OVERVIEW OF ORGANIC AGRICULTURE

Unit I

INTRODUCTION
Organic Agriculture (OA) is both an art and a science which integrates various
practices and principles in agriculture and should holistically transform a way of life.
For others, organic agriculture is simply the practice of the use of materials that will
render safe, environmentally-friendly, chemical-free products. Thus, it is best to
understand that even though organic agriculture practices may be well explained for
the course, AGRIC 43, it is to be understood that it is one area of learning about organic
agriculture.
This unit will introduce you to the importance, principles and historical
development of OA. It is expected that this will jumpstart the learners’ understanding
of organic agriculture.

INTENDED LEARNING OUTCOMES

The student at the end of this unit is expected to be able to:
 1. Define organic agriculture;
 2. Interpret the principles of organic agriculture; and
 3. Recall significant historical contributions of organic agriculture.

CONTENT
 1. Organic Agriculture: Definition and Scope
 2. Principles of Organic Agriculture
a. Principle of Health
b. Principle of Ecology
c. Principle of Fairness
d. Principle of Care
 Requirements of Organic Agriculture
 Benefits of Organic Agriculture
a. Environmental Protection Perspective
b. Producer’s (Farmer’s) Perspective
c. Consumer’s Perspective
d. Industry’s Perspective
 Organic Agriculture as a Sustainable Agricultural Production System
 Historical Development of Organic Agriculture
a. Origin of Organic Agriculture
b. Pioneers of Organic Agriculture

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 Benefits, Contributions and Significance of Organic Agriculture

Organic Agriculture: Definition and Scope

Organic Agriculture (OA) is one among the broad spectrum of methodologies,
which are supportive of the concern to protect the environment. As agriculture is a
production system, organic production systems are based on specific and precise
standards of production, which aim at achieving optimal agroecosystems, which are
socially, ecologically, and economically sustainable.
The definition of OA adopted in the Philippines under E.O. 481 and the Organic
Agriculture Act of 2010 from the International Federation of Organic Agriculture
Movements (IFOAM) definition which pertains to the development and promotion of
OA: “OA includes all agricultural systems that promote the environmentally,
socially, and economically sound production of food and fibers. These systems
take local soil fertility as a key to successful production. By respecting the natural
capacity of plants, animals, and the landscape, it aims to optimize quality in all
aspects of agriculture and the environment. OA dramatically reduces external inputs
by refraining from the use of chemo-synthetic fertilizers, pesticides, and
pharmaceuticals. Instead, it uses laws of nature to increase both agricultural
yields and disease resistance. OA should adhere to globally accepted principles,
which are implemented in local socio-economic, geo-climatic, and cultural
settings.” Thus, the main goal of OA is to optimize the health and productivity of
interdependent communities and interacting systems of soil life, plants, animals,
and people. OA in simple terms summarizes the diverse farming systems, which
avoid the use of synthetic chemical inputs. It underscores conservation and fertility
enhancement of soil, water, air, and genetic resources based on scientific methods.
The term “organic” is commonly used to refer to the origin of material, being
either of animal or plant origin. However, paradigm shift in the concept of OA must be
anchored on certain context of the word “organic.” OA as a sustainable production
system does not refer to the scientific connotation as what is used in carbon
compounds. It refers to agricultural system that emphasizes on practices, processes,
and certain standards that also have social, economic, and environmental perspective.
Even in the international definition and as adopted in EO No. 481 and Organic
Agriculture Act of 2010, the term “organic” is clearly defined not in the “classical
chemical sense” and therefore, has similar meaning in other languages as “ecological”
and “biological.”
There are other terms used to express the core concept of being “organic.”
These are “biological” and “ecological" in order to provide distinction and clarification

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on the nature of the agricultural system. “Alternative” and “natural” can also be used
interchangeably with “organic.”

