ◽  
Formal Education ◽  
Production Systems ◽  
Germination Rate ◽  
Decisive Role ◽  
Central India ◽  
Organic Production ◽  
Organic Farms ◽  
Conventional Farms ◽  
Management Factors

Cotton is essentially a smallholder crop across tropical countries. Being a major cash crop, it plays a decisive role in the livelihoods of cotton-producing farmers. Both conventional and organic production systems offer alternative yet interesting propositions to cotton farmers. This study was conducted in Nimar valley, a prominent cotton-producing region of central India, with the aim of categorically evaluating the contribution of management and fixed factors to productivity on conventional and organic cotton farms. A study framework was developed considering the fixed factors, which cannot be altered within reasonable limits of time, capacity and resources, e.g., landholding or years of age and/or practice; and management factors, which can be altered/influenced within a reasonable time by training, practice and implementation. Using this framework, a structured survey of conventional and organic farms operating under comparable circumstances was conducted. Landholding and soil types were significant contributors/predictors of yield on organic farms. In contrast, landholding was not the main factor related to yields on conventional farms, which produced the highest yields when led by farmers with more than five years of formal education and living in a joint family. Nitrogen application, the source of irrigation (related to timely and adequate supply), crop rotation and variables related to adequate plant population (seed source, germination rate and plant thinning) were the main management factors limiting cotton yields among conventional and organic farms. Both organic and conventional farms in the Nimar valley exhibited a similar pattern of variation in cotton yields and technical efficiency. This study highlights the enormous scope for improving cotton productivity in the region by improving technical efficiency, strengthening extension services and making appropriate policy interventions.

scholarly journals Social Values in Stimulating Organic Production Involvement in Farming—The Case of Poland

2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (15) ◽  
pp. 5945
Author(s):  
Karol Kociszewski ◽  
Andrzej Graczyk ◽  
Krystyna Mazurek-Łopacinska ◽  
Magdalena Sobocińska
Keyword(s):  
Organic Farming ◽  
Social Values ◽  
Family Health ◽  
Research Problem ◽  
Organic Production ◽  
Organic Farms ◽  
Agricultural Producers ◽  
Main Research ◽  
Demand Growth ◽  
Conventional Farms

The main research problem discussed in this paper involves evaluation of the motives of agricultural producers for pursuing and developing organic production. The aim of this study is to identify and evaluate the role of social values in stimulating decisions of involvement in organic production. Analytical observations were conducted on the basis of responses to surveys on a nation-representative sample in Poland (350 conventional farms and 70 organic farms in 2011; 260 conventional farms and 65 organic farms in 2019). Analyses were conducted in relation to the potential and perspectives for development of organic farming. They were focused on identifying the original motives for such decisions (incentives and disincentives). This allowed for effective evaluation of both the trend and the pace of the studied processes. The development potential of organic farming in Poland was estimated at 5–15% of the total number of farms. The most important factors encouraging farmers to take up production are associated with social values (care for the natural environment and family health). A significant chance for the development of organic production is the expected demand growth, which is also related to social values: the increasing environmental awareness and environmental change of consumption patterns.

scholarly journals Microbiological safety of food of animal origin from organic farms

2021 ◽  
Vol 65 (1) ◽  
pp. 87-92
Author(s):  
Maciej Sosnowski ◽  
Jacek Osek
Keyword(s):  
Pathogenic Bacteria ◽  
Production Systems ◽  
Raw Materials ◽  
Organic Food ◽  
Organic Production ◽  
Animal Origin ◽  
Resistant Bacteria ◽  
Organic Farms ◽  
Microbiological Safety ◽  
Food Of Animal Origin

AbstractThe organic food sector and consumer interest in organic products are growing continuously. The safety and quality of such products must be at least equal to those of conventional equivalents, but attaining the same standards requires overcoming a particular problem identified in organic food production systems: the occurrence of bacterial pathogens such as Salmonella, Campylobacter, Listeria monocytogenes, Staphylococcus aureus and pathogenic Escherichia coli. These food-borne microorganisms were detected in the production environments of such food. The prevalence of pathogenic bacteria in organic livestock and products may be higher, but may also be the same as or lower than in like material from conventional farms. Furthermore, the incidence of antimicrobial-resistant bacteria was more often detected in conventional than in organic production. The aim of this review was to present the recent information on the microbiological safety of food of animal origin produced from raw materials from organic farms.

scholarly journals Branching features of apple cultivars in integrated and organic production technology

2018 ◽  
Vol 24 (3-4) ◽  
Author(s):  
P. Dremák ◽  
Á. Csihon ◽  
I. Gonda
Keyword(s):  
Organic Farming ◽  
Production Technology ◽  
Production System ◽  
Production Systems ◽  
Environmentally Friendly ◽  
Organic Production ◽  
Integrated System ◽  
Integrated Production ◽  
Apple Cultivars ◽  
Environmentally Friendly Production

In our study, vegetative characteristics of 39 apple cultivars were evaluated in environmentally friendly production systems. Numbers of the branches of the central leader in different high zones were shown. According to our results, number of the branches of the axis was probably larger in the integrated production system, compared to the organic one, which is related to the conditional status of the trees. Based on our experiences training and maintaining canopies in integrated system was easier, as relative more extensive canopies were needed in organic farming.

