...Why the government should Subsidize Organic Farming Organic farming is a farming method focused on advancing environmental and ecosystem benefits, as opposed to the external output in farming. It promotes the health of the ecosystem, biodiversity, and the soil biological activity. Government subsidies farmer receive are aimed at promoting healthy and beneficial and responsible farming. To understand why it is crucial for the government to subsidize organic farming, it is good to evaluate the benefits that accrue from organic farming. The aim of this paper is to evaluate the gains achievable if the government was to subsidize organic farming. One of the focuses of most governments is the reduction of greenhouse gases (GHG). A UN framework for climate change is now a key focus for most governments. One way of achieving this is the subsidizing farmers to do organic farming. The aim of doing that is that, by the use of organic farming methods, the increase in greenhouse gases reduces. The essence of this is to reduce the number of energy intensive farming that have a negative impact on farming. In addition, using less energy intensive methods means more saving on the inputs and additional benefits to the farmers. This is important since, over the years, the gains and benefits for farming have reduced. That is because, of among other things, bad weather, and scares of public health. Therefore, promoting a method that will directly benefits the farmer and the environment should...
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...professional farmers who have contrasting opinions about the organic industry. David Biello is more skilled in the field of journalism and science therefore, when comparing the three authors Biello would have less of an impact on his readers than Hurst or Coleman. The debate over organic and conventional farming revolve over the question of, what is safe and healthy for our world and lifestyle. Cultivation has been changing from generation to generation. Farming has had its adjustments that deemed as necessary for our environment to continue circulating and providing for our society. Organic farming is also known as, “Real Food”. Real food is basically all the fruits and vegetables that are processed without the use of any chemical boost. Hurst has been working in the farming industry for more than thirty years and with that he gains the trust of the audience and explains why only cultivating organically would be nearly impossible. “But he expects me to farm like my grandfather, and not incidentally, I suppose, to live like him as well” (Hurst...
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...Organic Foods With the development of agriculture, more environment issues appeared because of using too much chemical pesticides and fertilizers. So people are looking for other new agricultures to instead of the old model such as the organic agriculture or organic food. Natural farming is based on the observation of nature and allowing it to do what it naturally does best. (Fukuoka 284) What organic food means? According to the Organic.org website, organic produce and other ingredients are grown without the use of pesticides, synthetic fertilizers, sewage sludge, genetically modified organisms, or ionizing radiation. Animals that produce meat, poultry, eggs, and dairy products do not take antibiotics or growth hormones (Organic.org). The chemical pesticides are the most of direct elements for which do harm to the environment. So organic food without these negative factors is benefit for environment. Then what does organic food effect environment? The first of all is organic food can prevent soil pollution. “Organic farms protect the environment by building soil organic matter and by mimicking natural systems rather than relying on synthetic fertilizers and pesticides.” (Organic Food) The development of organic food is originated from the development of organic farming. It applies developed biotechnology to organic farming. Organic food is based on the relationship between land, animals, human, bio system and the healthy agricultural production system. The basis is maintaining...
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............................................................................................ 3 INTRODUCTION: ............................................................................................ 4 ORGANIC AGRI-BUSINESS: HOW IS IT DIFFERENT?............................ 4 METHODOLOGY ............................................................................................ 5 LIMITATIONS OF THE METHODOLOGY .................................................... 5 SUSTAINABILITY ISSUES IN ORGANIC AGRIBUSINESS ........................ 5 ENVIRONMENTAL/ECOLOGICAL SUSTAINABILITY ........................... 5 ECONOMIC SUSTAINABILITY: ................................................................. 6 SOCIAL SUSTAINABILITY: ....................................................................... 7 OPPORTUNITIES & CONSTRAINTS IN ORGANIC AGRIBUSINESS ........ 7 OPPORTUNITIES ......................................................................................... 7 CONSTRAINTS ............................................................................................. 8 SUSTAINABLE PRINCIPLES OF ORGANIC INTEGRATED AGRIBUSINESS – GOALS/KEY FEATURES OF THE ORGANISATION . 10 DESIGNING THE ORGANIC PRODUCTION SYSTEM .............................. 12 MANAGING THE CONVERSION TO ORGANIC FARMING.................. 13 CHALLENGES IN CONVERSION PROCESS ........................................... 14 VALUE CHAIN ANALYSIS OF A TRADITIONAL AGRICULTURE SYSTEM...
