Introduction
It has now been more than three decades since global attention was drawn to the issue of environmental protection. About two decades have passed since discussions on sustainable development took place. In the past, all development projects were solely focused on the economic perspective and the creation of greater economic income and efficiency. However, in the 1970s, this mentality emerged in the minds of policymakers and development planners that this type of economic growth process would ultimately lead to environmental degradation, social inequality, resource depletion, etc., and compensating for these problems would cause great economic losses in the long run.
Organic agriculture is in line with the sustainable development of agriculture and refers to a set of operations that are implemented to reduce the consumption of unnatural inputs. In which the use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides, synthesized preservatives, chemical drugs, organisms produced through genetic engineering, and wastewater is eliminated.
Studies show that the global trend of embracing organic agriculture is promising. The reasons for this include increasing concerns about pollution of basic resources, food, human and animal health, as well as greater attention to the values of nature and natural landscapes.
Organic Farms
Although organic farms usually yield 10 to 30 percent less than non-organic farms, if planned properly, the yield, production, and income of organic farms can be higher than that of non-organic farms. For example, in the Philippines, the yield of organic rice fields has been reported to be six tons. Experience in implementing organic farming projects has shown that in low-yield areas. The yield increases two to three times by using organic farming methods. In addition, in developed countries, factors such as the willingness of consumers to buy at a higher price, government subsidies, and the expansion of ecotourism increase the income of organic farming. Today, a large number of chain stores offer organic products. The market for these products is booming, and the potential demand exceeds supply.
Environmental and Economic Benefits
In addition to the aforementioned environmental and economic benefits, organic farming also brings many social benefits, increasing job opportunities by relying more on labor. Organic farming also revives traditional practices and foods, and plays an effective role in strengthening social cohesion.
Green Revolution strategy
The Green Revolution strategy, to provide food for the growing population of the world community (due to the increase in life expectancy, due to the improvement and advancement of health services, and access to food with better variety and quality in developed countries and most developing countries), relies on short-term goals and maximum performance. In commercial agriculture, the excessive and unbalanced use of fertilizers and pesticides has led to soil degradation and the loss of soil organisms. The production capacity and fertility of the soil decreased, and the result of this agricultural method was a decrease in the quality of the products.
From a sustainable agriculture perspective, agricultural products are divided into the following four categories:
- Natural product
- Organic product
- Healthy product
- Certified product
Natural product:
This product is free from residues of synthetic chemicals and is produced and grown in wild, natural, and untouched areas, and humans have no involvement in its production process.
Organic product:
Organic products are produced without the use of synthetic chemicals, based on ecosystem management, preserving the health of water, soil, plants, and humans. The entire production, processing, packaging, storage, transportation, working conditions, social conditions, supply, and labeling of these products are under the control and monitoring of a valid organic certification and standard system.
Healthy product:
This product is produced by the Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) standard and has the permitted residual limits of pesticides, fertilizers, and heavy metals, and is the result of applying standards and management programs based on specific criteria.
Certified product:
The product is examined and tested on a case-by-case basis (for example, the absence of nitrates and nitrites, lead, antibiotics, etc.) and only receives a certificate about that specific case.
Disadvantages of conventional agriculture and commercially produced products:
Commercial and Conventional Agriculture
1- In commercial and conventional agriculture, more than 300 dangerous and synthetic chemical compounds, Such as pesticides, herbicides, and chemical fertilizers, are used to control pests and insects and fertilize the soil. After entering the body, the residues of these substances can cause numerous problems. Such as birth defects, low birth weight babies, disruption of the female menstrual cycle, miscarriage, early or late puberty, early menopause, changes in sexual behavior, decreased sperm count in men, decreased fertility or infertility, changes in metabolic rate, endocrine system disorders, muscle weakness, memory loss, damage to the nervous system and brain, reduced immune system efficiency and carcinogenesis. Findings indicate that 60 % of pesticides, 90 % of fungicides, and 30 % of insecticides are carcinogenic.
2- The use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides causes pollution of water, soil, and air.
3- Excessive use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides causes pests to become resistant to the toxins and new pests to appear.
Irradiation of Products
Irradiation of products means that the products are exposed to controlled levels of ionizing radiation until bacteria such as E.COLI and Salmonella are destroyed, in effect disinfecting the products in this way. Controlling insects and parasites, increasing shelf life, and preventing sprouting are other reasons for irradiating food products. However, this irradiation causes:
- A small amount of loss of nutrients in the products.
- When food is irradiated, carcinogenic chemicals called CYCLOBUTANONES are formed.
Genetic engineering or genetic modification of products
Genetic engineering or genetic modification of products refers to the isolation, manipulation, and transfer of genes. In this method, genes with desirable properties are isolated from a species and transferred to a target species. Improving quality, increasing production, creating a desirable trait, and making products resistant to pests and environmental stresses are some of the applications of genetic engineering. The disadvantages of genetically modified products include the occurrence of birth defects, reduced lifespan, increased food allergy (due to changes in the protein chain), nutrient deficiency, and antibiotic resistance (antibiotic resistance genes may be transferred to pathogenic bacteria in the body, creating a new antibiotic-resistant disease).
