What are the positive and negative aspects of organic farming?

Written by the scientific team of AgriSC – Edited by Savvas Drinis, Int. MSc, Agronomist, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki – Certified Agricultural Advisor

In recent years, a debate that monopolizes the interest of producers and consumers is organic agriculture products.
Personal experiences, opinions, and other information convince or dissuade someone from including organic products daily.

However, are there any positive or negative characteristics credited to organic farming?

The answer is yes!

Before listing them below, it is also essential to mention that every producer or consumer should know these positive or negative features and decide whether to add organic products to their field or table!

Let’s start with the positives:

organic-farming-agrisc

  • Αn abundant crops

    can be cultivated and yield satisfactorily in an organic way.

  • The adverse effects of residues are reduced

    by the biocides used in conventional agriculture and the residue from the leaching of nitrate fertilizers.

  • Biodiversity is increasing

    in the environment of organic farming.

  • The structure and health of the soil

    are improved.

vegetable-basket

  • Groundwater pollution

    from Nitrates reduces.

  • Innovative tools, formulations, and practices

    are used in cultivation, thus enhancing farmers' contact with technology but also with the nature of innovation or new ideas.

vegetable-basket

  • There is better control of practices

    that farmers apply to farms, better product traceability, and more certifications.

  • The nutritional value of the products

    we consume increases, and as a result, the health of citizens improves.

vegetable-products-agrisc

  • The positioning of a region's products on the market

    is enhanced due to the trademarks and all the marketing activities that an organic product requires to be placed on the market.

  • A stronger position

    between producer and consumer is created, and the product's nominal demand increases.

pinneaple-fruit

  • The role and position

    of small producers on the world market are strengthening.

  • New jobs create,

    and the overall market size increases due to more intensive manufacturing and investments supported by EU programs.

Let’s continue with the negative aspects:

organic-nuts-agrisc

  • Adding nutrients to the soil requires

    incorporating organic fertilizers and, therefore, more energy.

  • The release of nutrients

    is gradual, which only benefits plant growth when there is an increased need for certain elements.

  • More human labor

    is required.

  • The addition of manure

    may contaminate lakes, rivers, or groundwater passing through the crop.

  • Final production per hectare

    is reduced compared to conventional farming.

  • There needs to be more knowledge

    of the basic organic farming methods on the market, which makes it difficult for farmers to work.

organic-products

  • Distribution networks for organic products

    need to be sufficiently developed in several parts of the world, resulting in higher shelf prices or unavailability.

  • There needs to be more information

    for consumers about the benefits of organic farming.

  • Prices of organic products

    are many times higher than conventional products, hence consumer interest.

  • Many producers

    are opportunistic in their approach to organic farming, so they need to invest in it more profitably.

  • The lack of organic products

    of organic products does not facilitate their adoption as a lifestyle or habit.

Consequently, organic farming and its products certainly are not a simple discussion or assumption, as they hide quite a few ‘secrets’ and have several years ahead of them to develop in the consciousness of consumers and producers fully.
organic-clock

What are the current circumstances?

At this point, one of the main reasons for the growth of organic farming today is the Community aid producers receive to comply with the standards and rules governing it. Without this support, the interest of producers would have been even more limited in recent years.

Equally, since the pandemic, consumer interest has increased, and the demand for organic products has increased. And this is because it was observed that people, especially those in quarantine, turned to products that promoted their proper nutrition. After all, they did not spend money. In this way, there was a significant increase in the demand for organic products.

At the same time, the European Union has decided to support further and promote organic farming and livestock farming shortly.

Soon, we expect to see significant investments in the sector of organic products at the local and national levels in Greece.

If you are in an agronomy business, own an agronomy shop, and seeking a collaboration opportunity with AgriSC, fill out the form below. Our team will respond promptly!

contact form