OUTLOOK ON ORGANIC

FARMING FOR “GREENER” CAP

BEYOND 2013

ASSOC. PROF. DR. MARTINA BAVEC AND PROF. DR. FRANC BAVEC

UNIVERSITY OF MARIBOR FACULTY OF AGRICULTURE AND LIFE

SCIENCES , INSTITUTE FOR ORGANIC FARMING

NOVEMBER 12 -14, 2010, BLED, SLOVENIA

Greening the EU Common Agricultural Policy

Content

Terminology and some new questions

Conventional v.s. organic

Some examples (biodiversity, intercropping,

ecological foot print, ecological efficiency)

Situation and trends in organic farming

Agriculture in the future

Open questions and necessary changes

Conclusions

Sustainability…(Latin sustinere: sus – from below, tennere – to sustain)

The term „sustainable development‟ should be considered as a principle for sociology, philosophy, health care and geography in the concept of harmonious human development, and sustainable agriculture is a part of these integrated activities.

Sustainable agriculture was the first official term used for organic agriculture in Switzerland at the International Federation of Organic Agriculture (IFOAM) Congress in 1977 in Fishers‟ introduction - he explained that sustainable agriculture is based on nature friendly activities, the use of renewable sources in harmony with nature, including many sociological aspects.

End of the 80‟s this term is being used broader in agriculture – also for different types of conventional agriculture, and a term “organic”became official after Regulation 2092/91 in Europe – or ecological or biological in some states (Bavec et al., 2009).

"Sustainable development is development that meets the needs of the present

without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs

(Brundtland, 1987). And it bacame a base for all developement progrmes

Close to the nature – sustainable in

agriculture?

Terminology (IFOAM, USA Agric. Dep., Brussless, Slovenia…)

Bavec, M. in sod. (2009). Sustainable agriculture based on integrated and organic guidelines: understanding terms : The case of Slovenian development and strategy. Outlook Agric., letn. 38, št. 1, str. 89-95.

Use of GMO, chemicals,

all conventional

Close to the nature =

integrated (= controlled use

of chemical synthetical

pesticised, fertilizers, ban of

GMO)

Production methods – what to choose?

In Slovenia from 500.000 ha agricultural area:

- 30.000 ha organic farming on 2.000 farms

- 60.000 ha integrated production on 6.000 farms

Industrial = intensive:- without GMO

- with GMO

Traditional

GAP developement in Slovenia2008 CC all farmers, Global GAP

2007 Eurep GAP 6 farms with strawberries

2005 the first information's about CC2004 GAP in fertilizing - Rule by MAFF 2003 integrated field crop production

2001 GAP obligatory for farms getting any support2001 Organic farming rule by MAFF2000 first certified organic products2000 GAP guidelines by MAFF

1999 integrated grape production

1998 integrated vegetable production started1997 guidelines for organic productionMiddle of the 90’: GAP for the use of fertilizers

GAP for the use of pesticides1990 integrated fruit productionLate 80’ Rules for “good husbandry”

2007 – 2013 Agrienvironmental

Program as a part of RDP

2001-2006 Sloveneagri environmental

program (22 measures)

1999 first paymentsfor integrated

and organic production

2004 all Slovenia is nitrate sensitive area

Some open questions

“Green washing” of conventional agricultureDefinition –

When a company, government or other group promotes green-based environmental initiatives or

images but actually operates in a way that is damaging to the environment or in an opposite manner

to the goal of the announced initiatives. This can also include misleading customers about the

environmental benefits of a product through misleading advertising and unsubstantiated claims.

(http://www.investopedia.com/terms/g/greenwashing.asp)

“Ecological intensification”Ecological intensification means designing sustainable production systems that save on inputs and are less

harmful to the environment. It also means developing varieties better suited to their environment, and

inventing new pest and disease control techniques. Lastly, it means understanding how nature functions so as

to exploit its resources without destroying it, and breaking with practices based on intensive, massive use of

pesticides, chemical fertilizers, water and fossil fuels. (CIRAD France)

Conventionalisation‟ of organic farmingDarnhofer , I. et al. 2010. Conventionalisation of organic farming practices: from structural

criteria towards an assessment based on organic principles. A review. Agron. Sustain. Dev.