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...example, most of people will choose the healthy one likes organic rice; Brown Rice. Therefore, in order to handle these situations our government suggests to all farmers to handle the natural farming at their farms. Natural farming is one of the production methods that use the organic crops such as Indigenous Microorganisms, fertilizer and some factors likes air, water and soil. In additions, large sums of money have been invested in providing irrigation and drainage infrastructure facilities to enable double cropping of rice using high yielding varieties with the latest agronomic practices in attempts to attain high rice yields. There is an alarming concern of a future demand for still higher levels of chemical to be used in order to maintain crop yields. Apart from this, the excessive dependence on chemical pose health hazards and are harmful rice agro-ecosystem and methods to sustain yield levels with the minimal use of chemicals. How to find the solutions? For the detail solution we are explain in this report. In this report, we include the best management practices that can be applied in natural farming process. The management practices are site selection, sediment management surface water and nutrient management. Other than that, we also included the advantages and disadvantages of natural farming of rice production. CHAPTER 2 2.0 MANAGEMENT PRACTICES IN NATURAL FARMING FOR RICE PRODUCTION Management practices...
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............................................................................................ 3 INTRODUCTION: ............................................................................................ 4 ORGANIC AGRI-BUSINESS: HOW IS IT DIFFERENT?............................ 4 METHODOLOGY ............................................................................................ 5 LIMITATIONS OF THE METHODOLOGY .................................................... 5 SUSTAINABILITY ISSUES IN ORGANIC AGRIBUSINESS ........................ 5 ENVIRONMENTAL/ECOLOGICAL SUSTAINABILITY ........................... 5 ECONOMIC SUSTAINABILITY: ................................................................. 6 SOCIAL SUSTAINABILITY: ....................................................................... 7 OPPORTUNITIES & CONSTRAINTS IN ORGANIC AGRIBUSINESS ........ 7 OPPORTUNITIES ......................................................................................... 7 CONSTRAINTS ............................................................................................. 8 SUSTAINABLE PRINCIPLES OF ORGANIC INTEGRATED AGRIBUSINESS – GOALS/KEY FEATURES OF THE ORGANISATION . 10 DESIGNING THE ORGANIC PRODUCTION SYSTEM .............................. 12 MANAGING THE CONVERSION TO ORGANIC FARMING.................. 13 CHALLENGES IN CONVERSION PROCESS ........................................... 14 VALUE CHAIN ANALYSIS OF A TRADITIONAL AGRICULTURE SYSTEM...
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...Should all farming be organic? 1.0 The two main types of farming this report will look into are: (1) Organic agriculture- Organic farming (2) Modern Agriculture- Intensive farming Organic farming (as defined by the Codex Alimentarius Commission) is a holistic production management system that avoids use of synthetic fertilizers, pesticides and genetically modified organisms, minimizes pollution of air, soil and water, and optimizes the health and productivity of interdependent communities of plants, animals and people 1. To achieve this, organic farming relies on a number of objectives and principles, as well as common practices designed to minimise the human impact on the environment, while ensuring the agricultural system operates as naturally as possible2. Typical organic farming practices include2: • Wide crop rotation as a prerequisite for an efficient use of on-site resources • Very strict limits on chemical synthetic pesticide and synthetic fertiliser use, livestock antibiotics, food additives and processing aids and other inputs • Prohibition of the use of genetically modified organisms • Taking advantage of on-site resources, such as livestock manure for fertiliser or feed produced on the farm • Choosing plant and animal species that are resistant to disease and adapted to local conditions • Raising livestock in free-range, open-air systems and providing them with organic feed • Using animal husbandry practices appropriate to different livestock species ...
