Facts and Myths of Feeding the World with Organic Farming Methods - Principles of Sustainable Soil Management in Agroecosystems - page 88

agriculture is required. For many of these concerned individuals, synthetic nitro-
gen fertilizers, irrigation, pesticides, and loss of genetic diversity that have been so
important in increasing food production during the past 50 years are not sustainable,
and a conversion to more sustainable farming systems is necessary.
For the 50 years between 1961 and 2011, world population increased from 3 bil-
lion to 7 billion, but cereal production increased even faster from about 875 mil-
lion tonnes (Mt) to almost 2500 Mt (FAOSTAT 2012). Therefore, the agricultural
community did a remarkable job of increasing food production at a rate faster than
population growth, and while there was still a segment of the population that was
malnourished, the world food situation improved considerably during this period.
Much of the increased cereal production during this 50-year period was due to a dou-
bling of irrigated land from about 140 to 280 million ha and an increase in synthetic
N fertilizer from about 9 to 100 Mt (Smil 2011).
Organic agriculture, generally considered as a more sustainable system, has
grown rapidly in the past few years. From 1999 to 2010, organic agriculture increased
almost fourfold from 11 to 37 Mha. While this is still a tiny portion of the world's
cropland, its rapid growth is occurring in more than 100 countries (IFOAM 2012).
While some believe that more sustainable systems like organic farming can pro-
duce enough food to feed the world, others believe that the use of synthetic nitrogen
fertilizer is absolutely essential. This paper will look at some of the facts and myths
of organic farming methods.
4.2 ORGANIC FARMING
As defined by IFOAM (2012), organic agriculture is a production system that sus-
tains the health of soils, ecosystems, and people. It relies on ecological processes,
biodiversity, and cycles adapted to local conditions, rather than the use of inputs with
adverse effects. Organic agriculture combines tradition, innovation, and science to
benefit the shared environment and promote fair relationships and a good quality of
life for all involved. IFOAM (2012) further elaborates that organic farming is based
on four principles, as follows:
1. Health: Organic agriculture should sustain and enhance the health of soil,
plant, animal, human, and planet as one and indivisible.
2. Ecology: Organic agriculture should be based on living ecological systems
and cycles, work with them, emulate them, and help sustain them.
3. Fairness: Organic agriculture should build on relationships that ensure
fairness with regard to the common environment and life opportunities.
4. Care: Organic agriculture should be managed in a precautionary and
responsible manner to protect the health and wellbeing of current and future
generations and the environment.
Few people, if any, would find fault with these principles. Many, however, would
say that, with the present and growing number of people, without inputs, especially
irrigation and synthetic N, food production needs simply cannot be met. Even though
the land area devoted to organic agriculture has grown almost fourfold in the past