Volume 30, Number 1, p. 67-81

„Conventionalisation‟ of organic farming?

Organic farming is widely perceived as being more environmentally friendly than conventional

farming. As a form of sustainable agriculture, it receives substantial support from policy for its

contribution to environmental protection as well as the provision of amenities such as biodiversity

and cultural landscapes. Consumers are attracted to organic foods as they are produced without

synthetic chemicals and comply with higher animal welfare standards.

Although organic farming certainly has the potential to fulfil these expectations, studies have shown

that some certified organic farms do not. Their practices comply with the regulations, but not

with the principles of organic farming.

To strengthen organic farming‟s transformative potential, the debate must move beyond its focus on

the bifurcation between artisanal and conventionalised organic farms, so as to capture the full

range of empirical heterogeneity. Core argument is that to adequately understand the dynamics

within organic farming and their potential impact on the ability of organic farming to fulfil the

expectations of consumers and policy-makers, it is not sufficient to focus on structural changes.

Asessment is needed - whether or not the observed changes comply with the principles and

values that are the fundament of organic farming.

Darnhofer , I. et al. 2010. Conventionalisation of organic farming practices: from structural

criteria towards an assessment based on organic principles. A review. Agron. Sustain. Dev.

Volume 30, Number 1, p. 67-81.

CONVENTIONAL / INDUSTRY / INTENSIVE

AGRICULTURE

Did not assured food safety and stabilitiy in the world

Food scandals (BSE, dioxin, pesticides, nitrates,… GMO? )

Has negatie environmental effects on

soil,

water,

air - GHG,

biodiversity,

animal wellfare is not respected,

threat for the health of people

26

Michigan study on global organic food

production (Badgley at al. 2007)

Compared present global food production with 100%

organic scenarios

Relative organic crop yields, average of 293 field

experiments

in developed world 96% of conventional

in developing world 213% of conventional

Food security Kcal/capita

Present global food availability 2785

Estimated global food availability after conversion

All yields as in developed world 2634

Higher yields in developing world 4878

Kilcher L., Zundel C. 2007. How Organic Agriculture Contributes to Food Availability. Conference onOrganic Agriculture and Food Security, 3 – 5 May 2007 FAO, Rome

Low input

High input

Yield

Time

Conversion 3-5 years after conversion

Yield development

after conversion

Organic agriculture with less trade-offs between ecosystem services. /

Huge efforts needed to make conventional agriculture sustainable.

0

20

40

60

80

100

Yield (productivity)

Yield (stability)

Organo-leptic food quality

Nutritional food quality

Animal welfare

Preventive livestock health

Farm diversity

Field diversity

Species diversity

Water ecolgy

Recycling of nutrients

Soil fertility

Soil conservation techniques

Global warming potential

No trade-offs betweenecosystem services

Organic with livestock

ORGANIC CONVENTIONAL

0

20

40

60

80

100

Yield (productivity)

Yield (stability)

Organo-leptic food quality

Nutritional food quality

Animal welfare

Preventive livestock health

Farm diversity

Field diversity

Species diversity

Water ecolgy

Recycling of nutrients

Soil fertility

Soil conservation techniques

Global warming potential

No trade-offs betweenecosystem services

No-till cropping (con)

Niggli U., Slabe A., Schlüter,M., Schmid O. 2008. A vision for organic food and farming research

2025. Side-event at U.N. Commission for Sustainable Development, 6. May 2008

• Creation of stabileecosystem based on biodiversity

• High soil fertility byincreasing soil livingorganisms and share ofhumusa

• Use of to agroenvironmetaddapted crops, varieties… races ofanimals

• Closed cycles ofmaterials andenergy

plants animals

man soil

BAN of

synthetic pesticides ,

mineral fertilizers, GMO

BAN of

preventive veterinary

treatments, tied animals, GMO

feed

What is organic farming?

EC Regulation 834/2007, 889/2008

Bavec M. et al. Sredstva in smernice za ekološko kmetijstvo. Maribor, p.15

Animal wellfare

or

Meny demands from organic farming are becaming

obligatory also in conventional farming!

