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Organic Agriculture and the multi-dimensional

challenges of future food and farming systems

Niels Halberg & Lise Andreasen

International Centre for Research inOrganic Food Systems

Organic Agriculture, Climate Change and Environment


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Abundant food insecurity (FAO, 2006)

Demand for food will increase (Evans, 2009, and others)

Unsustainable use of natural production factors such as soil,

biological diversity and water (Pimentel et al., 1995; FAO, 2003) 60 % of ecosystem services are degraded (Millennium

Ecosystem Assessment, 2005)

Intensive agriculture is depends on high energy but couldbe energy self-reliant and could mitigate GHG emission

considerably (Smith et al., 2007) Agriculture is insufficiently prepared to cope with

unpredictability and adaptation to climate change(Lobell et al., 2008)

Challenges for Sustainable Agricultural

Production and Farming Systems Dev.


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IAASTDExecutive summary (2009):

Degradation of ecosystems limits or reversesproductivity gains

A fundamental shift in AKST is required to successfullymeeting development and sustainability goals

Recognition and increased importance to themultifunctionality of agriculture is necessary Accounting for the complexity of agricultural systems

within the diverse social and ecological contexts Successrequiresincreased publicand private

investmentin Agricultural Knowledge Science andTechnology

An interdisciplinaryandAgro-ecosystems approachto knowledge production and sharing will be important

International Assessment of AKST

for development (IAASTD)


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From focus onincreasedproductivity

alone

To holistic integrationof Natural RessourceManagement with

food and nutritionalsecurity

Main challenge (IAASTD):

increased productivity of agri-

culture in a sustainable manner

Organic principles may contribute to a valuable framework

for a future sustainable agricultural production!


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70% of the worlds poor live in rural areas (< USD 2/day) 90% of farms in the world are less than 2 ha covering 60%

of the arable land worldwide Widespread subsistence production in isolated and marginal

locations with low levels of technology Widespread food insecurity in spite of sufficient food being

produced at global level food

Thus..

Main challenge (IAASTD):

increased productivity of agri-

culture in a sustainable manner

Organic principles may contribute to a valuable framework

for a future sustainable agricultural production!


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Organic agriculture is a production system that

sustains 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 sharedenvironment and promote fair relationships

and a good quality of life for all involved.

www.ifoam.org

Definition of Organic Agriculture

IFOAM, 2008


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Agro-ecology

Diversity

Recycling

Healthy soil

Healthy crops

Healthy livestock

Healthy people

The four basic principles of organic agriculture

Endorsed by IFOAM, September 2005

Ecological and

social justiceFari Trade?

Precaution


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What is OA in developing countries?

Certified OA:

Oriented towardsproducts

Focused on few high-

value crops and quality Agro-organic methods

used in varying degrees

Gives access to themarket and better prices

Increasing market,globally

Will remain a niche inthe great number ofsmall householders

Non-certified/informal OA:

Agro-ecological farming systems

Conscious use of organic methods

Follows the principles or ideas of

IFOAM, - but is not neccesarily certified

Improving the soil fertility Using primarily local resources

Using diversity in time and space Promote natural regulation and

recycling

Decreasing the use of limitedressources


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Particularly useful in difficult environmentsReduces risk by encouraging localized input productionFostering soil and water conservationEncouraging the diversification of production (IFAD, 2005)

There seems to be a strongindication that the proliferation oforganic agriculture could be a viablestrategy to improve livelihoods in

Asias rural areas. (ESCAP, 2002)

OA can help raise the productivity and income

of low-input agricultural systems

OA is a viable approach that

can be suitable for smallholders.


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Organic Exports A way to a Better Life?Export Promotion of Organic Products from Africa

Organic Agriculture and Value Chains

Linking smallholders to markets: The EPOPA Experience

Pilot project in Eastern AfricaCocoa, coffee, tea, fresh and dried fruit, cotton and spices

80,000 farmers involved and trained, 1997-2007Price premiums and improved productivityFarm gate value of certified cash crop production: 15 Mio US$ yearly

Local processing factories for drying, canning etc.

Total export value > 30

Mio US$ (last season)Need for more innovation, uptake of agro-ecological methods and for institutional support

http://www.grolink.se/epopa/Publications/epopa-experience.htm


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Making diverse use of the certified organic landin a Chinese village,

- attracting new market players

Transplanting strawberries in paddy fields for exportof freeze dried berries to the US market

Organic Agriculture and Value Chains


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" organic agriculture can bemore conducive to foodsecurity than most conventionalsystems, and .. it is more likely

to be sustainable in thelong term."(UNEP-UNCTAD, 2008).

