Agr 13 Lecture

OVERVIEW

Organic agriculture is an integrated production management system which promotes and enhances
agro-ecosystem health, including biodiversity, biological cycles and soil biological activity (FAO/WHO
Codex Alimentarius Commission, 2007). It emphasizes the use of natural inputs (i.e. mineral and
products derived from plants) and the renunciation of synthetic fertilizers and pesticides.

Organic agriculture is a holistic system of crop and livestock production that promotes the health of
agricultural ecosystems while producing healthy food. It uses diverse cultural and biological practices to
control weeds and pests, build soil fertility, enhance biological cycles and increase biodiversity. This
module provides the concept of organic agriculture, its definition, aims, standards and its legal basis of
development and promotion in the Philippines.

OBJECTIVES

At the end of this module, you should be able to:

▪ Define organic agriculture, its principles, aims, basic requirements and standard

▪ Know the pioneers of organic agriculture

▪ Enumerate and discuss the benefits of organic agriculture

▪ Understand how organic agriculture serves as a tool for ecologically sound management of
agricultural resources

DISUSSION

What is Organic Agriculture (OA)?

▪ Under the definition by Codex Alimentarius Commission:

Organic Agriculture is one among the broad spectrum of methodologies, which are supportive of the
concern to protect the environment. Organic production systems are based on specific and precise
standards of production, which aim at achieving optimal agro ecosystems, which are socially,
ecologically, and economically sustainable.

▪ The IFOAM definition of OA has been adopted in the country under E.O. 481 and the Organic
Agriculture Act of 2010 which pertain to the development and promotion of OA:

o “OA includes all agricultural systems that promote the environmentally, socially, and
economically sound production of food and fibers. These systems take local soil fertility as a key to
successful production. By respecting the natural capacity of plants, animals, and the landscape, it aims
to optimize quality in all aspects of agriculture and the environment.”
o OA dramatically reduces external inputs by refraining from the use of chemo-synthetic
fertilizers, pesticides, and pharmaceuticals. Instead, it allows the powerful laws of nature to increase
both agricultural yields and disease resistance. OA adheres to globally accepted principles, which are
implemented within local social-economic, geo-climatical, and cultural settings. As a logical
consequence, IFOAM stresses and supports the development of self-supporting systems on local and
regional levels.”

▪ Organic agriculture shares many techniques used by other sustainable agricultural approaches
(e.g. intercropping, crop rotation, mulching, integration of crops and livestock). However, the use of
natural inputs (nonsynthetic), the improvement of soil structure and fertility and the use of a crop
rotation plan represent the basic rules that make organic agriculture a unique agricultural management
system.

Pioneers of Organic Agriculture

1. Sir Albert Howard father of “organic composting” method, spent 3 decades from 1905 to 1934 in India
to develop organic concept of soil fertility through composting making

2. Rudolf Steiner

Austrian philosopher outlined the principles of biodynamic agriculture. “Matter is never without Spirit
and Spirit is never without Matter”

3. Lady Balfour “The Living Soil”, the book presented the alternative, sustainable approach to
agriculture has since become known as organic farming.

4. J.I Rodale founded the Soil and Health Foundation, created publications including Health
Bulletin, Organic Farming and Gardening, and Prevention Magazine, formed his central message and
philosophy, “Healthy Soil = Healthy Food = Healthy People”
5. Masanobu Fukuoka Japanese farmer developed and practiced, “Do-Nothing Method”, “No
plowing, no fertilizing, no weeding, do-nothing of natural farming”. His famous books are “The Natural
Way of Farming” and “The One Straw Revolution”

The Real Heroes of Organic Agriculture

The real heroes of OA are the farmer women and men who have relentlessly developed organic farming
systems suitable to their respective environments and conditions, often with very little means, much
hard work, and unrelenting determination. Together with these pioneering practitioners, organic
consumers, advocates, and other stakeholders have helped convert OA from a marginalized, voluntary
based to a widely recognized agricultural production system and global industry.

Main Goal of Organic Agriculture

▪ To optimize the health and productivity of interdependent communities and interacting systems
of soil life, plants, animals, and people.

▪ To contribute to the enhancement of sustainability

In the context of agriculture, sustainability refers to the successful management of agricultural resources
to satisfy human needs while at the same time maintaining or enhancing the quality of the environment
and conserving natural resources for future generations. Sustainability in organic farming must
therefore be seen in a holistic sense, which includes ecological, economic and social aspects. Only if the
three dimensions are fulfilled an agricultural system can be called sustainable.