Examples from animal production:

Ban on use ingredients of animal origin in feedstuffs

(after BSE crises)

Ban /change of egg production

in cages

Having calves tied (CC)

15

26

“Output”s of organic agriculture

• Tasty and healthy food from the highest quality

• Environment protection (soil, water, air)

• Preserving biodiversity

• Animal welfare

• Short food supply chains

• Healthy working place

Organic

agriculture is

the only

realy

sustainable

agriculture

production

system!

Organic farming – care of the cultural

landscape

Countryside Stewardship

Hedge rowsMarginsPollen and nectar producersArable reversion

Impacts on the delivery of biodiversity through Agri-Environment

Schemes

http://www.authorstream.com/Presentation/Cuthbert-35883-agriculture-Climate-change-extreme-

weather-leave-us-hungry-University-Warwick-HRI-Depa-as-Entertainment-ppt-powerpoint

Norton, L.R. et al. 2006. The benefits of organic farming for biodiversity.

Aspects of Applied Biology 79

http://orgprints.org/10220/1/The_benefits_of_organic_farming_for_biodiversity.pdf

Estimated scale of responses to organic farming

Biodiversity

Effective conservation of biodiversity is essential for human survival and the

maintenance of ecosystem processes. Despite some conservation successes

(especially at local scales) and increasing public and government interest in

living sustainably, biodiversity continues to decline. Moving beyond 2010,

successful conservation approaches need to be reinforced and

adequately financed. In addition, however, more radical changes are

required:

that recognize biodiversity as a global public good,

that integrate biodiversity conservation into policies and decision

frameworks for resource production and consumption,

and that focus on wider institutional and societal changes to enable more

effective implementation of policy.

Rands, R.W.M. et al. 2010. Biodiversity Conservation: Challenges Beyond

2010, Science magazine, 10. sept. 2010, pp. 1298 - 1303

Intercropping(Mixed cropping, Polycropping,..)• Brings higher biodiversity ant it can be a tool

to improve crop rotation!

• Yields

• Nutrients

• Weeds

• Pests

• Diseases

Land Equivalent

RatioLER > 1< 1

LER: Comparison of yields of sole and intercroping production(sum of relative yields of both components)

LER = (Y1 int / Y1 sole) + (Y2 int / Y2 sole)(Mead and Willey, 1980)

Example: White cabbage and 6 intercrops

Productivity and growth of white cabbage

(Brassica oleracea L. var. capitata f. alba

DC.) and six vegetables (lettuce, bean,

leek, tomato, celery and red beat)

planted as intercrops were investigated

in three years (2007-2009) experiments

managed according to organic farming

rules (EC 834, 2007 and EC 889, 2008)

on the field conditions in the North East

of Slovenia.

Trials were a part of the national research

project CRP Intercropping – Alternative

for reducing inputs in vegetable and field

crop production done on the UM.

Treatments WY (t/ha)

MY (t/ha)

RY LER

Cabbage 73.50a 41.07a 1.00 -

Cabbage : Lettuce 70.06ab 40.94a 0.98 1.48

Cabbage : Bean 49.31d 30.10b 0.73 1.21

Cabbage : Red beet 68.19ab 43.04a 1.05 1.27

Cabbage : Tomato 47.93d 27.93b 0.68 1.62

Cabbage : Leek 61.15bc 32.76b 0.80 1.16

Cabbage : Cellery 56.59cd 32.94b 0.80 1.27

Yields (whole - WY, marketable – MY and relative – RY ) of white cabbage with different intercrops and Land Equivalent Ratio (LER)

a, b, c, d – mean values indicated with different letters are significantly different (Duncan test; α = 0,05).

Bavec et al. 2010. CRP Intercropping – Alternative for reducing inputs in vegetable and field crop

production

Climate change – organic agriculture has for 40-60% less GHG

emissions compared to integrated and conventional farming

Ecological foot print of 5 plants in different production systems

Ecological foot print of production systems

Source: Basic research projct “Food quality dependent on different production system.” done on

UM in collaboration with TU Graz

Cabbage – ecological foot print

http://www.bestfootforward.com/edia/bff/img/splitfoot.gif

Kontrola Konvencionalno Integrirano Ekološko Biodinamično

0,0

100000,0

200000,0

300000,0

400000,0

500000,0

600000,0

700000,0

Zelje

Gnojila in škropiva

Delovni stroji

Dokup semen

Pridelovalna površina

Ok

olj

sk

i o

dti

s (

m²)

Control

Connven

Integra

Organic

Biodyn.

