Organic Agriculture

The use of modern chicken genotypes with high egg or meat performance results in the ethically unacceptable practice of culling day-old male layer chicks because of their inefficient fattening performance. Dual-purpose genotypes with a balanced performance profile for both eggs and meat are one option to avoid this practice. In this study, four chicken crosses of a layer breed (White Rock or New Hampshire) and the meat breed Bresse Gauloise were compared under the conditions of organic agriculture. Purebred Bresse Gauloise and the layer hybrid Lohmann Sandy served as controls. Part 1 of this study focused on the fattening performance of the cockerels, which were reared together with the pullets. The birds were housed in a floor system (9.9–20.7 kg live weight per m2 at the end of week 15) with access to a green outdoor run. Live weight of the crosses before slaughter at the age of 15 weeks ranged between 2355 and 2447 g and did not differ significantly between the genotypes. With average daily gains of 22.1–22.8 g, the crosses grew slower than Bresse Gauloise males (26.1 g) but faster than Lohmann Sandy males (15.9 g). Welfare assessment indicated a generally high level of welfare with no foot pad lesions or hock burns on any of the cockerels. Fattening dual-purpose cockerels can therefore be an ethically desirable option with a high level of animal welfare and a better fattening performance than in male layer chicks, but still requires more resources than the fattening of specialised broilers.

A study was conducted in 2013 to assess opportunities and challenges of integrating dairy cattle into organic pineapple production in Uganda. Thirty organic pineapple farmers were interviewed using a semi-structured questionnaire. The main dairy cattle management systems were tethering (73%) and zero grazing (27%). Average landholding was 1.74 ± 1.06 and 3.75 ± 2.70 ha for zero grazing and tethering systems, respectively. All farms were diversified with various livestock such as cattle, goats, sheep, pigs, and chickens and crops including pineapples, maize, coffee, bananas, beans, sweet potatoes, and cassava. The level of integration of dairy cattle into pineapple production depended on the distance of crop fields from the livestock enterprises. More farms (83%) with pineapple fields closer (< 0.5 km) to the homesteads were able to use cattle manure as fertilizer compared to homesteads (50%) with more distant fields (> 0.5 km). The distance to the homestead did not influence 30% of the farmers who used crop residues for feeding dairy cattle. Farmers perceived cattle diseases and feed scarcity to be the major challenges in dairy farming. The sources of risk on the farms were perceived to be erratic rainfall, limited knowledge, and market for organic products. Majority of farmers (77%) expressed willingness to convert to organic dairy production. Availability of markets for organic dairy products (36%) and reduction of external input use (26%) were the main reasons for farmers’ willingness to convert. Integrating dairy cattle with pineapple production is an opportunity for closed nutrient cycles and income diversification. However, knowledge, access to inputs, and organized markets are needed as incentive for conversion to organic dairy production.

The present study aimed to identify the sustainability dimensions and components of the supply chain for organic agricultural products in Ilam province. In addition, it was considered qualitative research with respect to the general paradigm, involving aspects that elaborate on economic sustainability and social sustainability. Supposing that organic orchard products were organic foods in the study, samples were selected among the producers, suppliers, and consumers of organic orchard products in Ilam province. Also, several Iranian experts were interviewed by the snowball sampling technique as a purposive method in order to assess the topic holistically. Further, the data were collected through individual and focus group interviews with semi-structured questions. In this regard, each in-depth interview moderately lasted 20–30 min and started with an open question. After conducting several interviews, theoretical saturation was achieved, and the process of data collection was ended, which means no new data were obtained from further interviews. Furthermore, traditional content analysis (conventional) was applied to analyze the data by considering the nature of the study. Producers are suggested to utilize sustainable supply chain since its implementation in producing organic agricultural crops results in decreasing health cost, increasing incentive and productivity, and providing better working conditions. Based on the proposed model, it is recommended that the producers of organic agricultural crops have a formulated plan in the intended dimensions and develop sustainability reports by evaluating the crops periodically. Finally, much attention should be paid to improving the communications and education of producers for enhancing the social dimension.

Orchard floor management impacts soil conditions and thus tree performance. This research was initiated to investigate the effects of alternative orchard floor management systems compatible with organic production on soil parameters using the “Pacific Gala” apple cultivar (Malus × domestica Borkh.) on three rootstocks of varying vigor. Alfalfa hay mulch, propane flame burner, and Swiss sandwich system (combination of resident vegetation and tilled strips) were compared from 2001 to 2005. These treatments were applied to tree rows which provided different vegetation-free areas. Contrasting additions of organic matter were evaluated for their effect on soil organic matter (SOM), C content, nitrate and ammonium availability, moisture, and soil food web through nematode populations. Laboratory incubations to determine C and N mineralization potentials were performed. During this time period, SOM increased under the mulched soil and slightly less under the Swiss sandwich system (SSS) but in this last case without external inputs. Carbon and N pools were not impacted by flame burning (FL) but were enhanced by alfalfa hay mulch (MU) and to a lesser extent by SSS. Nitrate-N content in soil under MU increased between five and ten times compared to SSS and FL. Total number of nematodes was higher for SSS and MU compared with FL treatment; however, SSS had the most structured soil food web, an important sustainability trait, while MU had the least.