Use of Hormones in Livestock and Poultry
The use of hormones in livestock and poultry accelerates their growth and fattening. But it reduces their nutritional value. Antibiotics, which are used to prevent livestock and poultry from getting sick, can also create antibiotic resistance in humans.
Benefits of organic farming:
- In organic farming, water is not contaminated by chemical pollutants such as synthetic fertilizers.
- In organic farming, the balance of the ecosystem and soil fertility is maintained. Soil erosion is also reduced by up to 50 percent.
- Biodiversity is 57 % higher in organic farmland.
- Farmers are not exposed to chemical toxins and pollutants.
Benefits of eating organic food:
- They have higher nutritional value. Vitamin C content, Calcium, magnesium, iron, and phosphorus are higher in organic foods.
- Organic foods contain more antioxidants. Organic foods contain more PHENOLIC antioxidants ( 50 % more than non-organic products). This is because synthetic pesticides reduce the production of these substances in plants, but animal and organic fertilizers used in organic farming increase their production.
- They are free of toxic substances. Organic products are healthier and are not contaminated with pesticide residues. They also do not contain food additives and are naturally healthier.
- They are more delicious and flavorful. One of the reasons for this is that organic products reach the consumer in a shorter period of time after harvest and are fresher. Also, in products prepared commercially, the processing and manipulations that are carried out on them only focus on appearance, color, increasing shelf life, increasing production, and making them resistant to damage caused by transportation and storage, and not on their quality and nutritional value.
Organic product producers follow very strict standards and guidelines that minimize the possibility of such products being contaminated with chemicals and toxins.
Organic farming
How can organic farmers and producers fertilize their crops and combat pests, diseases, and weeds?
Organic matter maintains soil texture and structure and increases water-holding capacity. It increases soil organic matter by using cover crops, compost, biological soil amendments, and breeding plants that are resistant to pests and diseases. Organic farming emphasizes good plant nutrition to prevent the spread of pests and diseases. The use of cover crops and crop rotations increases the level of ecological connectivity in the plant. Weed control is achieved by using cover crops, fallowing, hand weeding, mechanical tools, and burning weeds. Organic farmers rely on the use of beneficial insect populations for biological control, soil organisms, and birds for insect control.
Ten reasons to switch to organic farming
1. Organic products have higher standards:
Organic product certifications serve as insurance that no chemicals or toxic materials have been used in the production of these products.
2. Organic food tastes better:
Organically produced plants are healthier and can be used as tastier foods for human and animal nutrition.
3. Organic products reduce the risk of diseases:
Many environmental protection centers have found that the chemicals in pesticides have carcinogenic and pathogenic effects. Organic farming is one way to reduce the use of chemical pesticides and reduce the entry of these substances into water, land, and air resources.
4. Organic farming respects water resources:
To remove chemical pollutants and eliminate nitrogen from water, water and soil resources must be respected and used properly. These are properly observed in organic farming.
5. Organic farming creates healthy soil:
Soil is one of the main resources of the food chain, and one of the principles of organic farming is creating healthy soil.
6. Organic farming is modeled after nature:
Organic farming values a balanced ecosystem. Living nature also includes crop rotation in forage crops and the use of cover crops and other natural areas.
7. Organic farmers are leading new research:
Organic producers are at the forefront of research into the use of pesticides and their harmful effects on the environment.
8. Organic producers strive for biodiversity:
The loss of large numbers of species (biodiversity) is a concern for environmental scientists, which is why many organic farmers are trying to preserve common, native species.
9. Organic farming helps maintain healthy rural communities:
Organic farming is beneficial for rural communities due to its low levels, and leads to increased income.
10. Variety of organic foods
However, some organic foods can be used as alternatives, and non-food (industrial) agricultural products are also being converted to organic production, such as organic cotton production and eventually organic clothing production.
Studying the status of organic agriculture in developed countries and Iran
According to published reports, organic agriculture has been expanding rapidly worldwide in recent years in most regions of the world. Including developing countries, production, monitoring, and certification practices have been continuously improved, and people in many communities, especially in developed countries, have enjoyed the benefits of healthier and higher-quality food. It is worth noting that farmers in rural communities, especially in developing countries, have benefited from the appropriate profits and export value of these products.
Conclusion:
The development and promotion of organic agriculture requires the implementation of certain policies and measures. The orientation of the government’s agricultural policies towards environmental and social goals will provide a great opportunity for the expansion of organic agriculture. To address the existing problems in the field of trade in organic products, it is necessary to develop and implement standards and certification criteria. Training agricultural promoters is essential for the dissemination of organic agriculture and raising public awareness, and research centers should make greater efforts to solve the technical, economic, and social problems of this new and reliable solution.