EXPLORE

INTRODUCTION TO ORGANIC AGRICULTURE

 Organic Agriculture is a system that relies on ecosystem management
rather than external agricultural inputs. It is a system that begins to
consider potential environmental and social impacts by eliminating the use
of synthetic inputs, such as synthetic fertilizers and pesticides, veterinary
drugs, genetically modified seeds and breeds, preservatives, additives
and irradiation.
 Combines traditions, innovation and science to benefit the shared
environment and promote fair relationships and a good quality of life for all
involved.

Organic
 Refers to the particular farming and processing systems, described in the
standards and not in the classical chemical sense. The term "organic" is
synonymous in other languages to "biological" or "ecological". It is also a
labeling term that denotes products considered organic based on the
Philippine National Standards for organic agriculture.

Organic production system is a system designed to:

1. Enhance biological diversity within the whole system;
2. Increase solid biological activity;
3. Maintain long-term solid fertility;
4. Recycle wastes of plant and animal origin in order to return nutrients
to the land, thus minimizing the use of nonrenewable resources;
5. Rely on renewable resources in locally organized agricultural
systems; and
6. Promote the healthy use of soil, water and air as well as minimize all
forms of pollution thereto that may result from agricultural practices;
7. Develop and promote the use of biotechnology in agriculture;
8. Handle agricultural products with emphasis on careful processing
methods in order to maintain the organic integrity and vital qualities of
the product at all stages; and
9. 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.

Principles of Organic Agriculture

1. General Level
 Improve and maintain the natural landscape and agro-ecosystem
 Avoid over exploitation and pollution of natural resources
 Minimize consumption of non-renewable energy and resources
 Produce sufficient quantities of nutritious wholesome and quality food
 Provide adequate returns, within safe, secure and healthy working
environment
  Acknowledge indigenous knowledge and traditional farming systems
2. Practical Level
 Maintain and increase the long term fertility of the soil
 Enhance biological cycles within the farm, especially nutrient cycles
 Provide nitrogen supply by intensive use of nitrogen fixing plants
 Biological plant protections based of prevention instead of curing
 Diversity crop varieties and animal species, appropriate to the local
conditions
 Animal husbandry according to the needs of the animal
 Ban on synthetic chemical fertilizers, plant protection, hormones and
growth regulators
 Prohibition of genetic engineering and its products
 Ban on synthetic or harmful methods, processing aids and ingredients
in food processing

Basis for Organic Agriculture

1. Principle of Health - OA should sustain and enhance the health of the
soil, plants, animals and human.
2. Principle of Fairness - OA should build on relationships that ensures
fairness with regard to the common environment and life
opportunities.
3. Principle of Ecology - OA should be based on living ecological
systems and cycle work with them, emulate and help sustain them.
4. Principle of Care - OA should be managed in a precautionary and
responsible manner to protect the health and well-being of current and
future generations and the environment.

Sustainability Aims
1. Social aims
 Good working conditions
 Fair trade
 Ensure food supply
 Gender balance
 Safe product
 Good taste and quality
 Respect the local culture
2. Economic aims
 Economic security
 Economically viable
 Added value
 Low investment
 Good and constant yield
3. Ecological aims
 Makes best use of local resources
 Ecosystem balance
 No chemical pollution
 High soil fertility
 Clean water
 Biological diversity
 Animal friendly husbandry
  Conserve natural resources

Republic Act 10068 - Organic Agriculture Act of 2010

 An act providing for the development and promotion of organic
agriculture in the Philippines and for other purposes.
 Promotes, propagate, develop further and implement the practice of
agriculture that cumulatively condition and increase the fertility of the
soil, increase farm productivity, reduce pollution and distraction of the
environment, prevent the depletion of natural resources, further the
health of the farmers, consumers and the general public.

Conventional vs. Organic Farming

Organic Farming
 Organic farming relies on natural principles like biodiversity and
composting to produce healthy, abundant food.
 Organic farming has a smaller carbon footprint, conserves and build
soil health, and replenishes natural ecosystem for cleaner water and
air all without toxic pesticides.

Conventional Farming
 Conventional farming puts its focus on achieving maximum yields of a
specific crop. It is based on a rather simple understanding: crop yields
are increased by nutrient inputs and they get reduced through pests,
diseases and weeds, which therefore must be combated.
 In order to fight pests and weeds, conventional farming relies on
chemical intervention. That means synthetic pesticides, herbicides
and fertilizers.
 Conventional farming causes increased greenhouse gas emissions,
soil erosion, water pollution and threatens human health.
Since organic farming means placing farming on integral relationship, we
should be well aware about the relationship between:
 The soil, water and plants
 Soil microbes and waste products
 Agriculture and forestry
 Soil, water and atmosphere etc

Key characterization of organic farming in relation to soil fertility and crop

production
 Protecting the long-term fertility of soil by maintaining soil organic
matter levels, fostering soil and biological activity and careful
mechanical inversion.
 Plant nutrients supply through relatively insoluble nutrient sources
(organic sources) made available by the action of soil microbes.
 Meeting crop need of nitrogen through nitrogen fixation by
leguminous crops in the cropping systems and recycling of farm
organic materials including crop residues and livestock wastes.
 Importance of crop rotation, natural predators, resistance varieties
and other agronomic manipulations of plant protection including weed
management; and
 Biodiversity management, soil and environmental health

Advantages and Disadvantages of Organic Agriculture

1. Advantages
Consumer Benefits
 Nutrition
 Poison Free
 Food taste better
 Food keeps longer
Grower benefits
 Lower input costs
 Added value
2. Disadvantages
 Productivity
 Cultivation
 GM crops
 Time
 Skill
Environmental Effects of Organic Farming
1. Climate Friendly
 2. Ecologically Friendly
3. It doesn’t use pesticides or herbicides

Definitions of Farming systems

1. Traditional Agriculture
2. Sustainable Agriculture
3. Conventional Agriculture
4. Integrated Production
5. Organic Agriculture