The interest in growing and feeding locally produced feeds is increasing. Case studies in Sweden have shown that feeds grown on-farm are more environmentally favourable than imported feeds, partly due to the lower energy requirements for transport. Full fat rapeseed (FFRS) and its co-product cold-pressed rapeseed cake (CRC) can both be locally produced, and CRC has been proven to be suitable for dairy cows. In both feeds, fat content limits the amount that can be supplemented in the diet, and less FFRS than CRC can be used. However, in a previous study with scenario calculations, CRC showed lower profitability than FFRS. The present study examined how milk yield and milk composition were influenced by feeding FFRS compared with CRC in organic diets and calculated the farm profitability on each occasion. The study was performed using 56 Swedish Holstein cows in different lactation stages. Diets were 100 % organic, including a mixed ration (silage, grains and minerals) fed ad libitum and a restricted amount of concentrates (field beans together with either CRC or ground FFRS). There were no significant differences in milk yield and composition between the diets. However, cows fed FFRS had a higher intake of the mixed ration than cows fed CRC. Cows fed CRC had the highest profitability in later lactation, whereas the diets were economically similar during early lactation.

The use of several plant protection inputs of mineral origin, such as copper, sulphur or mineral oils is seen as contentious by many consumers and stakeholders within the organic sector. Although the use of these inputs is legal in organic systems and also applied in non-organic agriculture, their use by organic growers raises questions for organic practice, which aspires to be free from toxic, non-renewable chemicals. Data on the current use of permitted plant protection inputs is currently scarce, especially in horticulture where chemical inputs deserve special attention since horticultural products are often readily edible. A mapping of the use of copper, sulphur and mineral oils was conducted by collecting expert knowledge across 10 European countries during May–October 2018, i.e. before the limitation of copper use to 4 kg ha−1 year−1 from February 1, 2019. Results show that copper is widely used by Mediterranean organic growers in citrus, olive, tomato and potato production. The annual limit of 6 kg ha−1 year−1 was not always respected. We also found that tomato producers apply high amounts of copper in winter crops in greenhouses. Mineral oils are applied to control scales, mites and whiteflies. Sulphur is also commonly used by organic vegetable growers, especially in greenhouses. We conclude that the high usage found in various different crops (especially Mediterranean crops) confirms the need for researching alternatives.

Increasing organic production is one of the strategic objectives of the Finnish agricultural policy. Despite the positive developments observed during the last decade, reaching the objectives set by the Finnish government remains challenging. The contributions of this study are twofold. Firstly, this study provides new empirical evidence on productive performance of organic crop farming in Finland and explains observed gap between average output of organic and conventional farms. Specifically, we use the most recent available farm-level data and analyze the performance of organic crop farms over the period 2010–2017. Secondly, to estimate the performance gap between the organic and conventional crop farms, we apply one-stage semi-nonparametric regression. This approach alleviates the endogeneity problem of the commonly used two-stage estimation approaches, providing robust estimates without restrictive functional form assumptions. Our results reveal a significant performance gap between organic and conventional farming. However, the difference between productive performance of organic and conventional crop farms has been decreasing over the years. Moreover, a positive trend is revealed in organic production at the end of the study period.

The use of fossil-based plastics used for packing organic foods is under the lens of the organic movement because of the contrast with the organic farming principles and its negative impact on the environment. Bioplastics, which can be bio-based and biodegradable, are a promising solution to address the various issues, i.e. social and environmental, caused by the intense use of conventional plastics. Nevertheless, using bioplastics as a more sustainable solution in the food packaging industry is still controversial. It involves a variety of opinions, consensus, and disagreements among food supply chain actors. The present study investigated stakeholders’ viewpoints regarding the acceptance of bio-based packaging in the Italian organic food supply chain. Individual perspectives from a selected group of organic stakeholders (producers, distributors, and researchers) were captured by applying the Q methodology. Two relevant divergent views were identified, as well as consensus agreements. The study shows how Q methodology can effectively discover the most relevant viewpoints about an emerging topic.

Health, welfare and production problems of organic suckling piglets are poorly known due to a lack of information from commercial farms and the paucity of experiments run under organic standards. However, taking into account the accumulated knowledge on the biology of pigs, the few results obtained in organic pig production and those from conventional practice when characteristics are close to those of organic farms, it is possible to identify the main health and welfare problems encountered by suckling piglets in organic farms as well as the hazards for such problems. The main problems concern congenital defects, mortality, hunger and thirst, cold stress, health disorders, low growth rate, predation (when outdoors), pain and health consequences of castration. Since mortality, hunger, thirst, low growth rate, chilling and health disorders are highly interrelated, the hazards for these problems were analysed simultaneously. The present review points out several hazards that can be related either to the animal's characteristics, to the housing system or to the management. Among the most important hazards are a high litter size, elevated sow parity, excessive or insufficient ambient temperature, draught, grouping sows during lactation, insufficient protection against predators and degraded pastures for outdoor farms. Issues with particular importance for organic production concern the microclimate surrounding new born piglets, the hygiene management, the selection of genotypes adapted to organic farming and the supervision of animals around birth. On the other hand, piglets from organic farms benefit from large space, long lactation and environmental enrichment that allow them to perform their natural behaviour in good conditions.