What do you mean by sustainable development and organic farming?

In essence, organic agriculture is an agricultural technique that sustains, maintains and improves the quality of the ecosystem. Therefore, it is intimately related to sustainable development.

Organic agriculture

refers to an agriculture system that maintains and improves ecological balance. In other words, this cultivation system is based on the use of organic inputs for cultivation.

Traditional agriculture involves the use of chemical fertilizers, toxic pesticides, etc. That drastically damages the ecosystem. Therefore, this type of agriculture is practiced to produce toxic-free food for consumers and, at the same time, maintain soil fertility and contribute to ecological balance. This type of agriculture allows for sustainable and environmentally friendly economic development.

Sustainable agriculture describes agricultural methods and techniques aimed at minimizing the depletion of natural soil resources. Sustainable agricultural practices aim to preserve higher levels of organic matter, reduce erosion and keep more carbon in the soil. These practices improve soil resilience and long-term health and ultimately lead to higher yields. Because organic agriculture prohibits the use of synthetic pesticides, there is little or no risk of contamination of groundwater and surface water with synthetic pesticides.

However, it is important to mention that when organic farmers use manure fertilizers, manure can also reach bodies of water and contribute to dead zones. In addition, since organic farmers do not use artificial fertilizers, they feed their crops indirectly through the soil, for example by applying fertilizer. FAO research shows that organic agriculture is showing that it can produce better yields during periods of drought. Baby food producers use organic products almost exclusively because organic vegetables and fruits don't normally contain pesticide residues.

Since organic farmers around the world refrain from using harmful agrochemicals and work as far as possible in harmony with nature, it is clear that these heroes can be considered part of the solution. We have recently created flexible sustainable and cultivable leasing, which allows landlords to sign a lease agreement with their current farmer that includes provisions on sustainable agricultural practices. To determine the role of organic agriculture, a research project was launched with the University of Twente. Since organic farmers do not use chemical fertilizers, they feed their plants indirectly through the soil, for example by applying fertilizer.

Therefore, it really doesn't matter if an organic product is sold at the farmer's market or in a discount store, if it is sold as “organic”, it must be applied to the strict rules set out in the legislation. So, when it comes to protecting our freshwater supplies, organic agriculture is largely part of the solution. In the U.S. In the US, a farm must be managed through organic practices for 3 years before the first “certified organic” harvest.

Sustainable agricultural practices, such as planting cover crops, help to sequester carbon, and reducing tillage helps prevent the release of additional carbon into the atmosphere. Organic agriculture can contribute to significant socio-economic and ecologically sustainable development, especially in the poorest countries. In organic agriculture, producers must learn to maintain nutrient levels in the soil without synthetic fertilizers and to tackle weeds and insects without herbicides or insecticides. .