Principles of Organic Agriculture

The guiding principles and aims of organic agriculture that should contribute to
a better understanding of this sustainable production systems and define the critical
areas for operational undertakings, for one, they guide the development of positions,
programs, and standards of IFOAM. The principles of OA serve to inspire the organic
movement in its full diversity.
OA is based on the Principle of Health, Principle of Ecology, Principle of
Fairness, and Principle of Care. These principles are to be used as a whole. They
are composed as ethical principles to inspire action.
 Principle of Health
OA should sustain and enhance health of the soil, plant, animal, human, and
the planet as one and indivisible.
This principle points out that the health of individuals and communities cannot
be separated from the health of the ecosystems - healthy soils produce healthy crops
that foster the health of animals and people.
Health is the wholeness and integrity of living systems. It is not simply the
absence of illness, but the maintenance of physical, mental, social, and ecological well-
being. Immunity, resilience, and regeneration are key characteristics of health.
The role of OA, whether in farming, processing, distribution, or consumption, is
to sustain and enhance the health of ecosystems and organisms from the smallest
organism in the soil to human beings. In particular, OA intends to produce high quality
and nutritious food that contributes to preventive health care and well-being. In view of
this, it should avoid the use of fertilizers, pesticides, animal drugs, and food additives
that may have adverse health effects.
 Principle of Ecology
OA should be based on living ecological systems and cycles. It should work
with them, emulate them, and help sustain them.
This principle places OA within living ecological systems. It states that
production is to be based on ecological processes and nutrient recycling. Nourishment
and well-being are achieved through the ecology of the specific production
environment. For example, in the case of crops, it is the living soil; for animals, it is the
farm ecosystem; for fish and marine organisms, the aquatic environment.
Organic farming, pastoral, and wild harvest systems should fit the cycles and
ecological balances in nature. These cycles are universal but their operation is site-

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specific. Organic management must be adapted to local conditions, ecology, culture,

and scale. Inputs should be reduced by reuse, recycling, and efficient management of
materials and energy in order to maintain and improve environmental quality and
conserve resources.
OA should attain ecological balance through the design of farming systems,
establishment of habitats and maintenance of genetic and agricultural diversity. Those
who produce, process, trade, or consume organic products should protect and benefit
the common environment including landscapes, climate, habitats, biodiversity, air, and
water.
 Principle of Fairness
OA should build on relationships that ensure fairness with regard to the
common environment and life opportunities.
Fairness is characterized by equity, respect, justice, and stewardship of the
shared world both among people and in their relations to other living organisms.
This principle emphasizes that those involved in OA should conduct human
relationships in a manner that ensures fairness at all levels and to all parties – farmers,
workers, processors, distributors, traders, and consumers. OA should provide
everyone involved with good quality life, and contribute to food sovereignty and
reduction of poverty. It aims to produce sufficient supply of good quality food and other
products.
This principle insists that animals should be provided with the conditions and
opportunities of life in accordance with their physiology, natural behavior, and well-
being. Natural and environmental resources that are used for production and
consumption should be managed in a way that is socially and ecologically just and
should be held in trust for future generations. Fairness requires systems of production,
distribution, and trade that are open and equitable and account for real environmental
and social costs.
 Principle of Care
OA should be managed in a precautionary and responsible manner to
protect the health and wellbeing of current and future generations and the environment.
OA is a living and dynamic system that responds to internal and external
demands and conditions. Practitioners of OA can enhance efficiency and increase
productivity, but this should not be at the risk of jeopardizing health and well-being.
Consequently, new technologies need to be assessed and existing methods reviewed.
Given the incomplete understanding of ecosystems and agriculture, care must be
taken.

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This principle states that precaution and responsibility are the key concerns in
management, development, and technology choices in OA. Science is necessary to
ensure that OA is healthy, safe and ecologically sound. However, scientific knowledge
alone is not sufficient. Practical experience, accumulated wisdom, and traditional and
indigenous knowledge offer valid solutions tested by time. OA should prevent
significant risks by adopting appropriate technologies and rejecting unpredictable ones,
such as genetic engineering. Decisions should reflect the values and needs of all who
might be affected through transparent and participatory processes.