Burning Nettle, Common Purslane, and Rye Response to a Clove Oil Herbicide

2006 ◽  
Vol 20 (3) ◽  
pp. 646-650 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nathan S. Boyd ◽  
Eric B. Brennan
Keyword(s):  
Weed Management ◽  
Production Systems ◽  
Dry Weight ◽  
Organic Production ◽  
Management Tool ◽  
Vegetable Production ◽  
Clove Oil ◽  
Organic Farms ◽  
High Concentrations ◽  
Common Purslane

Weed management is often difficult and expensive in organic production systems. Clove oil is an essential oil that functions as a contact herbicide and may provide an additional weed management tool for use on organic farms. Burning nettle, purslane, and rye responses to 5, 10, 20, 40, and 80% v/v clove oil mixture applied in spray volumes of 281 and 468 L/ha were examined. Log-logistic curves were fitted to the nettle and purslane data to determine the herbicide dose required to reduce plant dry weight 50% (GR50) and 90% (GR90). A three-parameter Gaussian curve was fitted to the rye data. The GR50 and GR90 were largely unaffected by spray volume. Nettle dry weight was reduced by 90% with 12 to 61 L clove oil/ha, whereas 21 to 38 L clove oil/ha were required to reduce purslane biomass to the same level. Rye was not effectively controlled by clove oil. Clove oil controls broadleaf weeds at high concentrations, but its cost makes broadcast applications prohibitive, even in high-value vegetable production systems.

FINACIAL FUNDS FROM EUROPEAN UNION FUNDS AS A CHANCE FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE SECTOR OF ORGANIC FARMS IN POLAND

2017 ◽  
Vol XIX (2) ◽  
pp. 95-101
Author(s):  
Aleksandra Jezierska-Thöle ◽  
Mirosław Biczkowski
Keyword(s):  
European Union ◽  
Organic Farming ◽  
Agricultural Policy ◽  
Agricultural Land ◽  
Development Program ◽  
Organic Production ◽  
Organic Farms ◽  
Rural Development Program ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Theoretical Foundations

The aim of the work was to present and describe the development of organic farms in Poland and the impact of EU funds on the development of this sector. The possibilities of financing their development from the Rural Development Program funds in the period 2007-2013 functioning within the framework of the Union‘s Common Agricultural Policy were pointed out. The theoretical foundations and assumptions related to the functioning of the organic farming sector were also approximated. The results show that in the years 2002-2013 there was an increase in the number and area of organic farms. The greatest impact on the increase of the number and area of organic farms is the functioning of the RDPs in the years 2004-2006 and 2007-2013 and within it the subsidies for organic production. This confirms the very strong correlation between the number of farms and the amounts of subsidies paid to farms producing organic farming. It can be assumed that in the next few years the share of the area of ecological agricultural land may exceed 4-5%.

scholarly journals Toward a Reduced Reliance on Conventional Pesticides in European Agriculture

Plant Disease ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 100 (1) ◽  
pp. 10-24 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jay Ram Lamichhane ◽  
Silke Dachbrodt-Saaydeh ◽  
Per Kudsk ◽  
Antoine Messéan
Keyword(s):  
Crop Production ◽  
Crop Yields ◽  
Production Systems ◽  
Integrated Management ◽  
Crop Protection ◽  
Sustainable Use ◽  
Climatic Conditions ◽  
Pesticide Use ◽  
Eu Member States ◽  
European Agriculture

Whether modern agriculture without conventional pesticides will be possible or not is a matter of debate. The debate is meaningful within the context of rising health and environmental awareness on one hand, and the global challenge of feeding a steadily growing human population on the other. Conventional pesticide use has come under pressure in many countries, and some European Union (EU) Member States have adopted policies for risk reduction following Directive 2009/128/EC, the sustainable use of pesticides. Highly diverse crop production systems across Europe, having varied geographic and climatic conditions, increase the complexity of European crop protection. The economic competitiveness of European agriculture is challenged by the current legislation, which banned the use of many previously authorized pesticides that are still available and applied in other parts of the world. This challenge could place EU agricultural production at a disadvantage, so EU farmers are seeking help from the research community to foster and support integrated pest management (IPM). Ensuring stable crop yields and quality while reducing the reliance on pesticides is a challenge facing the farming community is today. Considering this, we focus on several diverse situations in European agriculture in general and in European crop protection in particular. We emphasize that the marked biophysical and socio-economic differences across Europe have led to a situation where a meaningful reduction in pesticide use can hardly be achieved. Nevertheless, improvements and/or adoption of the knowledge and technologies of IPM can still achieve large gains in pesticide reduction. In this overview, the current pest problems and their integrated management are discussed in the context of specific geographic regions of Europe, with a particular emphasis on reduced pesticide use. We conclude that there are opportunities for reduction in many parts of Europe without significant losses in crop yields.

