Organic farming and the future of agriculture
- 1. ORGANIC FARMING AND THE FUTURE OF AGRICULTURE Group A and C
- 2. WHAT IS ORGANIC FARMING • Organic farming is a method of crop and livestock production that involves much more than choosing not to use pesticides, fertilizers, genetically modified organisms, antibiotics and growth hormones. ... provide attentive care that promotes the health and meets the behavioural needs of livestock. • Compared with conventional agriculture, organic farming uses fewer pesticides, reduces soil erosion, decreases nitrate leaching into groundwater and surface water, and recycles animal wastes back into the farm. These benefits are counterbalanced by higher food costs for consumers and generally lower yields. Indeed, yields of organic crops have been found to be about 25 percent lower overall than conventionally grown crops, although this can vary considerably depending upon the type of crop. The challenge for future organic agriculture will be to maintain its environmental benefits, increase yields, and reduce prices while meeting the challenges of climate change and an increasing world population
- 3. Reduced Exposure to Chemical fertilisers and pesticides • Organic farming reduces long time exposure to pesticides and chemical fertilizers, for farmers, workers, and consumers which can affect the body's ability to eliminate toxins. • The principal methods of organic farming include crop rotation, green manures and compost, biological pest control, and mechanical cultivation.
- 4. ORGANIC FARMING BUILDS HEALTHIER SOIL • To grow healthy food, you must start with healthy soil. If you treat the soil with harmful pesticides and chemicals, you may end up with soil that cannot thrive on its own. Natural cultivation practices are far better than chemical soil management.
- 5. HOW ORGANIC FARMING HELPS IN FIGHTING GLOBAL WARMING • Organic agriculture can also help combat global warming by storing carbon in the soil. This raises productivity and favors carbon storage. Put simply, this means more carbon is stored in the soil, which means less carbon in the atmosphere.
- 6. Organic Farming Supports Water Conservatio n and Water Health • Dwindling water supplies and poor water health are very real threats. When our water supply is at risk, people and the planet end up suffering. • Organic farming also helps conserve water. Organic farmers, in general, tend to spend time amending soil correctly and using mulch - both of which help conserve water. Cotton, an in-demand crop, requires a lot of irrigation and excess water when grown conventionally. However, organic cotton farming needs less irrigation and thus conserves water.
- 7. Organic Farming Encourages Biodiversity • In general, the more biodiversity there is on a farm, the more stable the farm is. Organic farming encourages healthy biodiversity, which plays a critical role in how resilient, or not, a farm is to issues like bad weather, disease, and pests. • Organic farms have a higher diversity of plants, insects and animals, according to multiple scientific studies. Wildlife can find shelter more easily in the clusters of wild plants usually growing on organically managed land. Abundance of native plants comes with benefits for local animals, that are perfectly adapted to live alongside them.
- 8. THANKYOU