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The importance of combating environmental degradation in diverse human socio-economic activities has lead to increased calls for a shift to organic farming practices to replace conventional methods. According to a Greenpeace Environmental Trust report [link widoczny dla zalogowanych], organic farming doesn't require the use of chemical aids such as fertilizers and pesticides for farming, hybrid seeds, restriction of farm animals to enhance growth and use of machinery for harvesting. The report contends that use of these substances has “destroyed wildlife and crop diversity [link widoczny dla zalogowanych], poisoned people and ruined the soil” (p. 4).
In conclusion the replacement of conventional farming practices with organic farming practices may not be readily rea
Benefits of and Challenges Towards Organic Farming Adoption
Secondly, by using cost intensive production techniques organic farming products attract exorbitant prices in the market. This is irrespective of their nutritive superiority over conventional foods being largely perceived rather than evidence-based, as argued in the commentary. Such high prices of organic foods may thus outstrip the purchasing ability of many families. With these propositions the applicability of organic farming to solve global food scarcity may not be evident.
Consequently; organic farming advocates natural alternatives for improving soil fertility and increasing production. To maintain the required ecosystem equilibrium the report advises that farmers should shift from using chemical aids to crop rotation, use of antagonistic plants, intercropping [link widoczny dla zalogowanych], use of physical barriers and biological control agents to control pest infestations and diseases. Manual weeding and handpicking are also encouraged rather than using herbicides and machinery. Further use of green manure and compost to improve soil fertility and practicing mixed livestock farming for improved productivity is recommended.
Read on
Organic Farming in France
Biodynamic Farming in Ireland
Thinking Organic
On the drawbacks of adopting organic farming practices productivity and cost aspects rank high. It is argued in the commentary that the agrarian revolution advances employed in modern day farming helped to increase productivity with limited resources. For organic farming practices to achieve such a productivity rating then massive land and manual labour input may be necessary. In locations where the land and labour availability are limited the economical benefits of farming would not be readily realized with an organic farming approach.
Secondly organic farming as advanced in the report could have an ethical edge over its conventional counterpart. The humane treatment of farm animals and use of manual labour to prevent unnecessary replacement of human resources with machinery confers organic farming with a superior ethical rating. Further the concern for environmental outcomes of farming buttresses the ethical argument of organic farming practices. In a different journal commentary, however, the argument that organic farming takes farming out of reach of the ordinary farmer, hence depriving them off their income, counters its ethical rating.
The main positive for organic farming practices over conventional methods is thus in addressing environmental concerns of farming. Though appropriate application of chemicals in agriculture may not have immediate harmful impacts on the environment, their cumulative effects may prove hazardous. By effective use of alternatives to chemicals in controlling diseases and pests, the adverse environmental impacts of agriculture are minimized. The focus of organic farming on maintaining ecosystem equilibrium may thus be the best action to minimize the depletion of existing natural resources, to promote environmental integrity.