et al. 2009). However, studies have pointed out that the potential benefits of organic
farming are not always realized in all places and under all management systems
(Darnhofer et al. 2011).
The growing concern about environmental degradation, dwindling natural
resources, and urgency to meet the food needs of the increasing population are
compelling farm scientists and policy makers to seriously examine alternatives to
chemical agriculture. Nemecek et al. (2005) found greenhouse warming potential
in organic systems to be 29–32 % lower on per ha basis than in a mineral fertilizer
system and 35–37 % lower than in the conventional manure-based system. If one
gets a premium price for the organically grown rice, the economic returns from the
ecological farming system are really appreciable. The declines in productivity or
no effect on yields is overturned by better prices farmers get for their organic
produce. Various studies have confirmed that organic agriculture is productive and
sustainable (Kaswan et al. 2012). Indeed, several studies have demonstrated that
fruits and vegetables from organic farming generally are endowed with enhanced
nutritional properties. A recent comparative study shows that organic tomato juice
has a higher phenolic content and hydrophilic antioxidant activity when compared
to conventional tomato juice. Organic tomatoes from Felicia, Izabella, and Paola
varieties had higher vitamin C and carotenoid contents which were more pronounced when expressed on fresh matter than on dry matter. Organic strawberries
present higher antioxidant concentrations and have been shown to inhibit the
proliferation of human colon (HT29) and breast (MCF-7) cancer cells more
effectively than conventional ones (Oliveira et al. 2013).
Organic agriculture avoids nutrient exploitation and increases soil organic
matter content. In consequence, soils under organic agriculture capture and store
more water than soils under conventional cultivation (Niggli 2007). Production in
organic agriculture systems is thus less prone to extreme weather conditions such
as drought, flooding, and water logging. Organic agriculture accordingly addresses
key consequences of climate change, namely increased occurrence of extreme
weather events, increased water stress and drought, and problems related to soil
quality (Liverman 2008). Furthermore, organic agriculture reduces the vulnerability of the farmers to climate change and variability. First, it comprises highly
diverse farming systems and thus increases the diversity of income sources and the
flexibility to cope with adverse effects of climate change and variability, such as
changed rainfall patterns. This leads to higher economic and ecological stability
through optimized ecological balance and risk spreading. Second, organic agriculture is a low-risk farming strategy with reduced input costs and, therefore,
lower risks with partial or total crop failure due to extreme weather events or
changed conditions in the wake of climate change and variability (Eyhorn 2007).
As such, it is a viable alternative for poor farmers. In addition, higher prices can be
realized for the products via organic certification. Higher farm incomes are thus
possible due to low input costs and high sale prices. The coping capacity of
the farms is increased and the risk of indebtedness is lowered. Risk management,
1 Strategies for Sustainable Plant Food Production
15
farming are not always realized in all places and under all management systems
(Darnhofer et al. 2011).
The growing concern about environmental degradation, dwindling natural
resources, and urgency to meet the food needs of the increasing population are
compelling farm scientists and policy makers to seriously examine alternatives to
chemical agriculture. Nemecek et al. (2005) found greenhouse warming potential
in organic systems to be 29–32 % lower on per ha basis than in a mineral fertilizer
system and 35–37 % lower than in the conventional manure-based system. If one
gets a premium price for the organically grown rice, the economic returns from the
ecological farming system are really appreciable. The declines in productivity or
no effect on yields is overturned by better prices farmers get for their organic
produce. Various studies have confirmed that organic agriculture is productive and
sustainable (Kaswan et al. 2012). Indeed, several studies have demonstrated that
fruits and vegetables from organic farming generally are endowed with enhanced
nutritional properties. A recent comparative study shows that organic tomato juice
has a higher phenolic content and hydrophilic antioxidant activity when compared
to conventional tomato juice. Organic tomatoes from Felicia, Izabella, and Paola
varieties had higher vitamin C and carotenoid contents which were more pronounced when expressed on fresh matter than on dry matter. Organic strawberries
present higher antioxidant concentrations and have been shown to inhibit the
proliferation of human colon (HT29) and breast (MCF-7) cancer cells more
effectively than conventional ones (Oliveira et al. 2013).
Organic agriculture avoids nutrient exploitation and increases soil organic
matter content. In consequence, soils under organic agriculture capture and store
more water than soils under conventional cultivation (Niggli 2007). Production in
organic agriculture systems is thus less prone to extreme weather conditions such
as drought, flooding, and water logging. Organic agriculture accordingly addresses
key consequences of climate change, namely increased occurrence of extreme
weather events, increased water stress and drought, and problems related to soil
quality (Liverman 2008). Furthermore, organic agriculture reduces the vulnerability of the farmers to climate change and variability. First, it comprises highly
diverse farming systems and thus increases the diversity of income sources and the
flexibility to cope with adverse effects of climate change and variability, such as
changed rainfall patterns. This leads to higher economic and ecological stability
through optimized ecological balance and risk spreading. Second, organic agriculture is a low-risk farming strategy with reduced input costs and, therefore,
lower risks with partial or total crop failure due to extreme weather events or
changed conditions in the wake of climate change and variability (Eyhorn 2007).
As such, it is a viable alternative for poor farmers. In addition, higher prices can be
realized for the products via organic certification. Higher farm incomes are thus
possible due to low input costs and high sale prices. The coping capacity of
the farms is increased and the risk of indebtedness is lowered. Risk management,
1 Strategies for Sustainable Plant Food Production
15