Organic Agriculture

This study aimed to identify organic dairy major farm types (MFTs) in seven European countries, describe these MFTs in an open research database and assess central characteristics of the MFTs. This was conducted in a three-step procedure including (1) Identification of organic MFTs in seven European countries: Austria, Switzerland, Germany, Denmark, Lithuania, Poland and Sweden, based on existing data from dairy databases and consultations with experts within the respective fields of knowledge; (2) Collection of data on farm characteristics, management procedures, production level and herd health from at least 10 farms per MFT and country and (3) Creating an open research database on MFT characteristics, description of essential characteristics of MFTs and assessment of similarities and differences between farms within and across MFTs. The results indicate variations in herd characteristics such as production level, herd size, farm size, housing system, milking system and cow health status between organic dairy farms in these seven European countries. It also indicates variations in management strategies such as feeding, animal health management and recruitment strategies across the organic dairy sector in Europe. These variations seem to be associated with differences between regions and countries in the conditions for organic dairy production, such as topography, land availability and regulations.

Sustainability assessment of agri-food-systems is becoming increasingly important due to growing negative environmental, social, and economic impacts of food production. Organic agriculture is often considered to play a key role in improving the sustainability of agri-food systems. This study contrasts the results of a comprehensive sustainability assessment of Austrian organic farms with those predicted by a sustainability assessment model of conventional production. A stratified random sampling procedure was applied to select 245 organic farms for sustainability assessment using the SMART farm tool based on the SAFA guidelines of the FAO. Comparison data from conventional production were based on expert interviews, statistical data, and scientific literature and calculated using a Monte Carlo uncertainty simulation. The achievement of the sustainability goals was measured in percentages—between 0 and 100%. The results highlight the consistently good ecological sustainability performance of organic farms in the areas of atmosphere, water, soil, biodiversity, materials and energy, and animal welfare. For the relevant sub-themes, 85.3% of the median values were rated above 60% of goal achievement. Conversely, results from the comparison highlight the significantly lower ecological sustainability performance of conventional farms in most of the ecological sub-themes. The most significant differences were evident for poultry production, pig fattening production, and storable vegetable production. The consistently better ecological sustainability performance of the surveyed organic farms in Austria points to their potential for reducing the negative ecological impacts of agriculture and food production while enhancing ecological sustainability.

The main objective of this study is to compare the communication networks and information sources related to the pest management used by organic and conventional hazelnut growers in Samsun Province, Turkey. The main data were collected from hazelnut growers through survey forms, and the interviews were also conducted with the participation of information sources in the network. We used descriptive statistics to analyse the socioeconomic characteristics of organic and conventional hazelnut growers; the use of different pest management strategies and the attitudes towards pesticide use were analysed with KAP approach, and the growers’ communication networks were analysed and compared using SNA. According to the results of the study, the scores of the organic hazelnut growers were higher than the conventional hazelnut growers in terms of land size, sales price, membership to an agricultural organization and labour needs. The organic growers were leading farmers. The organic hazelnut growers shared their experiences and local knowledge among themselves. However, their local knowledge should be supported with scientific information.

Soil samples at thirty (30) USDA organic-certified mixed vegetable farms in Michigan, USA were obtained and analyzed for their percentage of soil organic matter (SOM). The intent was to characterize the changes in SOM content, specifically the overall change since organic certification, the patterns of increase or decline, and whether certain agricultural practices are associated with levels of SOM. A short survey of farmers provided supplemental information about each sampling site, including tillage practices, pesticide use, and cover crops. The results indicate a significant majority (24/30) of organic farms showed increases in the percentage of organic matter content, with one farm exhibiting no change and five farms decreasing. These results were achieved in a variety of soil textures, climatic conditions, and over durations from 1–17 years of organic certification. Organic farms had more than twice the percentage of soil organic matter as the ten (10) conventional farms used as a benchmark. In addition, the soil at the sampled organic farms exhibited high positive correlations between SOM and cation exchange capacity, and between pH and cation exchange capacity. Tillage mean depth at those farms increasing their percentages of organic matter was 70% lower than those farms with decreasing percentages of SOM, which suggests low-till or no till practices may help preserve organic matter. In combination with other management methods, such as cover crop usage and soil amendments, a key indicator of soil health was improved and sustained—a primary objective of organic farming.