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...Lucas Miguez Mr. Sucena Biology 2 November 2015 Organic Agriculture The human population is growing rapidly and is expected to reach its limit somewhere around nine billion (J. Foley "The other inconvenient truth" ). We are already using more than forty percent of the world’s land for agricultural purposes and agriculture is the single biggest contributor to climate change (J. Foley "The other inconvenient truth" ). Some people want to convert the land that we aren't using to grow more food, but that would greatly affect the world’s biodiversity by causing even further deforestation and would only contribute to climate change. Therefore, researchers are working to find a solution to increase the output of food while not further damaging the environment and biodiversity or significantly increasing costs. Many possible solutions have been raised with different advantages and disadvantages. One such idea is organic agriculture, which focuses on minimizing agriculture’s effect on the environment. Like all of the much-hyped solutions, however, there are drawbacks to this approach (J. Foley "The other inconvenient truth" ). The main goal of organic agriculture is the minimization of farming’s effect on the environment, but there remains a need for more crops to feed our growing population (J. Foley "The other inconvenient truth"). Because of this, the organic agriculture advocates are encouraging the practice of precision agriculture. As stated by McGinnis:...
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...Jasmine Soto Conventional Farms Vs. Organic Farms When explaining to someone the advantages and disadvantages of both conventional and organic farms, it is important to start off with the basics: defining the two. A conventional farm is a farm which uses growing methods which are the most universally used and widespread. Conventional farming is not dedicated to alternative methods of growing foods or raising livestock which means they participate in the use of chemical plant protectant, fertilizers, in addition to heavy animal farming. When describing organic farming, one would say organic farming is a farming method by which farmers develop and cultivate a plethora of vegetables, dairy products, grains, meat and of course fruits. Organic farming was originally developed as a way to reduce the amount of pollution which may be produced. In addition organic farming was also widely used to preserve water and soil quality. The idea of organic farming puts into use the natural methods to avoid any harm to the farming. One of the most notable advantages of conventional farming is un-doubtfully that crop turn out amongst conventional farms is larger than that of organic farms, while at the same time using the same amount of land. Advanced farming tools and machinery are used along side what is considered “sophisticated, aggressive plows” which also assists with the larger sized crops. Because conventional farms are producing mass amounts of crops and livestocks frequently, the...
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...Bio Fertilizer .Com .: Organic Products Natural Products in Gardens and Agriculture Bio Fertilizer are natural and organic fertilizer that helps to keep in the soil with all the nutrients and live microorganisms required for the benefits of the plants. The soil is alive and contains a lot of microorganism that produce natural N-K-P and other nutrients required for agricultre and plants. Using chemical products eventually will kill all this micro live and transform productive soils in sand in few years. Bio Fertilizer .Com is one organic center with information about natural products and eco friendly energies. Information Center about how to use Solar, Wind , BioDigestors and other sources of cheap energy for houses and business. Bio Pesticides are natural products that helps in the maintenance of gardens and organic food production. Read the Biology of Microorganisms to learn more about the scientific basis. Introducing the basics of the science of Biology of Microorganisms and its applications, as fertilizers or composting for example. Organic Farming State The World of Organic Agriculture: More Than 31 Million Hectares Worldwide The International Federation of Organic Agriculture Movements (IFOAM), the Swiss Research Institute of Organic Agriculture (FiBL), and the Foundation Ecology & Farming (SOEL), Germany, presented the latest global data on organic farming at the BioFach fair 2006 in Nuremberg, the world leading fair for organic food. According to the survey,...
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...Organic Produce is a Choice Organic Produce is a Choice Imagining a world where there are no chemicals used on the food we eat, making them less harmful to the body and better for the environment that this generation wants to be protected for future generations is hard; therefore most people do not even try; however, if the public were more aware of the benefits of organic produce vs. conventionally grown produce, maybe they will want to make an impact on the environment sooner than later; for later could be too late. Though the health benefits are minimal (Baker, Benbrook, Groth, & Benbrook, 2002), the environmental effects can be limitless, and there is nothing better than getting the full flavor of one’s produce while knowing where it came from, how it was processed, and they are getting nutrients from their produce, not chemical residue or wax (“whfoods.org”, 2013.). Just one of these benefits is enough to make one eat organic, so considering them all, the price should be worth it; like the saying you get what you pay for. Would it not be nice eating food that will not only have health benefits, but also taste better while knowing that with each bite taken, it is playing a part in preserving the environment for future generations? Maybe people do not try organic produce for fear of change, lack of availability, it is too “pricey”, or they are just unaware. Even though organic produce is so similar some cannot tell them apart by eye, they really are very different...
