Alternatives to external inputs
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The document discusses the role of organic agriculture in enhancing environmental health, food security, and economic viability, especially for smallholder farmers in developing countries. It outlines the principles and benefits of organic farming, such as higher resilience to climate extremes and improved water efficiency, while presenting successful case studies. Additionally, it emphasizes the importance of alternative pest management practices and eco-function intensification in sustainable agricultural systems.
Alternatives to external inputs
- 1. UNITINGTHEORGANICWORLD Organic Agriculture and the Millennium Development Goals 1 International Federation of Organic Agriculture Movements Alternatives to External Inputs Andre Leu, President FAO Agroecology Conference , Rome, Sept 18, 2014
- 2. UNITINGTHEORGANICWORLD IFOAM is the international umbrella organization for organic agriculture International Federation of Organic Agriculture Movements Mission Leading, uniting and assisting the organic movement in its full diversity. Goal The worldwide adoption of ecologically, socially and economically sound systems that are based on the principles of Organic Agriculture. People The global organic umbrella organization has over 800 member organizations in around 120 countries. 2 million certified organic farmers and substantially more uncertified organic farmers
- 3. UNITINGTHEORGANICWORLD Alternatives to External Inputs Purchasing external inputs is costly and at times logistically difficult for most of the world’s farmers: smallholders in developing countries. The ability to generate effective alternatives to external inputs on farm at no or low costs, while getting good yields, increases the viability of farms
- 4. UNITINGTHEORGANICWORLD The 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 a good quality of life for all involved.’
- 5. UNITINGTHEORGANICWORLD The Four Principles of Organic Agriculture Organic agriculture is based on: •The principle of health •The principle of ecology •The principle of fairness •The principle of care The Principle of Ecology states: ‘Organic Agriculture should be based on living ecological systems and cycles, work with them, emulate them and help sustain them.
- 6. UNITINGTHEORGANICWORLD Reducing Inputs Improved Efficiency of Water Use ConventionalOrganic Picture: FiBL DOK Trials Organic Matter Increases Infiltration and Soil Stability
- 7. UNITINGTHEORGANICWORLD • Higher corn and soybean yields in drought years • Increased soil C and N • Higher water infiltration • Higher water holding cap • Higher microbial activity • Increased stability Soil Organic Matter Multiple Benefits Source: Rodale Institute Reducing Inputs Improved Efficiency of Water Use
- 8. UNITINGTHEORGANICWORLD Soil Organic Matter Living Carbon-Humus • Holds up to 30X its weight in water • Cements soil particles and reduces soil erosion • Increases nutrient storage & availability • Humus can last 2000 years in the soil Electron micrograph of soil humus
- 9. UNITINGTHEORGANICWORLD Reducing Inputs Improved Efficiency of Water Use Research Shows that Organic Systems use Water More Efficiently • Volume of Water Retained /ha (to 30 cm) in relation to soil organic matter (SOM) • 0.5% SOM = 80,000 litres (common level Africa, Asia) • 1 % SOM = 160,000 litres (common level Africa, Asia) • 2 % SOM = 320,000 litres • 3 % SOM = 480,000 litres • 4 % SOM = 640,000 litres (levels pre farming) • 5 % SOM = 800,000 litres (levels pre farming) Adapted from Morris, 2004.
- 10. UNITINGTHEORGANICWORLD Organic Corn - 1995 Drought OrganicOrganic ConventionalConventional Better infiltration, retention, andBetter infiltration, retention, and delivery to plants helps avoid droughtdelivery to plants helps avoid drought damagedamage Picture: Rodale Institute
- 11. UNITINGTHEORGANICWORLD High Yield Organic Agriculture The average corn yields during the drought years were from 28% to 34% higher in the two organic systems. The yields were 6,938 and 7,235 kg per ha in the organic animal and the organic legume systems, respectively, compared with 5,333 kg per ha in the conventional system (Pimentel, 2005)
- 12. UNITINGTHEORGANICWORLD Organic Higher Yields in Climate Extremes • Organic systems have higher yields than conventional farming systems in weather extremes such as heavy rains and droughts. (Drinkwater, Wagoner and Sarrantonio 1998; Welsh, 1999; Lotter 2004) • The Wisconsin Integrated Cropping Systems Trials found that organic yields were higher in drought years and the same as conventional in normal weather years. (Posner et al. 2008) • The Rodale FST showed that the organic systems produced 30 per cent more corn than the conventional system in drought years. (Pimentel D 2005, La Salle and Hepperly 2008) Greater Resilience to Adverse Conditions
- 13. UNITINGTHEORGANICWORLD High Yield Organic Agriculture • A report by the United National Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) stated on Organic Agriculture: • 114 projects in Africa covering 2 million hectares and 1.9 million farmers • ‘…the average crop yield was … 116 per cent increase for all African projects and 128 per cent increase for the projects in East Africa.’ • Organic Agriculture and Food Security in Africa 2008