Productionarea

Machinery

Fertilizers and pesticides

Ecological foot print

Ecological footprint of beetroot and cabbage in different production systems. Opatija 2010.

Matjaž Turinek, Maja Turinek, Silva Grobelnik Mlakar, Franc Bavec, Martina Bavec

Ecological efficiency of production systems

From the attained footprint an additional ecological efficiency of production systems was calculated using the following

equation:

Ecological efficiency of production =

Ecological footprintYield

The SPI as calculated by Eq. (1) gives an indication of the “cost” in terms of ecological sustainability of a given product or service

(Sandholzer and Narodoslawsky, 2007). The number indicates what fraction of the overall “ecological budget”of a production system is used to provide this good or service. Lower values indicate better ecological efficienccy.

Ecological footprint of beetroot and cabbage in different production systems. Opatija 2010.Matjaž Turinek, Maja Turinek, Silva Grobelnik Mlakar, Franc Bavec, Martina Bavec

Ecological efficiency of production systems – oil pumpkins

(m2/kg yield)

Kontrola

Konv encionalno

Integrirano

Ekološko

Biodinamično

0

200

400

600

800

1000

1200

Oljne buče

Indeks o

koljske u

čin

kovitosti (

m² k

gˉ¹)

Source: Basic research projct “Food quality dependent on different

production system.” done on UM in collaboration with TU Graz - Diploma

work of M. Turinek (2009)

Situation and vision of organic agriculture

Trend in the world, in Europe and also in Slovenia

Increasing demand by informed consumers

The highest quality (production without GMO, synthetic pesticides, preventive use of antibiotics, growth hormones,…)

Known as a tool to reduce negative environmental impact of agriculture (less GHG, lower energy consumption,…)

OF is an oppurtunity for

Natura 2000 36%

LFA 85%

Water protection regions

OF can bring new working places on

protected areas (Natura 2000,…)

Slovenian Action Plan for Organic Farming

Some goals until 2015:

15 % of all farms organic,

20 % of UAA organic,

10 % share of organic food on market

Increasing of organic tourist farms to 120 (3x

more)

Accepted by Slovene Goverment (in November,2005)

2009

Area (ha)

all

with

organic

farming

in

conver-

sion

total

share

of

total

(%)

Utilised agricultural area (UAA)

- total492,424 25,816 3,572 29,398 6.0

Arable land 180,303 2,382 540 2,922 1.6

of which

vegetables

and strawberries

3,545 112 12 124 3.5

Permanent grassland 285,973 22,669 2,764 25,433 8.9

Orchards 8,928 648 132 780 8.7

Vineyards 16,086 91 113 204 1.3

Olive groves 910 27 23 50 5.5

Nurseries 224 - - - -

Land use by type of farming in Slovenia, 2009

http://www.stat.si/eng/novica_prikazi.aspx?id=3291

Year

Agriculture holdings2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009

With organic

farming115 322 412 632 910 1,220 1,393 1,610 1,789 1,853

In conversion

Summ

485

600

678

1,000

748

1,160

783

1,415

672

1,582

498

1,718

483

1,876

390

2,000

278

2,067

243

2,096

Agriculture holdings with organic farming and agriculture holdings in conversion, Slovenia, 2009

Source: Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Food

The number of agricultural holdings with organic farming keeps

increasing, but the number of newly registered agricultural

holdings in conversion showed a downward trend.

Slovenian Action Plan for Organic Farming –

situation in 2010 v.s. goals for 2015

Število ekoloških kmetij v kontroli

0

500

1000

1500

2000

2500

1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007

Leto

Šte

vilo

km

etij

3 % 15 %

Ekološko obdelane površine v kontroli

0

5000

10000

15000

20000

25000

30000

1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007

Leto

Hektarji

6 % 20 %

Inspected farms Organic farming area

Agriculture in the future?