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...Eating Organic Choosing the foods we eat is a part of everyday life. Breakfast, lunch, and dinner; food surrounds us indefinitely. Just think of every type of food available to pick from when strolling down the grocery aisle. Possibilities are endless. When driving from one place to the next, the amount of restaurants and grocery stores lined up along the streets are nearly impossible to count. Eating is essential for the survival of human beings, which is why it is so important to make conscious decisions surrounding what goes into the body. When choosing what to eat, Organic foods are the best choice because they do not contain harmful chemicals or pesticides, are better for our environment, and are less harmful to the people who grow and harvest food. When eating...
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...you use resources. Organic farming can be profitable and organic food appeals to consumers as both a healthy and ethical choice. Beyond money and ethics though, organic farming practices result in numerous environmental benefits. Organic Farming Builds Healthy Soil. To grow healthy food, you must start with healthy soil. If you treat soil with harmful pesticides and chemicals, you may end up with soil that cannot thrive on its own. Natural cultivation practices are far better than chemical soil management. Organic farming helps combat erosion Not only does organic farming build healthy soil, but it helps combat serious soil and land issues, such as erosion. A major study comparing adjoining organic and chemically treated wheat fields showed that the organic field featured eight more inches of topsoil than the chemically treated field and also had only one-third the erosion loss. If you aren't concerned about erosion; you should be. Erosion issues are extremely serious, affecting the land, food supply and humans. However, organic farming practices do help discourage erosion from occurring. Organic Farming Fights the Effects of Global Warming. According to the Rodale Institute, Farming Systems Trial is America’s longest running, side-by-side comparison of conventional and organic agriculture. The trial, running since 1981, has shown that a healthy organic agriculture system can actually reduce carbon dioxide and help slow climate change. Also, organic farming supports water conservation...
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...Introduction One sustainability issue at a global and local scale is farming, how and why is farming the way it is, can we do anything to change it to make it more organic beneficial and sustainable? When it comes to farming, it is the main use of the agricultural system. The methods of farming are all based on the farming region where its geographically organized by the activities and generations of people that have lived there. (Pacini, 2013) To have a perfect agriculture, it must be sustainable. Everyone in the world could agree to have a sustainable agriculture, but how many of the world population would actually agree to put the effort into it and commit to it. That’s a different story. Sustainability is relation to organic farming, it’s a way of harvesting and using resources that cant run out of or permanently be damaged. The point of organic farming is to not only develop a more valuable and sustainable ecosystem but to also promote a healthy use of resources and maintain a process of organic products. (Rigby, 2013) Current efforts of contributing of sustainable farming is happening in the northwest in the area, the public is trying to go green by eating organic and purchasing locally grown produce. Places such as the Saturday market, where farmer owners come and sell their own grown produce. And even grocery places such as Whole Foods, which sells all organic food and products, has become a trend to the public. The demand for this type...
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...pain management in the future? Organic food benefits, outweigh the increase in cost of food. Let’s say you came across two peaches in the store. Both peaches were labeled with all the chemicals and pesticides use to grow them and the health effects they may cause long term from eating them. Would you care then, about organic foods versus non organic food? We must educate ourselves and realize that we have to invest in our health, starting now, before it is too late, before the problem arises, it is called preventative maintenance. A nice red apple is a nice red apple, right? Wrong. You see when you enjoy your crisp red apple, if it is not organic you are also enjoying anywhere from 48 to 69 different pesticides and chemicals. Pesticides and chemicals are not the scariest or disgusting concern. According the Center for Food Safety, any food that is not considered USDA Organic is produced with chemically washed sewage sludge. You may not know what sewer sludge is, but in short sewer sludge is everything you flush down the toilet, hospital waste, and even slaughterhouse waste. The sewer sludge is then washed and turned into a fertilized which is then used in non-organic crops. If you were to purchase organic food, you would be free of the added chemicals, pesticides and sewer sludge. Food defined as Organic, by the United States Department of Agriculture or USDA cannot be grown in soil that is contaminated by sewer sludge. There may be organic food that does show trace amounts...
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