- 14. UNITINGTHEORGANICWORLD Alternatives to Synthetic N Fertilizers Grapes grown with lupins Intercropping to fix N for free
- 15. UNITINGTHEORGANICWORLD Organic Matter and N The spaces allow microorganisms to turn the nitrogen in the air into nitrate and ammonium (air is 78% N)
- 16. UNITINGTHEORGANICWORLD Organic Matter and N Endophytic nitrogen fixing bacteria in rice Synthetic N fertilizer (Urea etc) stops these natural N fixing processes
- 17. UNITINGTHEORGANICWORLD INSECTARIES •Refuges of flowering plants are known as insectaries •Many beneficial insects have a range of host plants •Some useful species such as parasitic wasps, Hoverflies and Lacewings have carnivorous larvae that eat pests however the adult stages live mostly on nectar and pollen from flowers Alternatives to Pesticides
- 18. UNITINGTHEORGANICWORLD Flowering plants are encouraged to grow throughout the fields and along the borders Nectar and pollen are essential to the adult stage of many beneficial predators Research has shown that they breed thousands of beneficial organisms Tall flowering plant host more species than short mowed or bare areas INSECTARIES
- 19. UNITINGTHEORGANICWORLD Eco-intensification, Agroecology Insectaries Borders of flowers, trees and shrubs create refuges for beneficial insects, birds, lizards, frogs etc. Small birds eat an enormous amount of insect pests and need shrubs Provide forage for livestock Provide biomass for compost Marginal areas planted with aMarginal areas planted with a high diversity of ecohigh diversity of eco functional species, Bhutanfunctional species, Bhutan
- 20. UNITINGTHEORGANICWORLD Eco-function intensificationEco-function intensification Maximises solarMaximises solar capturecapture Does not competeDoes not compete for sunlightfor sunlight Fixes nitrogen andFixes nitrogen and soil carbonsoil carbon Green ManureGreen Manure Flowers attractFlowers attract beneficialbeneficial InsectsInsects Conserves waterConserves water and soiland soil This is an example of good practice in weed management and not a neglected orchard High Species Biodiversity,High Species Biodiversity, ItalyItaly
- 21. UNITINGTHEORGANICWORLD “Push – Pull” for Stemborer and Striga Control Source: International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology (ICIPE)
- 22. UNITINGTHEORGANICWORLD Using natural systems to regulate pest outbreaks push-pull greater farm productivity with higher corns yields (2 to 10X) Eco Function Intensification A whole of System’s Approach
- 23. UNITINGTHEORGANICWORLD Organic small holders feed the world 23 Eco Function Intensification The desmodium, suppresses weeds (selective allelopathy), adds nitrogen, conserves the soil, repels pests and provides high protein stock feed
- 24. UNITINGTHEORGANICWORLD 24 Eco Function Intensification The Napier grass is a trap for the corn borer. The sharp silica hairs and sticky exudates on the Napier grass kill the stem borer larvae when they hatch, breaking the life cycle and reducing pest numbers
- 25. UNITINGTHEORGANICWORLD Intercropping to fix N for free Desmodium repels pests suppress weeds Alfalfa hosts beneficial insects Napier grass traps pests Chilies grown with desmodium and alfalfa Push Pull Adapted to New Crops
- 26. UNITINGTHEORGANICWORLD 26 Eco Function Intensification Push Pull and insectaries in a mango orchard gives total pest control, provide nutrients, feed for stock and biogas. The biogas slurry is composted and used as the only fertilizer. High yields of perfect fruit.
- 27. UNITINGTHEORGANICWORLD High over-grazing and burning Deep, wide and long erosion gullies Low soil organic matter Low soil fertility Serious food insecurity in dry years Tigray, Ethiopia
- 28. UNITINGTHEORGANICWORLD Tigray, Ethiopia Whole System in Place
- 29. UNITINGTHEORGANICWORLD Impact of using compost - Grain yields from over 900 samples from farmers fields over 7 years
Editor's Notes
- #23: The push-pull method is an integrated production system, in which a crop combination deals with a number of issues at once: Insect pest: the stem borer in the corn filed are repelled by the cover crop Desmodium, and attracted by the Napier grass, a trap crop planted around the field. Desmodium is also attractive to the natural enemies of the stem borer, so the few that enter the field are readily parasitized. The parasitic weed Striga weed is controlled by Desmodium, which stops its growth through exudates from the roots Erosion is stopped, the ground being covered in permanence. In addition to high corn yields, the system also produces fodder for livestock In this “conservation” agriculture system, the soil fertility is enhanced at each cropping cycle, Desmodium being a legume, fixing nitrogen, manure form the livestock brings back N and other important nutrients. The push-pull system, developed at the ICIPE in Nairobi, has been featured in Wired Magazine last November on the future of food
- #30: The farmers use their own varieties (landraces)