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Organic Crop Farming

Arable farmers today are facing considerable challenges in running a profitable business. In recent months they have seen unprecedented price rises in their main
operating costs such as fuel, fertiliser and energy. No farming enterprise has been able to avoid the impact of these soaring prices. In addition, they have been
affected by a shortage of seasonal workers to operate efficiently through the harvest season, extreme weather events caused by climate change and a reduction in the
price paid for their produce. Farmers are having to reduce their costs and adapt their business models in response to these challenges. Some are considering
diversifying away from conventional farming to organic farming. This would reduce their reliance on expensive artificial fertilisers and the fuel costs involved with
spreading them across their fields. Organic methods of crop production offer a possible solution to these problems but it is not by any means a simple solution and
requires careful consideration and planning.

What is Organic continents seeing strong growth. Over 78 million hectares are farmed
organically which is over 1.6% of all agricultural land. Over half of
this land is in the Oceania region (38 million hectares), followed by
Farming? Europe (20 million hectares) and Latin America (12 million hectares).
Organic farming is also known as ecological farming. It is an The global retail market for organic food is also showing strong
agricultural system of cultivating land to produce food using natural growth. Consumers are becoming more aware of environmental issues
substances and processes. Crops are nurtured and grown without the and the numerous health benefits associated with a natural diet. Many
use of synthetic fertilisers and pesticides. Organic techniques include: perceive organic food to be higher quality with rich nutritional value
and multiple health benefits. As a result of increased public demand
 biological pest control total sales in the organic food market exceeded 126 billion Euros last
 companion planting year. The following table shows this retail growth:
 crop rotation
Growth in organic retail sales (million €)
 fostering natural insect predators
Region 2010 2017 2023
 mixed crops for pest control
Africa 0.28 16.52 17.27
 natural fertilisers such as compost and green manure. Asia 1902.24 10079.24 13167.36
There are sound environmental reasons and ecological benefits to Europe 20413.85 39566.12 54600.25
organic farming. This uses sustainable techniques which benefit the Latin America 14.37 1138.80 816.88
wildlife, protect the environment and conserve natural resources. North America 20184.78 45162.80 56402.94
Healthy and fertile soil helps build resilience to the impacts of climate Oceania 742.44 1357.73 1674.16
change. Organic farms release fewer greenhouse gas emissions and World Total 43257.97 97321.21 126678.87
are more energy efficient, using 45% less energy than conventional There are 3.4 million organic producers in 190 countries with the
farms. largest number in India. Swiss consumers spent the most per person
on organic food and Denmark continues to have the highest organic
Growth in Organic market share with 13% of its total food market.

Farming Organic Certification

Organic farmland is increasing at a rate of 5% every year with all The labelling and marketing of organic food products is strictly
Guide produced by: Waaniya Adnan
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controlled and regulated. It is illegal to call a food product organic if Following a review of the application and documentation an inspector
it has not been inspected and certified by an approved organic control will visit the farm to carry out an initial inspection. This visit will take
body. Any substance or compounds used in organic agriculture must approximately two hours for smaller operations and up to a full day
comply with organic regulations and be verified as suitable for use in for larger, more complex operations. The inspector will report their
organic production systems. findings and identify any changes that are needed to bring production
into line with the standards. Farms must undergo a conversion period
Producer Certification where the land is managed using the organic production methods
outlined in the Organic System Plan. The conversion period for land
Organic agricultural methods are internationally regulated and legally is typically two years. This provides time to establish organic
enforced by governments in many countries. Certification and management techniques and build soil fertility and biological activity.
accreditation systems have been established to protect the production All plants that are grown during the conversion period must come
of organic goods. Any person or business that produces organic from organic seeds. For crops to be marketed as organic the seeds
products must hold a legal certificate of registration from a must be sown and harvested from land that has completed its
government approved control body and be inspected at least annually. conversion period and has organic status. The conversion period can
The process of gaining approval is long and demanding with complex be a financially difficult time for farmers. Organic methods often
documentation and a considerable amount of initial investment. To result in lower yields and higher production costs. The food produced
start the process a completed application form must be submitted during the conversion period cannot be classified as organic and
along with the registration fee which varies depending on the size of therefore cannot command a premium price. This leaves the farm in a
the land. A certification officer will be assigned who acts as a point of state of uncertainty with reduced income.
contact and provides guidance throughout the conversion and
certification process. All certification officers have extensive Once all these stages have been successfully completed the farm will
knowledge of the regulations as well as practical experience in the achieve organic status and be registered in the National Register. A
industry. Applicants are required to produce an Organic System Plan Certificate of Compliance will be issued which confirms the farm is a
which provides a detailed description of how the farming practices certified organic producer and the crops can now be marketed as
and procedures will meet the organic standards. organic. A farm schedule will specify the crops produced, the fields
and area under organic management, and the date organic conversion
A physical barrier such as a road, hedge or a 10- began. Certification is valid for one year. Fees are payable on the
metre buffer zone must separate organic farmland renewal date each year and an annual inspection is completed to
from conventional farmland. This is to protect the ensure the production and processing standards are still being met.
organic crops from contamination by chemical The farm will also benefit from ongoing support from the certification
fertilizers and pesticides used in traditional officer who is dedicated to looking after the licence.
farming which may drift over to the organic land.

The Future
Organic farming has a bright future. Public demand for organic food is growing so fast that consumer demand is exceeding some domestic supplies. Significant
industry growth is predicted in the next decade. The European Union has set a target that 25% of all agricultural land will be organically farmed by 2030. It is also a
popular farming method in other continents where production and fertiliser costs are expensive. In some countries organic farming produces 80% more than
Guide produced by: Waaniya Adnan
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conventional farms and organic farmers earn higher incomes due to lower production costs and the price premium paid for their organic produce. Whatever the
location there has never been a better time for conventional farms to convert to organic farming.

Guide produced by: Waaniya Adnan