Principle and Aims According with IFOAM (2002), the organic agriculture practices are based on the
following principles:

Principle of Health

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

This principle points out that the health of individuals and communities cannot be separated from the
health of the ecosystems - healthy soils produce healthy crops that foster the health of animals and
people. Health is the wholeness and integrity of living systems. It is not simply the absence of illness, but
the maintenance of physical, mental, social, and ecological wellbeing. Immunity, resilience, and
regeneration are key characteristics of health.

The role of OA whether in farming, processing, distribution, or consumption is to sustain and enhance
the health of ecosystems and organisms from the smallest organism in the soil to human beings. In
particular, OA intends to produce high quality and 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 Ecology

Organic Agriculture should be based on living ecological systems and cycles. It should work with them,
emulate them, and help sustain them. This principle places OA within living ecological systems. It states
that production is to be based on ecological processes and nutrient recycling. Nourishment and well-
being are achieved through the ecology of the specific production environment. For example, in the case
of crops, it is the living soil; for animals, it is the 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 local conditions, ecology, culture, and scale. Inputs should be reduced by reuse, recycling,
and efficient management of materials and energy in order to maintain and improve environmental
quality and conserve resources.

OA should attain ecological balance through the design of farming systems, establishment of habitats
and maintenance of genetic and agricultural diversity. Those who produce, process, trade, or consume
organic products should protect and benefit the common environment including landscapes, climate,
habitats, biodiversity, air, and water.

Principle of Fairness

This principle emphasizes that those involved in organic agriculture should conduct human relationships
in a manner that ensures fairness at all levels and to all parties – farmers, workers, processors,
distributors, traders and consumers. It also insists that animals should be provided with the conditions
and opportunities of life according with their physiology, natural behavior and well-being.

Natural and environmental resources that are used for production and consumption should be managed
in a socially and ecologically fair way and should be held in trust for future generations. Fairness requires
systems of production, distribution and trade that are open and equitable and account for real
environmental and social costs.

Principle of Care

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, it must consider valid solutions from
practical experiences, accumulated traditional and indigenous knowledge and prevent significant risks
by adopting appropriate technologies and rejecting unpredictable ones, such as genetic engineering.

According with the Guidelines of Organically Food Produce of the Codex Alimentarius (2007), an organic
production system is designed to:

▪ Enhance biological diversity within the whole system;

▪ Increase soil biological activity;

▪ Maintain long-term soil fertility;

▪ Recycle wastes of plant and animal origin in order to return nutrients to the soil, thus minimizing
the use of non-renewable resources;

▪ Rely on renewable resources in locally organized agricultural systems;

▪ Promote the healthy use of soil, water and air as well as minimize all forms of pollution that may
result from agricultural practices;

▪ Promote the careful processing methods agricultural products in order to maintain the organic
integrity and vital qualities of the product at all stages;

▪ Become established on any existing farm through a period of conversion, the appropriate length
of which is determined by site-specific factors such as the history of the land, and type of crops and
livestock to be produced.

Benefits of Organic Agriculture

Organic Agriculture provides ecological services that generally lead to the sustainability of the natural
resources and its life-giving functions. As claimed, OA is an alternative sustainable production system.
For this to be realized, farming activities must meet the three dimensions of sustainability, that is,
economic, environmental, and social.

The organic farmers have learned to tend factors that will keep nature resources’ vitality and services to
humankind. The key characteristics of a sustainable system include:

o relying primarily on local, renewable resources,

o making efficient use of solar energy and the production potential of biological systems,

o maintaining the fertility of the soil,

o maximizing the recirculation of plant nutrient and organic matter, o not using substances
foreign to nature,

o maintaining genetic diversity in the production system as well as the agricultural landscape; and

o giving farm animals life conditions that correspond to their ecological role and allow them a
natural behavior.

Environmental Protection Perspective

▪ Improvement of soil fertility. Organic fertilizer from plants and animal materials improves soil
structure, adds organic nitrogen, and stimulates growth of beneficial soil bacteria and fungi. Green
manure plowed into the soil increases organic matter and humus (Miller 1994). This allows recycling of
nutrients instead of using external inputs.

▪ Addresses climate change concerns in two streams of function. One is through avoidance due to
emission reduction potential of components of the production systems; second is in systematically
sequestering carbon dioxide in soils and in plant biomass. The latter is possible as it follows the key
principle of tight nutrient and energy cycles through organic matter management in soils, employing
improved practices in cropland management and in agroforestry.

▪ Less pollution when farmers use less chemicals. Replacing chemical inputs with natural materials
leads to recycling of nutrients and makes efficient use of available biomass in the farm. This prevents
and minimizes the pollution of the groundwater caused by leaching of water-soluble pesticides, nitrates
from organic fertilizers, and salts from irrigation waters.

