Organic Farming: Concepts, Principles, Benefits and Prospects
Kitapta bölümler > Diğer · 2025
Yazarlar: Muazzez CÖMERT ACAR, UYGUN AKSOY
Advances in Organic Farming, Diğer, Uluslararası, 2025, ss 11-17, ,
DOI: 10.1079/9781800626850.0002
Özet
Organic agriculture practices emerged during late 19th century or onset of the 20th century by pioneers. Their focus was on nature, ecological cycles and on-farm resources aiming to maintain long-term soil health and productivity. The organic management targeted a closed system where animal and plant productions are balanced and products, by-products or waste are recycled. In the early stages, organic principles were cited as main practices or objectives. Later, in 2008, the International Federation of Organic Agriculture Movements (IFOAM) – Organics International accepted basic principles of ecology, health, fairness and care as pillars to further develop organic systems. Enlarging markets in developed countries triggered organic production in the world after the 2000s, creating global flows. Today, organic is not any more a niche but a mainstream aiming to bring solutions to the challenges faced globally. Henceforth, a closed-system approach was not achievable in all cases and stockless organic monoculture or dense animal farms appeared if standards permitted. Due to an increasing number of market standards, issues such as deviations from basic principles or organic integrity appear as a topic for discussion. The global statistics reveal that organic activities are present in almost all countries; however, nearly 60% of organic certified land is destined for animal consumption in developed countries. Thus, consumers are concerned more with how organic standards, taken as reference in certification, meet the basic principles and can address prevailing global threats. Various amendments, revisions, private organic standards or social standards, accompanying the official ones, aim to fill these gaps. Research, innovation and practitioners aim to enhance sustainable organic production worldwide taking into consideration its benefits for the global challenges faced.