Mục tiêu chiến lược của chính sách thực phẩm Phần Lan là phát triển nông nghiệp và sản xuất thực phẩm như một lĩnh vực có sự mở rộng mạnh mẽ. Kể từ năm 2010, vai trò của thực phẩm hữu cơ được nhấn mạnh trong nỗ lực cải thiện khả năng cạnh tranh của lĩnh vực thực phẩm Phần Lan. Nhận thức được tầm quan trọng của dịch vụ ăn uống công cộng theo quy định ở Phần Lan, bài viết này tập trung vào thực phẩm hữu cơ trong bối cảnh phục vụ công cộng. Bài viết xem xét diễn ngôn được thể hiện trong các tài liệu chính sách thực phẩm, việc sử dụng thực phẩm hữu cơ trong các dịch vụ thực phẩm của thành phố và những nỗ lực được cụ thể hóa để tăng cường việc sử dụng chúng. Các kinh nghiệm của Phần Lan được thảo luận khi xem xét quy trình đấu thầu cạnh tranh bị ràng buộc bởi các quy định về mua sắm công và vai trò của dịch vụ ăn uống công đối với các doanh nghiệp vừa và nhỏ (SMEs) trên thị trường thực phẩm cạnh tranh cao. Mục tiêu là cải thiện hiểu biết của các bên liên quan về khả năng của các người tiêu dùng thể chế để tăng cường việc sử dụng thực phẩm hữu cơ. Mặc dù những ý định tốt đã được thể hiện trong các tài liệu chính sách, việc mở rộng sử dụng thực phẩm hữu cơ trong các bếp ăn thể chế là một quá trình chậm. Điều này đòi hỏi cần xác định và tháo gỡ các nút thắt trong bối cảnh thực tế. Việc tiêu thụ thực phẩm hữu cơ được tăng cường trong phục vụ công cộng chủ yếu là một quyết định chính trị. Quyết định này đòi hỏi sự quyết tâm nhất định, và các nhà hoạch định chính sách địa phương ở vị trí then chốt để quyết định liệu thực phẩm hữu cơ có nên được ưu tiên hay không. Điều này yêu cầu các quyết định chiến lược và cam kết mạnh mẽ đối với công việc phát triển lâu dài. Các tùy chọn để bao gồm và/hoặc tăng cường thực phẩm hữu cơ trong phục vụ công cộng cần được xem xét khi xây dựng các chiến lược phát triển toàn diện cho thành phố. Việc chú ý đến kết quả nghiên cứu, sự tham gia của các bên thực tiễn và đánh giá cao chuyên môn của các nhà cung cấp cũng như trải nghiệm của khách hàng đối với các khía cạnh chất lượng khác nhau là rất quan trọng. Khách hàng ở cấp địa phương là rất quan trọng cho các SMEs, những người thường gặp khó khăn trong việc có chỗ đứng trên thị trường thực phẩm cạnh tranh cao. Các hợp đồng dài hạn cung cấp nguồn thu nhập ổn định và các doanh nhân có thể tập trung hơn vào việc phát triển hoạt động kinh doanh cốt lõi của họ. Để thiết lập mối quan hệ khách hàng, cả các doanh nhân và người mua sắm thành phố cần có kiến thức sâu sắc về quy trình mua sắm.

Synthetic amino acids are not permitted in organic feeds by the National Organic Standard Board (NOSB) in the USA. However, low levels of methionine (Met) are permitted, and the NOSB recommends 0.1% synthetic Met for broilers. Inadequate level of dietary methionine poses concerns pertaining to health and welfare of broilers, as these limitations lead to possible Met deficiency. This research examined the effects of complete replacement of synthetic DL-methionine (DLM) by Brazil nut powder in a 100% organic diet. Eight hundred Ross 308 chicks were hatched and randomly divided into 4 treatments with 4 replicates of 50 chicks and raised for 56 days. Treatments included birds fed a conventional diet and raised organically (Conv_Org), NOSB diet raised organically (NOSB_Org), 100% organic diet and raised organically (Org_Org), and a conventional diet raised conventionally (Conv_Conv). Body weight at 56 days were 3960, 3995, 3981, and 3676 g for Conv_Org, NOSB_Org, Org_Org, and Conv_Conv, respectively. Body weights of the Conv_Conv group were lower (P < 0.05) than the other treatments. The FCR (0–8 weeks) of Org_Org treatment was lower (P < 0.05) than the NOSB diet. The birds on the NOSB diet had increased feed intake perhaps to compensate for the deficiency in Met. The NOSB diet may not sufficiently meet the requirement of broiler chickens even when raised with access to pasture. There were no differences in carcass yield and composition in any treatment. We conclude that Brazil nut powder is a viable substitute for DLM in organically raised broilers, as there were no differences in growth and carcass yield and improved FCR when compared to current NOSB recommended diet.

Product commercialization is an integral part of the production chain. Previously, most farming households sold organic tea to traders, supermarkets, and consumers at traditional markets. However, in the context of the complicated development of the COVID-19 epidemic, they have gradually switched to selling online or on e-commerce platforms (ECPs). The benefits of ECPs to the community’s health have been demonstrated in many studies. However, the economic benefits for organic tea farmers have not been specifically considered. This study aims to shed light on whether participating in ECPs improves the income of organic tea farmers in the context of the COVID-19 epidemic. To answer this question, we used the Propensity Score Matching (PSM) method after interviewing 298 organic tea farmers in the mountainous provinces of northern Vietnam. Research results have shown that farming households that use ECPs to sell products have a higher income than those that do not use ECPs. This result implies that supporting and promoting farmers to put organic tea on ECPs is a valuable solution to help them improve their income. Therefore, local authorities and farmers’ associations in the mountainous provinces of northern Vietnam should find practical solutions to support farmers’ participation in ECPs during the current epidemic.

Organic agriculture is gaining a gradual momentum across the world for improving nutritional quality of food, restoring soil health, generating rural economy, and creating better environmental conditions. Organic agriculture can foster sustainability in subhumid tropical soils low in organic carbon. Nutrient use efficiency of basal soil application of vermicompost is very low. Thus, this study was aimed to test whether nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) and crop yield can be enhanced by split application of vermicompost. There is no published information on split application of vermicompost (VC) in rainfed rice. An experiment with rice (cv. Pankaj) was conducted on loam soil in Giridih, India, during 2008 and 2009. Vermicompost, a rich source of readily available nutrients, has high microbial activity and contains growth hormones. Study comprises one of three split applications of vermicompost at different growth stages of rice (i.e., maximum tillering, panicle initiation, and flower). Split application of vermicompost resulted higher yield parameters such as panicles (294 m−2), filled grains per panicle (138), and total spikelets per panicle (142), grain yield (3.91 t ha−1), and NUE, but only if vermicompost was applied at two or three doses. Higher availability of nitrogen (N) in soil with split applications coincides with higher NUE, and thus, split application not promoted N losses. Split application of vermicompost enhances the sustainability of rice cropping system.