consumption in the US. This loss is explained by a 7% loss during harvest, after
which 33% is lost in transport or rejected upon arrival at processing facilities. During
the production of end-products another 39% may be considered lost. About 10% of
the products is rejected or marked as waste by retailers before the products reaches
the consumers. And at that level, about 25% is not consumed in the end (Stroecken
2017). With a more efficient supply chain only a quarter of production is thus
necessary to respond to the same demand. A large part of this supply chain is the
transportation. Scaling down productions to local markets may increase efficiency,
decreases production demands, decreases waste and decreases environmental
impact.
5.2 Organic Farming
Organic farming is defined as a form of agriculture in which no synthetic inputs take
place, such as artificial fertilizers, pesticides or hormones (Rehber et al. 2018). With
over 69 million ha, almost three million farms and a revenue of more than 90 billion
euro’s worldwide, organic farming is one of the fastest growing agricultural disciplines in the world. Growing 5% per year globally, organic farming seems to be
linked to an increase in general welfare. Switzerland and Denmark are spending
most on organic products per capita. As more area is in need to produce equivalent
yields, organic farming generally requires more space. To counter the absence of
pesticides, other methods of crop cultivation are in need. Old traditions like crop
rotation or newer methods such as strip cropping, to prevent depletion of soil
nutrients, offers the chance to produce multiple crops and meanwhile increase the
biodiversity on a farmland. Additionally crops are less prone to pests (Li et al. 2014).
Wild collection is often considered as part of organic farming. Over 440 products
are known to be commercially picked or collected from their ecosystems. The area
where wild organic farming is practised is estimated to be almost 40 million hectares
in size, spread out over 71 countries. In this extreme form of organic farming, the
ecosystem plays a central part and an ecosystem conservation approach is necessary
to maintain yields over longer periods. A good example of this is Wild Rooibos tea.
The leaves for this tea are picked from the Rooibos shrub (Aspalathus linearis)
which only occurs in the Fynbos biome in the southwest of South Africa. Where
cultivating outside of its natural distribution area is impossible, even small organic
plantations are devastating for the vulnerable ecosystem. The indigenous Koi-San
peoples, as an alternative, collect Rooibos leaves from the original vegetation,
meanwhile protecting their environment and culture. However, the limited yields,
the small market as well as the immense competition makes wild Rooibos farming
hardly profitable until now (Sluiter and Schaminée 2012).
Organic farming is marketed around the world as a durable alternative to conventional farming, provided that farming methods are further developed. However,
definitions, legislation and especially certification is often not clear and therefor
often misused by large producers and retailers.
The Future of Agricultural Land
421
which 33% is lost in transport or rejected upon arrival at processing facilities. During
the production of end-products another 39% may be considered lost. About 10% of
the products is rejected or marked as waste by retailers before the products reaches
the consumers. And at that level, about 25% is not consumed in the end (Stroecken
2017). With a more efficient supply chain only a quarter of production is thus
necessary to respond to the same demand. A large part of this supply chain is the
transportation. Scaling down productions to local markets may increase efficiency,
decreases production demands, decreases waste and decreases environmental
impact.
5.2 Organic Farming
Organic farming is defined as a form of agriculture in which no synthetic inputs take
place, such as artificial fertilizers, pesticides or hormones (Rehber et al. 2018). With
over 69 million ha, almost three million farms and a revenue of more than 90 billion
euro’s worldwide, organic farming is one of the fastest growing agricultural disciplines in the world. Growing 5% per year globally, organic farming seems to be
linked to an increase in general welfare. Switzerland and Denmark are spending
most on organic products per capita. As more area is in need to produce equivalent
yields, organic farming generally requires more space. To counter the absence of
pesticides, other methods of crop cultivation are in need. Old traditions like crop
rotation or newer methods such as strip cropping, to prevent depletion of soil
nutrients, offers the chance to produce multiple crops and meanwhile increase the
biodiversity on a farmland. Additionally crops are less prone to pests (Li et al. 2014).
Wild collection is often considered as part of organic farming. Over 440 products
are known to be commercially picked or collected from their ecosystems. The area
where wild organic farming is practised is estimated to be almost 40 million hectares
in size, spread out over 71 countries. In this extreme form of organic farming, the
ecosystem plays a central part and an ecosystem conservation approach is necessary
to maintain yields over longer periods. A good example of this is Wild Rooibos tea.
The leaves for this tea are picked from the Rooibos shrub (Aspalathus linearis)
which only occurs in the Fynbos biome in the southwest of South Africa. Where
cultivating outside of its natural distribution area is impossible, even small organic
plantations are devastating for the vulnerable ecosystem. The indigenous Koi-San
peoples, as an alternative, collect Rooibos leaves from the original vegetation,
meanwhile protecting their environment and culture. However, the limited yields,
the small market as well as the immense competition makes wild Rooibos farming
hardly profitable until now (Sluiter and Schaminée 2012).
Organic farming is marketed around the world as a durable alternative to conventional farming, provided that farming methods are further developed. However,
definitions, legislation and especially certification is often not clear and therefor
often misused by large producers and retailers.
The Future of Agricultural Land
421