Requirements of Organic Agriculture

The Codex Alimentarius (Food Code) lists certain requirements for
organically produced foods have to be satisfied to differ from other agricultural products.
In addition, certain production procedures are integral parts of the identification and
labeling of, and claim for, such products. For the Philippines, this is guided by the
Philippine National Standard (PNS) of the Bureau of Agriculture Fisheries Standards
(BAFS) for Organic Agriculture (OA) (PNS/BAFS 07:2016). This document is often
revised to adopt to the changing global standards, such as the 2016 revision to provide
equivalence to the ASEAN Standard for Organic Agriculture (ASOA).
The PNS/BAFS 07:2016 covers several scope, namely: (a) conversion; (b) crop
production; (c) animal production; (d) beekeeping; (e) special products; (f) processing;
(g) labeling and consumer information; (h) traceability; and (i) requirements for the
inclusion of substances for organic production. The different scopes are specific
guidelines and should be treated as one standard on organic agriculture with the
various parts complementing each other.
OA largely adheres to the reduction or minimization of application of external
inputs and avoids the use of synthetic fertilizers and pesticides. OA practices cannot
ensure that products are completely free of residues due to general environmental
pollution. However, methods are used to minimize effects of air, soil, and water
pollution.
Organic food handlers, processors, and retailers adhere to standards to
maintain the integrity of OA products.
Within this purview, an organic production system is designed to:
• enhance biological diversity within the whole system;
• increase soil biological activity;
• maintain long-term soil fertility;
• recycle plant and animal wastes to return nutrients to the land, thus minimizing
the use of non-renewable resources;

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• rely on renewable resources in locally organized agricultural systems;

• promote the healthy use of soil, water, and air as well as minimize all forms of
pollution that may result from agricultural practices;
• handle agricultural products with emphasis on careful processing methods to
maintain the organic integrity and vital qualities of the product at all stages; and
• be established in any existing farm through a period of conversion, the
appropriate length of which is determined by site-specific factors such as the
history of the land and type of crops and livestock to be produced.

Benefits of Organic Agriculture

OA provides ecological services that generally lead to the sustainability of the
natural resources and its life-giving functions. As claimed, OA is an alternative
sustainable production system. For this to be realized, farming activities must meet the
three dimensions of sustainability, that is, economic, environmental, and social. The
organic farmers have learned to tend factors that will keep nature resources’ vitality
and services to humankind.
The key characteristics of a sustainable system include:
• relying primarily on local, renewable resources,
• making efficient use of solar energy and the production potential of biological
systems,
• maintaining the fertility of the soil,
• maximizing the recirculation of plant nutrient and organic matter,
• not using substances foreign to nature,
• maintaining genetic diversity in the production system as well as the
agricultural landscape; and
• giving farm animals life conditions that correspond to their ecological role and
allow them a natural behavior.
 Environmental Protection Perspective
 Improvement of soil fertility. Organic fertilizer from plants and animal
materials improves soil structure, adds organic nitrogen, and stimulates growth
of beneficial soil bacteria and fungi. Green manure plowed into the soil
increases organic matter and humus (Miller 1994). This allows recycling of
nutrients instead of using external inputs.
 Addresses climate change concerns in two streams of function. One is
through avoidance due to emission reduction potential of components of the
production systems; second is in systematically sequestering carbon dioxide
in soils and in plant biomass. The latter is possible as it follows the key principle