scholarly journals Sustainable agriculture through organic farming in India

2021 ◽  
Vol 17 (2) ◽  
pp. 299-304
Author(s):  
Rajkaranbir Singh
Keyword(s):  
Organic Farming ◽  
Value Chain ◽  
Agricultural Land ◽  
Organic Food ◽  
Organic Production ◽  
Export Market ◽  
Chemical Fertilizers ◽  
Climatic Regions ◽  
North East ◽  
Organic Products

Organic products are grown under a system of agriculture without the use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides with an environmentally and socially responsible approach. Organic agriculture is developing rapidly and today 186 countries produce organic food commercially. Currently, only 1.5 percent of the world’s agricultural land is farmed organically. The status of organic farming in India is bestowed with lot of potential to produce all varieties of organic products due to its various agro climatic regions. In several parts of the country, the inherited tradition of organic farming is an added advantage. This holds promise for the organic producers to tap the market which is growing steadily in the domestic market related to the export market. India ranks 9th in terms of World’s organic agricultural land and 1st in terms of total number of producers. The popularity of organic food is growing dramatically as consumer seeks the organic foods that are thought to be healthier and safer. As per the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare (MoAFW), 2.78 million ha was covered under organic farming in India which is about 2 per cent of the 140.1 million ha net sown area in the country. Of this, 1.94 million ha (70%) area is under National Project on Organic Farming NPOP, 0.59 million ha (21.5%) under Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana (PKVY), 0.07 million ha (2.6 %) under Mission Organic Value Chain Development for North East Region (MOVCDNER) and 0.17 million ha (6.1% ) under state schemes or non-schemes. The certified organic production for all crop categories stood at 2.6 million metric tons.in 2018-19. Sugar crops (sugarcane), oilseeds, cereals and millets, fiber crops, pulses, medicinal, herbal and aromatic plants, and spices/condiments are the highest produced organic commodities in India. However, the Indian organic food industry is curtailed by multiple challenges including reduced farm production per hectare, a general apprehension among farmers to forego the use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides and higher storage and transportation costs due to the lack of preservatives required for long-term storage. The states should step up their action in a concerted way to promote organic and natural farming. States can play an instrumental role in helping farmers sell their organic and natural produce by developing organic value chains, procuring organic produce and helping farmers get remunerative prices.

scholarly journals Economic efficiency of legume-cereal intercrops in conditions of organic farming

2010 ◽  
Vol 58 (6) ◽  
pp. 189-198
Author(s):  
Jaroslav Jánský ◽  
Jiří Pospíšil
Keyword(s):  
Organic Farming ◽  
Economic Efficiency ◽  
Farming System ◽  
Direct Costs ◽  
Conventional Farming ◽  
Organic Farms ◽  
Fodder Production ◽  
Conventional Farms ◽  
Green Fodder ◽  
Final Yield

The paper presents economic analysis of growing of legume-cereal intercropping in conditions of organic farming. Results of the analysis are based on data monitoring in chosen organic farms that grow LCI. In the paper there is also compared economic efficiency of LCI grown in organic and conventional farming system. Methodological solution results from costingness and earnings monitoring of LCI production in five chosen organic farms in the period 2007–2008.When evaluating costs existing in individual variants of LCI growing it is necessary to say that the selection of individual machines and machine aggregations represents the most important factor of influencing direct costs, namely with regard to the size of organic farms and to the area of individual field blocks. Under conditions of organic farms, the LCI production is also significantly influenced also by agrotechnical (tillage) operations. As compared with conventional farms, the final yield of both green fodder and grain is lower by 14–38%. Total direct costs per hectare of harvested LCI acreage ranged in case of fodder production from 9.249 CZK to 11.620 CZK per hectare. In case of grain production, the corresponding costs ranged from 8.848 to 9.970 CZK per hectare. In case of LCI, the direct costs of organic farms per unit of production of both fodder and grain consist mainly of material costs, which represent 63–76% and 61–68% of total expenses associated with production of fodder and grain, respectively. These direct costs are influenced also by higher prices of inputs.

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