Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
evidence shows that only organic methods have demonstrated the ability to improve both yield
and nutritional quality simultaneously, and that organic principles effectively protected against
'mad cow disease' (bovine spongiform encephalitis).
The yields in organic agriculture may be equivalent to or better than conventional agri-
culture, although often they are not, simply because of inadequate plant available nutrients,
weed infestation, non-cash phases in the crop rotations or inexperienced management (see
Chapter 1
). Yield performance is very location and management specific and many underly-
ing drivers (e.g. soil carbon, weed seed banks) of yield have long responses times (Martini
et
al
. 2004, see
Chapter
15
). Some researchers have also highlighted the value of alternative agr-
oecological criteria such as resilience and stability (Trenbath 1999, Lotter
et
al
. 2003).
Although organic agriculture causes less pesticide contamination in food, people and the
environment, it is premature to claim that organic agriculture is completely environmentally
sustainable (see
Chapter
12
). In particular, some soil nutrients have negative budgets in
certain organic cropping systems, causing a depletion of soil reserves of that nutrient (see
Chapter 1
).
Looking to the future
Organic agriculture will always be operating in a broader context of powerful market forces
controlling the f flow of inputs and outputs including intellectual property. Social expectations
about agricultural production systems and consumer preferences also interact closely with the
market place creating an uncertain future for organic growers and traders. Lockie
et
al
. (see
Chapter 11
) are cautious about making predictions about the size of the organic market into
the future. Predictions are difficult because of changing global demographics and dietary
tastes, as well as the knowledge that past successful marketing strategies may not remain
effective.
The same caveat should apply to predictions about global organic expansion and the conse-
quent inability to feed the world (Avery 1997). The challenge of feeding the world applies to
any modern farming system, as the Millennium Ecosystem Assessment Synthesis (2005) report
reminds us: global food production is adequate, yet poverty and environmental destruction
persist. Whatever agricultural system, or hybrid of systems, is used to provide food and fibre
for the international community, it will presumably be supported by democratic governments,
the business community and by farmers and consumers, and problems will be solved progres-
sively. A range of feedback mechanisms is likely to evolve to maintain equilibrium between
production and sustainability:
• 'mainstreaming' the 'alternative', possible mass market opportunities;
• preventing excesses through regulation (e.g. onerous compliance for registration of
inputs); and
• supporting transition through enabling policies, e.g. subsidies, harmonisation, brokering
and collaboration, research funding (Thirsk 2000, Pretty
et
al
. 2003, Stoneham
et
al
. 2003).
Organic farming systems have not been optimised over many decades by large inputs of
time and money for research, industry development and extension services in the same way
that conventional farming systems have. Therefore, the ability of the organic movement to
provide a broad solution to global food and fibre production problems is limited in current
circumstances. Although organic farming systems have some well recognised benefits, wide-
spread adoption of organic agriculture as the sole method of farming is unlikely in the short-
term to medium-term, even in the most progressive countries in Europe. Modelling of
large-scale conversion to organic agriculture at realistic rates (10-20%) indicates that such