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of tight nutrient and energy cycles through organic matter management in soils,
employing improved practices in cropland management and in agroforestry.
 Less pollution when farmers use less chemicals. Replacing chemical inputs
with natural materials leads to recycling of nutrients and makes efficient use of
available biomass in the farm. This prevents and minimizes the pollution of the
groundwater caused by leaching of water-soluble pesticides, nitrates from
organic fertilizers, and salts from irrigation waters.
 Prevention of soil erosion and compaction. Technologies to improve ground
cover and soil quality help arrest soil erosion, increase water uptake, and
revitalize soil characteristics appropriate to plant growth.
 Protection of groundwater quality. There is no chemical pollution in the water
with organic farming. Also, technologies adopted can conserve and recycle
water.
 Saving energy. OA promotes the conversion of biomass, such as crop
residues and animal manure, into biofuels and fertilizers. Organic farming is
more labor intensive.
 Promotion of biodiversity with crop rotations and sustainable farming
practices. OA supports genetic and species diversity and ecosystem
biodiversity. FAO estimates that about 75% of genetic diversity of agricultural
crops has been lost in the last 100 years and at least one breed of domestic
animal becomes extinct each week. OA addresses this concern by respecting
the natural capacity of soil, plants, animals, and ecosystems through the use
of natural ecological functions for higher yield and disease resistance (IFOAM
2005a). Examples are the symbiotic relationships among crops, combining
shade-loving crops such as coffee and cacao, and use of indigenous crop
varieties. Diversity and variation are the foundation of OA.
 Use of renewable energies. The types of energy source and extent of energy
use determine the quality of life of people and the state of earth’s life support
system. The only way to go is to reduce or cut consumption of non-renewable
sources and look for renewable ones.
 Producer’s (Farmer’s) Perspective
 Sufficient production for subsistence and income. Satisfactory and reliable
yields, the use of manures, compost, and mulches increase both water
infiltration and retention in the soil. The increase in amount of humus provides
for better soil characteristics and adds micronutrients that improve crop yields
and consequently increases the farm’s income.

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 Builds on local knowledge and traditions. This aspect strengthens social

systems in the community by respecting and adding on to acquired knowledge
handed down from generation to generation. OA also fosters good working
condition suited to the farming requirements and supports smallholder farm
development.
 Helps small farmers. Small-scale, intensive production is encouraged as
appropriate for small landholdings and for farmers with low available capital.
For instance, bio-intensive mini-farms require much less area to produce the
same yield of crops. The nutrients contained in farm and household wastes can
be utilized and applied in a more concentrated way. This enables the nutrients
to be fully effective.
 Inexpensive local inputs and low investments. Most rural credits in
conventional agriculture go to the purchase of external inputs such as fertilizers
and pesticides. OA practices reduce the use of these materials and instead
encourage the use of biomass and other resources in the farm.
 Use of crop diversification to improve income. Income can come from a
variety of produce from cropping combinations and intensification of operations.
Some methods combine growing crops and compost production that add to on-
farm income. This makes the farm less vulnerable to price fluctuation and
demand variations.
 Consumer’s Perspective
 Ensures supply of healthy, safe and nutritious food. The growing demand
for organic products and health consciousness among consumers emanate
from documented cases of exposure to health hazards. Quijano (2000) showed
that even low exposure to pesticides could cause serious immune and
metabolic disorders, neurological defects, reproductive anomalies, cancer, and
other chronic diseases in animals and humans. Of the 10,000 toxic chemicals
released yearly by chemical companies, less than 10% undergo thorough
toxicological evaluation. OA keeps chemicals out of our food chain.
 Includes social considerations based on its holistic approach. People are
as important as the organic system (IFOAM Brochure). This type of social
obligation provides added value and appeals to consumers' acceptability of
high prices for organic products.
 Industry’s Perspective
 The organic industry has a guarantee system based on certain norms and
standards. The need to assess the product and system or method and to
distinguish organic products from other conventional commodities necessitated

