Organic Farming

Sebastian Cortina & David Limon

General Information - Organic Farming

Integrated farming
sustainability
Enhancement of:

Soil
Biological diversity

Prohibiting

Pesticides
Antibiotics
Synthetic fertilizers (man made inorganic compounds)
GMO
Growth hormones

Organic Farming Advantages

Organic farming reduces:

Eco-toxicity (toxins affecting the

ecosystems)
Over-fertilization
Climate (for fish)
Land use (for veggies)

Energy use is significantly better

Fertilization is healthier
Healthier for the environment
and consumers

P1 - Polyculture

Multiple crops in the same area

Crop diversity
Imitating a natural ecosystem
NO singular groups of crops
Polyculture includes:

Multi-cropping (two or more crops in the same place)

Intercropping (more than one crop planted together)
Companion planting (increase crop productivity)
Beneficial weeds (soil health)
Alley cropping (trees and shrubs around/among crops)

P2 - Polyculture: Advantages
Though, it requires more labor

Reduces chances of disease

Increases biodiversity (variety)
Efficient use of natural resources

Studies:
A study from China showed that planting a varieties of rice in the same
area increased yield by 89%. Dramatically decreased by 94% of disease, which
made pesticides redundant (Wikipedia).

P1 - Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs)

Genetically engineered organisms

Injecting a genetic material from another species
Commonly used in most (all) factory farms

While farming it can:

Release toxins to the environment

Harmful to insects

P2 - GMOs and Organic Farming

GMOs are prohibited in organic

products and farming
NO GMO seeds
NO GMO ingredients

Common GMO Crops:

Soy
Corn
Cotton (fabrics)
Canola (oil)
Sugar Beets (sugar)
Alfalfa (fed to livestock)
Diary (growth hormones)

About 70 percent of supermarket foods

contain GMO ingredients and products made
from most commonly GMO foods.

Conventional Farming Pros vs Cons

Conventional farming reduces:

Land Use

The Acidification (pH levels in the

environment) is reduced
Cost of conventional farming is low and
lucrative (better profit)
Provides more jobs
Cost of food is low

Eco Toxicity is high

Not very well in high or
low climate
Uses more energy
Provides health concerns
for people and animals
Harm surrounding
environment

Soil Fertility

Plants accumulates stocks from other plants

Supplied from an organic matter soil
Releases (mineralisation) from:

Organic residues
Native soil sources

During transition, a plant accumulates nutrient stocks held in and

supplied from an organic matter reservoir
Relies on crop rotations (from other crops; corn and beans)

Nutrients and Soils

There are four soil fertility management
practices used in organic agriculture:
1. Use of organic residues as soil
amendments or sparingly soluble
minerals

2. Nitrogen in the air

converted to ammonia
(Usable form of nitrogen N2)

3. Use of a rotation that includes

active plant growth (cover crops,
intercrops etc.) as much as
possible and that minimizes bare
fallow

4. Plant species are diversified

in space and time to fulfill a
variety of functions

Chemical Use
Top two organic fungicides:
1.
2.

Copper (4 pounds per acre, 1971)

Sulfur (34 pounds per acre, 1971)

Kaolin Clay: Barrier against sun

Bt (Bacillus Thuringiensis): Most widely
used pesticide for pests

Organic pesticides are:

derived from natural
resources
processed lightly
before use

P1 - Citations
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Organic_farming
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polyculture
http://www.going-dad.com/2015/01/06/polyculture-vs-monoculture-how-is-yo
ur-food-grown/
https://www.ota.com/organic-101/organic-and-gmos
https://gmoeffects.wikispaces.com/Advantages+and+Disadvantages+of+GMO
s
https://speakupforthevoiceless.org/genetically-modified-frankenstein-crops/

P2 - Citations
http://articles.extension.org/pages/18636/soil-fertility-in-organic-farming-syste
ms:-much-more-than-plant-nutrition
http://naturallysavvy.com/live/are-you-eating-the-8-most-common-geneticallymodified-foods
https://blogs.scientificamerican.com/science-sushi/httpblogsscientificamerica
ncomscience-sushi20110718mythbusting-101-organic-farming-conventional-a
griculture/
https://www.geneticliteracyproject.org/2016/07/25/organic-vs-conventional-fa
rming-lower-environmental-impact/

P3 Citations
http://healthresearchfunding.org/6-pros-and-cons-of-conventional-farming/
https://www.geneticliteracyproject.org/2015/12/07/myth-busting-on-pesticide
s-despite-demonization-organic-farmers-widely-use-them/