Organic Agriculture 2017/ nd Lecture. Dr. Abdellatif El-Sebaay

Transcription

1 Organic Agriculture 2017/ 2018 Dr. Abdellatif El-Sebaay 2 nd Lecture Dr. Abdellatif El-Sebaay Sunday 22 October 2017

2 Stop Traditional Agriculture- Why? Over 400 chemicals are being regularly used in conventional farming to kill weeds, insects and other pests that feed on crops. Some crops are being sprayed up to 16 times with 36 different pesticides. Pesticides are Carcinogenic (such as DDT that was banned in 1973 in the US).

3 Organophosphates are: -The most dangerous pesticides. -The most widely used. -Cheap cost and broad spectrum of uses. -Many million tons are applied annually. -Very poisonous and were used in the World War II as nerve agents. -Reduce the ability of cholinesterase to regulate a neurotransmitter called acetylcholine.

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5 Advantages Fewer blemishes on crops Produce is cheaper Antibiotics use keeps animals healthy Bigger yields from land available Fewer workers needed Large numbers of animals kept in ideal conditions Use of hormones increases meat production Animals lead happier lives More birds and insects Soil structure is better Organic farming No harmful chemicals healthier? Less harmful to environment

6 Disadvantages Chemicals stay in soil Chemicals wash into rivers Hedgerow habitats destroyed Man-made chemicals used Animals live in crowded conditions Natural predators destroyed More expensive Organic farming More farm workers needed More blemishes on crops Smaller yields

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8 Organic agriculture = Refraining from mineral fertilizers and synthetic pesticides.

9 Organic farming tries to meet the increased needs of the growing population Over the last few decades, the focus in agriculture typically shifted from mainly subsistence agriculture (for own consumption) to market production (for gaining a financial income). In many countries, the density of population increased tremendously and many traditional farming systems have been unable to meet the yield expectations of the farmers. Due to reduced fallow periods, overgrazing or exploitative cultivation, many traditionally farmed areas face severe degradation. At the same time, high yielding crop varieties have been introduced which are more prone to diseases. Organic farming tries to meet the increased needs of the growing population while not risking the long-term productivity of the farmland.

10 Many methods and techniques of organic agriculture have originated from various traditional farming systems all over the world. However, not all traditional systems make use of these methods, sometimes for the simple reason that they are not known in a specific reason. In addition, organic farming disposes of a rather modern technologies such as the use of antagonistic microbes in pest management, high yielding but disease resistance varieties or the use of highly efficient green manure plants.

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12 In Organic Farming Artificial fertilizers are banned. Organic farmers use animal manure, compost and human sewage, (which has been heated to destroy any harmful microbes) to make their crops grow. Green manure: Plants are grown, then ploughed in and left to rot. Worms, insects and bacteria underground are always working on making the soil good. By using a process called Crop Rotation (changing the crop grown each year), the farmer can keep a good soil for many years.

13 It is illegal to sell produce as organic if it hasn t been produced that way. Farmers must keep to National Standards. Artificial chemicals are banned. Artificial fertilizers and pesticides in the soil have to be below a certain level. Animals must be allowed to move freely, given organic feed but no artificial hormones.

14 How can we produce enough food without destroying our planet? 1- Organic farming and soil: Central concept of soil fertility in Organic Farming systems is the use of legume-based multi-annual rotations together with the careful use of on-farm manures. Builds soil structure and soil fertility, rehabilitates poor soils and brings degraded soils back into productivity. Reduces erosion caused by wind and water. Maintains productivity in the event of drought, irregular rainfall events, with floods and rising temperatures.

15 2- Organic farming and climate change: Adaptation: Increases the water retention capacity of soils. Increases biodiversity which builds resilience to storms, heat and increased pest and disease pressure. Humus accumulation is one of the most effective adaptation strategies on climate change.

16 Mitigation: Less CO2 is produced with organic food because of the use of organic fertilizer instead of commercial fertilizer. Less CO2 with organic food because it uses less energy than conventional farming. Low external inputs lower GHG emissions (no chemical nitrogen fertilizer use). Higher carbon sequestration in soils prevent climate change. Development of soil as a major carbon sink.

17 3- Organic farming and resource scarcity: Example oil/ fossil fuels: Lower energy consumption (fertilizer production etc.). Example phosphorus: Organic Farming systems make use of many practices to reduce the need for mineral phosphate (better nutrient recycling, better soil structure, crops with high uptake efficiency).

18 4- Organic farming and productivity: Increased agricultural productivity by an average of 79%, by adopting resource-conserving or ecological agriculture in developing countries. Model estimates indicate that organic methods could produce enough food on a global per capita basis to sustain the current human population, and potentially an even larger population, without increasing the agricultural land base.

19 5- Organic farming and biodiversity: As an ecosystem based sustainable production system Organic farming relies on the utilization of biodiversity and the optimal utilization of ecosystem services. Organic agriculture on average shows higher biodiversity on its fields than conventional. A higher biodiversity in organic farming, both in wild and domestic biodiversity, make organic farming systems more resilient to climate change.

20 Questions 1- In a table, compare between the advantage and disadvantage of Intensive Farming and Organic Farming. 2- What are the main components of Organic Farming? 3- In Organic Farming artificial fertilizers are banned- Explain. 4- Write short notes on Organic Farming and Soil Fertility. 5- Write short notes on Organic Farming and Climate Change. 6- Write short notes on Organic Farming and Productivity. 7- Write short notes on Organic Farming and Biodiversity.

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