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the setting up of certification system at various levels—international, regional,

and even within a participatory guarantee mechanism in a smaller group or
community. The IFOAM initiated its Basic Standards for Organic Production
and Processing in 1980. This now serves as one of the platforms to harmonize
standards and certification. From simple to more complex system of third party
guarantee system, OA has defined a niche in the world of international and
local trade.
 Environmental awareness and consumer consciousness on food safety
and health contributed to the worldwide value of organic trade, which has
doubled in the last 3 years (IFOAM brochure). In the Philippines, Organic
agriculture OA occupies only 0.02% (or even less) of the total agricultural land.
But it is noteworthy that the sector grows at 10–30%, which is quite high
compared to the growth of traditional crop industries.
 OA enhances natural resource accounting and product pricing. The value
of OA deserves to be analyzed not through simple financial analysis but
through a system that incorporates the true value of resources. A component
of the premium price of organic products imputes the costs of benefits derived
out of the social obligation and the protection given to the environment, thus,
coming close to including the scarcity cost of natural resources.
 Value is added to organic products through quality improvements and
on-farm processing. Certain standards and quality assurance regulations
ensure improvements in product quality and integrity. Certain restrictions also
enhance product processing, handling, and labeling for consumer protection.
 High farm efficiency improves competitiveness. One example of this is the
increasing returns to labor investment. The labor demand by organic fertilizer
application is well rewarded by higher yields. Reduced chemical inputs means
lower investment coupled with higher production also result in higher farm
efficiency.

Organic Agriculture as a Sustainable Agricultural Production System

OA as “sustainable agriculture for rural development” (SARD). SARD
refers to the management and conservation of natural resources according to certain
principles that ensure satisfaction of both present and future needs. Sustainable
agriculture (SA) is associated with a wide range of definitions, principles,
interpretations, scope, and goals. It is used to describe a broad set of principles for
agricultural development as well as to distinguish specific technological innovations.

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The parameters of organic agriculture have grown from an original focus on

environmental aspects to include first economic and then broader social and political
dimensions. SA adopts the following principles:
 Ecological. The core concerns of SA are to reduce negative environmental
and health externalities, enhance and utilize local ecosystem resources, and
preserve biodiversity. More recent concerns include broader recognition of
positive environmental externalities from agriculture (such as carbon
sequestration and flood
protection).
 Economic. Economic
perspectives on SA
attempt to assign value to
ecological parameters and
include a longer time
frame in economic
analysis. They also
highlight subsidies that
promote the depletion of
resources or unfair
competition with other
production systems.
 Socio-political. These
are concerns about the
equity of technological
change. At the local level,
SA is often associated with
farmer participation, group
action, and the promotion
of local institutions, culture
and farming communities.
Sustainability also
includes attention to institutional
and financial viability. Balancing
these various dimensions is one
of the greatest challenges to the
concept of SA, in general and OA,
in particular. One prominent

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dilemma arises from the tendency of ecological system analysis to favor aspirations
for local economic self-sufficiency, while economic analyses often point to gains from
trade and specialization (DFID Report/Fact Sheet). The table presents a cursory
comparison of conventional agriculture and SA and the general direction faced in
conventional farming system.
OA is the oldest form of farming in the context of nutrient or soil management.
Before the invention of synthetic agro-chemical, there was indeed no other way but to
use available systems that were considered “natural,” “economical,” and “sustainable.”
Widespread concern for the availability of safe, quality, and healthy food provided the
impetus for the fast growth of the organic movement in many countries.

