Articles • 2023, February 10
In organic farming, the main focus is on producing healthier foods with high nutritional density, free from pesticides.
There are several explanations and definitions of organic agriculture. It is a farming model that aims to:
In practice, organic farmers do not use synthetic fertilizers, pesticides, or insecticides, growth regulators for animals, genetically modified seeds, preservatives, or additives in their crops. Instead, they focus on improving long-term soil fertility and microbiome health through composting and cover crops while reducing water usage for irrigation. Organic farmers also use biofertilizers, manure, castor and neem seed cakes, bone meal, ashes, green manures, and crop rotation to enhance soil fertility.
The core of organic agriculture is producing healthier, pesticide-free foods, which benefit both human health and the environment.
Origins of Organic Agriculture
The concept of organic farming was developed by the Englishman Sir Albert Howard before the 1940s. Howard was born and educated in England and spent many years in India, where he conducted extensive research and developed ideas about organic farming and composting. For Howard, soil fertility was directly linked to the use of organic matter and humus, and even then he recognized the benefits of organic agriculture for animal and human health.
Regulation
In Brazil, Law No. 10,831, published on December 23, 2003, established guidelines for the production and marketing of organic products. The law defines what constitutes an organic production system and sets its objectives, ensuring a common understanding of “organic food” and providing security for producers, consumers, and distributors.
Under this law, products labeled as “organic” for the Brazilian market must be certified by an officially recognized organization. Only farmers certified by an official certifier are allowed to use the term “organic” on their products.
In the European Union, Regulations CE 834/2007 and 889/2008 set technical standards for organic production and marketing, covering primary production and processing.
In the United States, the National Organic Program (NOP), launched in October 2002 and regulated by the USDA, establishes technical regulations and guidelines for entry of organic products into the market. The US also has an equivalence agreement with Canada, allowing products certified under the Canadian Organic Regime (COR) to enter the US market and vice versa.
The EU organic certification is granted by the Organización Internacional Agropecuaria S.A. (OIA). The EU, US, and Canada all have their own organic seals.
Growing Demand for Organic Food
In recent years, demand for organic foods has increased significantly in Brazil and worldwide. Health concerns are one of the main drivers of this market, as consumers make more conscious choices, seeking balanced, pesticide-free, and GMO-free diets.
The demand for organic products is also a response to social and environmental issues associated with conventional agriculture, such as heavy pesticide use, genetically modified seeds, high mechanization, rural unemployment, soil degradation, and water pollution.
Benefits of Organic Agriculture
The organic farming model is spreading among producers due to growing consumer demand. Key benefits include:
Pesticide-free food: Many conventional pesticides are harmful to both animals and humans. Consumers often have no clear knowledge of the chemical additives they are ingesting through conventional food, due to lack of oversight and transparency. Even in small doses, daily exposure can have long-term health effects. Organic foods are 100% free from pesticides, healthier for both producers and consumers.
Healthy, balanced soil: Organic practices such as green manures, crop rotation, composting, and use of organic matter stimulate beneficial bacteria, fungi, and other agents that decompose organic material and stabilize soil. This soil regeneration approach saves costs for farmers while improving product quality.
Preservation of natural resources: Organic agriculture, also called sustainable agriculture, protects the environment by managing water resources efficiently, reducing soil erosion, and maintaining a balanced agroecosystem.
Challenges of Organic Farming
While organic agriculture brings many benefits, it also presents challenges: organic products are generally more expensive than conventional ones, require more labor-intensive management, specialized knowledge, detailed records, and full traceability of all farm operations.
Fazenda BELLA’s Organic Journey
At Fazenda BELLA, we believe human health is directly linked to soil health. This motivated us to adopt organic management practices from the farm’s founding in 2019. By the end of 2022, we received certification for the Brazilian, US, and Canadian markets.
We develop our own fertilizer recipes using manure, bone meal, castor seed cakes, compost produced on-site, ashes, eggshells, rock powder, and use grass mulch as soil cover. These practices enhance soil microbiome health, ensuring optimal nutrition for our plants and resulting in fruits, roots, and herbs with high nutritional value and exceptional quality.
