Ráðunautafundur - 15.02.2001, Page 43

33
RAÐUNHUTflFUNDUR 2001
Organic agriculture - basic principles and benefits
Inger Kallander
The Swedish Ecologica! Farmers Association
SUMMARY
Agricultural methods, which exclude pesticides and other chemical inputs, are spreading rapidly all over the
world. Commonly known as organic farming, this model for agriculture is increasingly recognized by farmers,
consumers, environmentalists and policy-makers as a way to improve environmental, social and economic
sustainability in food production. The reason for the growing interest in organic farming as a production model
is its recognised positive environmental, social and economic effect that enhances food security and food safety.
The paper explains the basic principles and practices of organic farming and also presents the main benefits that
can be achieved.
YFIRLIT
Lifrœnn landbúnadur - grundvallarlögmál ogkostir
Landbúnaður sem hafnar notkun ýmissa vamarefna og annarra tilbúinna efna verður sífellt vinsælli um heim
allan. Gengur hann yfirleitt undir nafninu lífrænn búskapur. Bændur, neytendur, umhverfisvemdarsinnar og
ráðamenn gera sér sífellt betur grein fyrir því að slík nálgun getur leitt til þess að matvælaframleiðsla verði sjálf-
bærari m.t.t. umhverfis, félags- og hagfræðiþátta. Einnig er talið að lífrænn búskapur leiði til öruggari matvæla-
framleiðslu. í greininni er gerð grein fyrir grundvallarlögmálum í lífrænum búskap og hverjir eru helstu kostir
hans.
INTRODUCTION
Organic farming can be described as a holistic and systematic approach to agriculture. It is
based on two founding principles; reduced use of non-renewable resources and precaution.
The fírst principle implies optimum use and recirculation of Iocal renewable resources, local
production-consumption systems and enhancement of soil fertility and biodiversity. The latter
implies exclusion of pesticides and other pollutants as well as genetically modified organisms
(GMOs).
While developed countries put a strong focus on the environmental and health effects,
many third world countries increasingly recognize organic farming as a tool to combat pov-
erty, food insecurity and migration íforn the rural areas. Numerous examples show how the
social and economic situation for the farmers and farm workers can be improved by an opti-
mum use of local resources and cheap technology to reduce the depletion of natural resources
and health problems caused by pesticides. In general, organic farming and marketing tend to
show new models for economic and social development in agriculture and the rural areas not
only in poor regions in the world but in most countries.
THE COMMON BASIC PRINCIPLES FOR ORGANIC PRODUCTION
Diversity
Diversity is the foundation of organic agriculture. Diversification is designed according to
local climatic conditions and available natural resources as well as the social and cultural
situation. The size of the farrn, available labour, buildings, machinery and the market access
are factors that effect the planning of the production. Crop rotation or succession, intercrop-
ping and agro-forestry are examples of diversification methods. The diversity provides bal-