Food - energy

"The limits of growth are met and spoken to a thinking in circles again. Agriculture is facing a profound change because of biological resources can be described only with the paradoxical concept of a 'limited infinity'. They will in time be available indefinitely, but can not substitute for continued growth in business just fossil fuels. An estimated net primary production of about 50-60 Gt / a is of biogenic carbon compared with an estimated consumption of about 45 Gt / a of carbon in 2050, when energy, chemical raw materials and food will be covered so that would serve virtually the whole of nature for man” (Narodoslawsky, nov. 2007, Alpe Adria Biosymposium).

What areas of supply (food, energy, raw materials) should be to covered agriculture?

Where are the limits of demands in order to ensure long-term fertility of the soil (water, humus, nutrients)?

What is the contribution of agriculture in reducing the dangerous ecological problems (fixation of carbon in the soil to reduce the greenhouse effect) and what should be paid for these services?

What logistics should be created to permit the return of remains?

Some open questions of organic farming?

How can organic farmers produce enough food in ecologically,

environmentally and socially sustainable ways without

adopting a specialized industrial model of production and

distribution?

How can advocates of organic farming promote an agriculture

that is local, small-scale and family operated, biologically and

culturally diverse, humane, and socially just?

Is it possible to replace the industrial agriculture model with a

new vision of farming deeply rooted in the original precepts

of organic agriculture?Altieri and Nicholls, 2005. Agroecology

and the Search for a Truly Sustainable Agriculture

Necessary changes include the following:

• Increase public investments in agroecological research methods with active participation of organic

farmers, thus replacing top-down transfer of standardized technology model with participatory

technology development and farmer-centred research and extension, emphasizing principles rather

than recipes or technological packages.

• Changes in policies to stop subsidies of conventional technologies and to provide support and

incentives for agro ecological approaches.

• Appropriate equitable market opportunities including fair market access and expand local farmers

markets and CSAs (Community Supported Agriculture or subscription farming) with pricing systems

accessible to all.

• Create policies that intervene in the market by opening opportunities for local organic producers

(i.e. ordinances that mandate all food served in school and university cafeterias should be organic).

• Democratize and provide flexibility to the certification process, encouraging appearance of solidarious

(no-cost certification, based on mutual trust) locally adapted certification.

• Include farm size and social-labour considerations in organic standards, and limit certification

against operations that leave a large ecological footprint.

Therefore, a major challenge for the future entails promoting institutional and policy

changes to realize the full potential of a truly organic approach.

Altieri and Nicholls, 2005. Agroecology and the Search for a Truly Sustainable Agriculture

39

Beside all Bio - Technological development in agriculture and food processing in the last century…

World food secutity is threatened,

More and more civilisation illnesses in developed world,

Model of industrial agriculture brought numeurous environmental problems.

TODAY TOMORROW?consumers

market

producers

consumers

producers

market

GlobalisationNot fair

paymentsEnvironmental

problems

Local food for local market

Working places in the region

Lower transport costs

Less pollution

New

partner-

ship, CSA

Eurobarometer,

march 2010

EU

N=26.761

SI

N=1.017

Vojtech, V. (2010), “Policy Measures Addressing Agrienvironmental Issues”, OECD Food, Agriculture and Fisheries Working Papers, No. 24, OECD Publishing. doi: 10.1787/5kmjrzg08vvb-en

Agri-environmental payments applied in OECD countries in 2008

Some new trends

Conclusions

Future of »green« agriculture depends on initial

ideas and development of organic farming, which

is the only real promotor and the mirror for other

production systems, when it comes to the question

on how to manage agriculture more sustainably.

The ecological intensification of agriculture depends

on simple and clear ecological oriented CAP, which

will not support the partly »green washing« of

conventional agriculture or »conventionalisation«

of organic farming.

Conclusions

The basic principles for the development of »green«

oriented agriculture at the field level are

additional to official supported measures based

on payments in order to promote crop biodiversity

to include more:

alternative crops,

intercrops

and better support for:

hedgerows and

margin strips.

Conclusions

Indicators for the evaluation of field-farm sustainability

should include the fundamental knowledge from the

field level and take into account at least three aspects

of sustainability, namely environmental, economical, and

social functions, which are through environmental-

production-processing-social-food chain described in this

contribution in case of alternative crops.

One of the most promising indicators for measuring

interdisciplinary effects of sustainable development,

including field level, from the attained footprint is

ecological efficiency of production.

Direction of farming for the future?

Industrial or Organic

Thank you for your attention!26