Historical Development of Organic Agriculture

 Origin of Organic Agriculture
It is difficult to say when and how organic agriculture (OA) first appeared in its
contemporary form. It is, however, safe to say that traditional farming methods,
developed by different communities around the globe, have reached different levels of
sophistication before they were dislodged by the development of chemical-based
agriculture, often referred to as conventional agriculture. Conventional, chemical-
based agriculture is dependent on external farm inputs usually produced in chemical
factories and developed into a highly industrialized, mechanized, capital-intensive
industry, led by a few transnational companies, with ever growing market shares in the
global market.
OA principles and progress are closely related with that of traditional farming
methods, which are extremely self-sufficient and sustainable over generations.
Together with scientific research and experiential knowledge of practitioners, organic
agriculture has evolved over the past hundred years to what it is today, a system that
can produce food and fiber in a sustainable manner.
 Pioneers of Organic Agriculture
There are some well-known pioneers, which have helped advance OA in the
form we know it today, and who have inspired the organic movement worldwide in the
1970s and 1980s, a period when many different forms of alternative farming systems
were developed to counter the ill effects of the “Green Revolution” agriculture, which
was then proposed as the solution to food security for an ever growing world population.
 Sir Albert Howard
Sir Albert Howard is considered as the father of the “organic composting”
method. He spent almost three decades, from 1905 to 1934 in India slowly but steadily
developed the organic concept of soil fertility through compost making.

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 Rudolf Steiner
This Austrian philosopher outlined the principles of biodynamic agriculture in
1924, emphasizing the importance of agricultural production in harmony with nature
as well as the natural phenomena and spiritual dimensions. In the words of Steiner:
“Matter is never without Spirit, and Spirit is never without Matter.”
 Lady Balfour
Lady Eve Balfour published “The Living Soil” in the United Kingdom (UK), out
of which the Soil Association of the UK was founded in 1946 by a group of farmers,
scientists, and nutritionists who observed direct connection between farming practice
and plant, animal, human and environmental health. The book presented the case of
an alternative, sustainable approach to agriculture that has since become known as
organic farming.
 J.I. Rodale
J.I. Rodale, who learned about organic food growing methods in the 1930s,
quickly theorized that to preserve and improve our health, we must restore and protect
the natural health of the soil. Developing and demonstrating practical methods of
rebuilding natural soil fertility became J.I. Rodale's primary goal when World War II's
sudden shortage of nitrogen - diverted from fertilizers to munitions, exposed the natural
nutrient poverty of the nation's soil. In 1947, J.I. Rodale founded the Soil and Health
Foundation, the forerunner of the Rodale Institute. He also created publications
including Health Bulletin, Organic Farming and Gardening, and Prevention Magazine,
and formed his central message and philosophy - "Healthy Soil = Healthy Food =
Healthy People"
Today the Rodale Institute works with people worldwide to achieve a
regenerative food system that renews environmental and human health.

Benefits, Contributions and Significance of Organic Agriculture

There are different ways of defining OA, its contributions, and significance for
a sustainable and peaceful development.
• Organic Agriculture – a Global Industry
From a marginal, dispersed, often voluntary civil activity in the beginning, OA
has developed into a global industry and is widely recognized as an ecologically,
economically, and socially sustainable agricultural production system.
• Organic Agriculture and “Green Growth”
In a world of rapid technological, structural, social, and political changes, OA
can be considered as a pioneering movement and industry to create sustainable
development based on a set of principles to enhance possibilities for “green growth”

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which allows economic development to meet the basic needs of all without adding
ecological pressure on the planet.
• Organic Agriculture and Fair Trade
Following the principle of fairness, and by taking special care of small
producers’ interests as well as the development of local communities, OA has
overlapping interests with the Fair trade movement in the aim of creating fair trading
practices in the global trade of food and non-food.
• Organic Agriculture as a Guardian of Indigenous and Traditional Cultures
Based on its principles of care and fairness, OA promotes the recognition of
indigenous and traditional practices and for people to be able to continue practicing
and developing their cultural practices (indigenous farming methods, and traditional
food production methods). In these efforts, OA has become a natural partner of
movements promoting these concerns.
• Organic Agriculture as a Guardian of Animal Welfare
The principles of ecology and care make OA the leading production system
with regards to animal welfare. Farm animals are provided life conditions that
correspond to their ecological role and allow them a natural behavior.
Supplementary Reading
 Specific guidelines for PNS/BAFS 07: 2016
Scan or download at: http://www.bafs.da.gov.ph/accreditation/assets/documents/BAFS-PNS-OA-07-2016.pdf

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