▪ Prevention of soil erosion and compaction. Technologies to improve ground cover and soil
quality help arrest soil erosion, increase water uptake, and revitalize soil characteristics appropriate to
plant growth.

▪ Protection of groundwater quality. There is no chemical pollution in the water with organic
farming. Also, technologies adopted can conserve and recycle water.

▪ Saving energy. OA promotes the conversion of biomass, such as crop residues and animal
manure, into biofuels and fertilizers. Organic farming is more labor intensive.

▪ Promotion of biodiversity with crop rotations and sustainable farming practices. OA supports
genetic and species diversity and ecosystem biodiversity. FAO estimates that about 75% of genetic
diversity of agricultural crops has been lost in the last 100 years and at least one breed of domestic
animal becomes extinct each week. OA addresses this concern by respecting the natural capacity of soil,
plants, animals, and ecosystems through the use of natural ecological functions for higher yield and
disease resistance (IFOAM 2005a). Examples are the symbiotic relationships among crops, combining
shade-loving crops such as coffee and cacao, and use of indigenous crop varieties. Diversity and
variation are the foundation of OA.
▪ Use of renewable energies. The types of energy source and extent of energy use determine the
quality of life of people and the state of earth’s life support system. The only way to go is to reduce or
cut consumption of non-renewable sources and look for renewable ones.

Producer’s Perspective

▪ Sufficient production for subsistence and income. Satisfactory and reliable yields, the use of
manures, compost, and mulches increase both water infiltration and retention in the soil. The increase
in amount of humus provides for better soil characteristics and adds micronutrients that improve crop
yields and consequently increases the farm’s income.

▪ Builds on local knowledge and traditions. This aspect strengthens social systems in the
community by respecting and adding on to acquired knowledge handed down from generation to
generation. OA also fosters good working condition suited to the farming requirements and supports
smallholder farm development.

▪ Helps small farmers. Small-scale, intensive production is encouraged as appropriate for small
landholdings and for farmers with low available capital. For instance, biointensive mini-farms require
much less area to produce the same yield of crops. The nutrients contained in farm and household
wastes can be utilized and applied in a more concentrated way. This enables the nutrients to be fully
effective.

▪ Inexpensive local inputs and low investments. Most rural credits in conventional agriculture go
to the purchase of external inputs such as fertilizers and pesticides. OA practices reduce the use of these
materials and instead encourage the use of biomass and other resources in the farm.

▪ Use of crop diversification to improve income. Income can come from a variety of produce from
cropping combinations and intensification of operations. Some methods combine growing crops and
compost production that add to on-farm income. This makes the farm less vulnerable to price
fluctuation and demand variations.

Consumer’s Perspective

▪ Ensures supply of healthy, safe and nutritious food. The growing demand for organic products
and health consciousness among consumers emanate from documented cases of exposure to health
hazards. Quijano (2000) showed that even low exposure to pesticides could cause serious immune and
metabolic disorders, neurological defects, reproductive anomalies, cancer, and other chronic diseases in
animals and humans. Of the 10,000 toxic chemicals released yearly by chemical companies, less than
10% undergo thorough toxicological evaluation. OA keeps chemicals out of our food chain.
▪ Includes social considerations based on its holistic approach. People are as important as the
organic system (IFOAM Brochure). This type of social obligation provides added value and appeals to
consumers' acceptability of high prices for organic products.

The Industry’s Perspective

▪ The organic industry has a guarantee system based on certain norms and standards. The need to
assess the product and system or method and to distinguish organic products from other conventional
commodities necessitated the setting up of certification system at various levels— international,
regional, and even within a participatory guarantee mechanism in a smaller group or community. The
IFOAM initiated its Basic Standards for Organic Production and Processing in 1980. This now serves as
one of the platforms to harmonize standards and certification. From simple to more complex system of
third party guarantee system, OA has defined a niche in the world of international and local trade.

▪ Environmental awareness and consumer consciousness on food safety and health contributed
to the worldwide value of organic trade, which has doubled in the last 3 years (IFOAM brochure). In the
Philippines, Organic agriculture OA occupies only 0.02% (or even less) of the total agricultural land. But it
is noteworthy that the sector grows at 10–30%, which is quite high compared to the growth of
traditional crop industries.

▪ OA enhances natural resource accounting and product pricing. The value of OA deserves to be
analyzed not through simple financial analysis but through a system that incorporates the true value of
resources. A component of the premium price of organic products imputes the costs of benefits derived
out of the social obligation and the protection given to the environment, thus, coming close to including
the scarcity cost of natural resources.

▪ Value is added to organic products through quality improvements and on-farm processing.
Certain standards and quality assurance regulations ensure improvements in product quality and
integrity. Certain restrictions also enhance product processing, handling, and labeling for consumer
protection.