Organic Agriculture is a good

option for food security in Africa


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Region Number of countriesrepresented

Number ofprojectsanalysed

Number offarmers inprojects(millon)

Number ofhectares*million ha

Averagechange incrop yields**per cent

Africa*** 24 114 1,900,000 2.0 +116

East Africa 7 71 1,600,000 1.4 +128

Tanzania 1 9 27,000 0.06 +67

Uganda 1 17 241,000 0.68 +54

* rganic and near -organic agriculture, million ha** compared with beginning of projects, per cent*** all countries with data

AfterPretty et al., 2005

Yields of organic and

Agro-ecological agriculture in Africa


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Soil degradation

Erosion Compaction

Crusting and salinization

Nutrient mining

Loss of soil organic

matter

Food security

Yield reduction Efficiency of input use

reduced

Micro nutrientdeficiency

Soil degradation

and food security

Need for paradigm shift in land husbandry and

Principles and practices forsoil management

R. Lal, Food Security journal, 2009


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Mulching and recyclingorganic residues improve soil structure and

quality Water conservation and

water use efficiency

Adoption of diversifiedcropping systems,indigenous foods, GMOshigh in nutrients

Agro-forestry and mixedfarming

No-till agriculture On-farm experimentation

and adaptation

Use of micronutrient richfertilisers, nano-enhanced,Zeolites

Inoculating soils forimproved BiologicalNitrogen Fixation

Microbial processes toincrease P-uptake

Solutions for soil and food quality

improvements

With adoption of proven management options, global soilresources are adequate to meet food and nutritional needs of

the present and future population

R. Lal, 2009; Okalebo et al., 2006


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The organically treated soils were physically morestable, contained smaller amounts of soluble

nutrients and were found to be biologically moreactive than conventional. (DOK trials, Mder et al.,2002)

Under organic farming the soil organic matter

captures and retains more water in the crop rootzone. Water capture in organic fields can also be100% higher than in conventional fields duringtorrential rains. (Rodale Institute, 2008)

Organic Agriculture

and soil quality

Results from differentlong term experiments:


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OA is good for biodiversity and

biodiversity is good for OA

Organic farmers use moreAgro-ecological methods:

Mixed crop rotations, intercropping, Grasslands and green manure, H

abitats and non-farmed areas

Non-chemical pest management

Promoting functional diversitymeans enhancingand benefitting from Ecological service functions:

PollinationPest and disease preventionBiodiversity preservation,Soil qualityResilienceIn situ conservation of genes


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Meta analysis of comparative studies (Bengtsson et al., 2005):

Species richness 30% higher in organic farms (n=32)

Birds, Plants

Predatory insects, carabidae

Species abundance 50% higher in organic farms (n=117) Weeds, Soil organisms (earthworms)

Predatory insects, carabidae

Not potential pest species!

Same picture in review Hole et al., 2005 (n=76)

Causes for higher diversity and abundance under organic farming:Non use of pesticides & fertiliser

Friendly treatment of hedgerows and non-crop habitats on organic farms

Preservation of mixed farming and diversified land use

Agro-ecological methods could also be used in non-organic

- but in reality is not!

Organic Agriculture promotes biodiversityScienific evidence..


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Competitive productivity in low input Improved farm economy (less costly inputs and premium

prices in certified OA) Improved food security (availability, access, stability,

utilization) Improved soil health (fertility, stability, water-holding

capacity)

Improved biodiversity and landscape preservation Reduced risk of pesticide toxication and residues in food Reduced nutrient lossess from intensive systems Climate change adaptation and mitigation

Organic Agriculture contributes

to eco-functional intensification

Potentials of OA:

Innovation, adaptation of agro-ecological methods isneeded to obtain the full potential of OA


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Needs for Research and Innovation

in Organic Agriculture

Improvedintegrated

Crop /Livestock

manage-ment

ImprovedSoil

manage-ment

Improvedbiodiversity

for Pestmanage-

ment

Agroecology & EnvironmentImproved Food & Fibre ProductionValue

Chains &Economics

ImprovedMarketlinkages

andchains

Social

Capital

ImprovedHealth &Empow-erment

in ruralcommuni-ties

Eco-functional intensification is knowledge intensive


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Centre without walls

Coordinator of research programmes

Disseminating organic research results andknowledge: Organic E-prints

International board

Asia, Africa, America, Europe, IFOAM

Core Organic II

Collaboration with international funding bodies and

research organisations interested in supportingdevelopment of Organic food systems

www.icrofs.org

International Centre for Research

in Organic Food Systems (ICROFS)

www.orgprints.org

New multipartner initiative: ORCA..


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ICROFS Big Hairy Audacious Goal:

The principles of organic agriculture become

a global reference for sustainability in agriculture andfood systems

due to evidence based on research and adaptivemanagement.

Thank you

for your attention !


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`vuta sukuma = pull- pushsystemfor reducing stem borer and striga infestationin Maize and Sorghum in Eastern Africa

Trap cropsto attractmothsto reduced pestproblemsin crops: Napier and other fodder grasses

Intercropswith repellantproperties: legumes Striga controlbyintercropping withDesmodium

species(legumes)

Opportunitiesfor breeding and use of moleculargenetics

Example: Science for developmentof

agro-ecologicalmethods


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Needs for Research and Innovation

in Organic Agriculture

Improvedintegrated

Crop /Livestock

manage-ment

ImprovedSoil

manage-ment

Improvedbiodiversity

for Pestmanage-

ment

Agroecology & EnvironmentImproved Food & Fibre Production

Value

Chains &Economics

ImprovedMarketlinkages

and chains

Social

CapitalImprovedHealth &

Empower-mentin rural

communities


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Eco-functional intensification is knowledge intensive Develoment of agro-ecological methods

Adoption of agro-ecological methods

Value chain development for various markets

Organic agricultures place in de

velopment strategies

Evidence for decision makers

Global collaboration in research and innovation

The multi-dimensional

challenges of OA

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