COMPLANT

Organic Agriculture

Ecologically Sustainable Farming

Definition of Organic Agriculture

"Organic Agriculture is a production system that sustains the health of soils, ecosystems, and people. It relies on ecological processes, biodiversity and cycles adapted to local conditions, rather than the use of inputs with adverse effects. Organic Agriculture combines tradition, innovation, and science to benefit the shared environment and promote fair relationships and good quality of life for all involved."

IFOAM General Assembly

2008

Global organic food and beverage market (Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, 2021)

106 billion €

Global organic market size

187 countries

Practicing organic agriculture

72,300,000 ha

Land under organic agriculture

3,100,000 farms

Are organic around the world

The Organic Movement

Human civilization has been producing food using organic farming practices for millennia. In response to yield loss from pests, ancient Sumerian farmers opened the era of pesticides. Until the release of Rachel Carsons work “Silent Spring” cheap industrial food masked the hidden threat of pesticides on environment and human health. Illuminated by the message of “Silent Spring” consumers and policymakers started to actively raise awareness of global footprint associated with indiscriminate use of pesticides.

As a radical response to the adverse environmental impact caused by modern agriculture organic agriculture rapidly gained momentum at the dawn of the 20th century. Designed to optimize the productivity and fitness of diverse communities within the agroecosystem organic farming movement opened new opportunities to farmers globally.

Despite higher price premiums, organic producers faced major challenges of mitigating risks and maintaining organic integrity. Organic producers limited from the use of inorganic fertilizers and synthetic pesticides suffered yield losses. In response to increased weed pressure and decline in land fertility some farmers adopted ecological approach to pest, weed, disease and nutrient management.

Ironically, despite global shifts towards conservation practices and precision agriculture, modern food production still comes at a sobering environmental cost. The transition to ecologically sustainable farming continues.

What are the Core Principles of Organic Agriculture?

Principle of Health

Organic agriculture should sustain and enhance the health of soil, plant, animal, human and planet as one and indivisible.

Principle of Ecology

Organic agriculture should be based on living ecological systems and cycles, work with them, emulate them and help sustain them.

Principle of Fairness

Organic agriculture should build on relationships that ensure fairness with regard to the common environment and life opportunities.

Principle of Care

Organic agriculture should be managed in a precautionary and responsible manner to protect the health and well-being of current and future generations and the environment.

Agronomist Near His Organic Agriculture Plot

Organic Agriculture Sustain and Enhance the Health of Soil and Plant

Site-Specific Weed Management

At Complant Consulting we strongly believe that the exponential increase of herbicide resistance worldwide signifies the need for the diversification of weed control strategies. Therefore, reducing reliance on herbicides by introducing non-chemical weed control strategies.

Competition with weeds results in irreversible yield losses under the presence of highly competitive weed communities. Studies conducted in Western Canada have demonstrated 51% to 86% reduction in crop yield under the absence of weed control. While, under very high weed competition, crop yield losses as high as 100% were reported.

Published research reported yield increases up to 50% in poor competitive crops when integrating crop rotation, increased crop competitive ability, elevated crop seeding rate, critical period of weed control, and in-crop mechanical weed control into site-specific integrated weed management system.

Organic Nutrient Management

Maintaining energy flows between plants and soil biology is critical for ecosystem resilience. Unlike conventional producers, organic farmers must take a long-term approach to soil fertility since they can’t use inorganic fertilizer inputs. Sustainable organic nutrient management requires a holistic approach that integrates intelligent management of soil organic matter and soil structure. Therefore, promoting diverse and active soil biology as well as improving the soil’s ability to retain nutrients and water. These are the fundamental elements of effectively managed organic soil.