▪ High farm efficiency improves competitiveness. One example of this is the increasing returns to
labor investment. The labor demand by organic fertilizer application is well rewarded by higher yields.
Reduced chemical inputs means lower investment coupled with higher production also result in higher
farm efficiency.

Organic Agriculture as a Sustainable Agricultural Production System

OA as “sustainable agriculture for rural development” (SARD). This refers to the management and
conservation of natural resources according to certain principles that ensure satisfaction of both present
and future needs. Sustainable agriculture (SA) is associated with a wide range of definitions, principles,
interpretations, scope, and goals. It is used to describe a broad set of principles for agricultural
development as well as to distinguish specific technological innovations.

The parameters of organic agriculture have grown from an original focus on environmental aspects to
include first economic and then broader social and political dimensions. SA adopts the following
principles:

▪ Ecological.

The core concerns of SA are to reduce negative environmental and health externalities, enhance and
utilize local ecosystem resources, and preserve biodiversity. More recent concerns include broader
recognition of positive environmental externalities from agriculture (such as carbon sequestration and
flood protection).

▪ Economic. Economic perspectives on SA attempt to assign value to ecological parameters and

include a longer time frame in economic analysis. They also highlight subsidies that promote the
depletion of resources or unfair competition with other production systems.

▪ Socio-political. These are concerns about the equity of technological change. At the local level,
SA is often associated with farmer participation, group action, and the promotion of local institutions,
culture and farming communities. Sustainability also includes attention to institutional and financial
viability.

Balancing these various dimensions is one of the greatest challenges to the concept of SA, in general and
OA, in particular. One prominent dilemma arises from the tendency of ecological system analysis to
favor aspirations for local economic self-sufficiency,while economic analyses often point to gains from
trade and specialization (DFID Report/Fact Sheet). The following table presents a cursory

comparison of conventional agriculture and SA and the general direction faced in conventional farming
system.

OA is the oldest form of farming in the context of nutrient or soil management. Before the invention of
synthetic agro-chemical, there was indeed no other way but to use available systems that were
considered “natural,” “economical,” and “sustainable.” Widespread concern for the availability of safe,
quality, and healthy food provided the impetus for the fast growth of the organic movement in many
countries.

DEFINITION OF SOME FARMING SYSTEMS This shows an attempt to distinguish between some
commonly used terms of agricultural systems (arrow show how they can transform from one type into
another)
 BIODYNAMIC AGRICULTURE

Type of OA including spiritual dimension

ORGANIC AGRICULTURE

Based on agro-ecological principles, focus on soil

fertility and plant health, no use of agrochemicals

INTEGRATED PRODUCTION

Improved conventional agriculture, using reduced amounts of chemical fertilizers and pesticides

EVALUATION

Name:_______________________________Course: BSA I Date:___________Score:____/pts

Answer the following questions:

1. What is Organic Agriculture as you understood it from the general and commonly used
definitions cited in IFOAM and FAO/WHO Codex
Alimentarius?

2. Who are acknowledged pioneers in organic agriculture?

3. What are the four principles of Organic Agriculture based on IFOAM norms and standards?
Provide brief description and example.

4. What are the benefits of organic agriculture?

5. List at least five requirements in Organic Agriculture based on the major concepts and
principles. Differentiate it from conventional agriculture.

6. Give your own examples of benefits derived from Organic Agriculture, from the perspectives of
environmental protection, consumers’ protection, industry perspective, and farmerproducers.

7. Organic Agriculture is location-specific and knowledge-intensive. How can you emphasize this in
your promotion activities for OA? What specific strategies would you adopt?
REFERENCES

▪ Organic agriculture in the Philippines: A training manual (PCAARD Training Module No. 4/2014).
(2012). Los Baños, Laguna: Philippine Council for

Agriculture, Aquatic, and Natural Resources Research and Development (PCAARRD), Department of
Science and Technology (DOST).

▪ Scialabba, N., Gomez, I., &Thivant, L. (2017). Training manual for organic agriculture. New Delhi:
United Book Prints.

▪ IFOAM. 2003. Training Manual for Organic Agriculture in the Tropics. Edited by Frank Eyhorn,
Marlene Heeb, Gilles Weidmann, p 24-46, http://www.ifoam.bio/

▪ FAO. 1999. Organic Agriculture. Fifteen Session of the Committee on Agriculture. Retrieved
from: http://www.fao.org/docrep/meeting/x0075e.htm

▪ FAO and WHO. 2007. Codex Alimentarius: organically produced food. 3rd edition. Retrieved
from: http://www.codexalimentarius.org/standards/thematiccompilations/en/