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Can Organic Agriculture Feed the World?

 
The Post (Lusaka)
ANALYSIS
December 29, 2005
Posted to the web December 29, 2005

Judith Lungu
Lusaka

"In developing countries, UNDP (1992) concluded that organic farming methods seem able to provide similar outputs, with less external resources, supplying a similar income per labour day as high input conventional approaches. Studies show increases in output where local farmers adopt organic farming systems, reaching levels similar to those of high input systems."

Before the 19th century, most food in the world was organically produced using human and animal manure. Agricultural revolution began in England when a horse-drawn hoe and seed drill were invented in the early 19th century. In the mid-19th century, super phosphate fertiliser was manufactured. The first tractor with internal combustion engine was invented in the USA in 1910. At about the same time, a German chemist developed a process which led to the manufacture of nitrogen fertiliser. Nitrogen fertiliser was needed in large amounts to benefit from the discovery of high-yielding hybrid maize.

In 1939, DDT was discovered to have insecticidal properties. This was followed by discovery of BHC in France and UK. Selective herbicides were developed. Nitrophenols were the first group of herbicides developed in 1933, followed by 2,4-D and MCPA in the 1940s. By the middle of the 20th century, most components of modern agriculture, ie. tractors, farm machines, fertiliser, agrochemicals, hybrid seed, were in use in the developed world. The increased agricultural output with no net increase in cultivated area in post 1960s was a result of increased use of modern agriculture, namely: fertiliser, pesticides and farm machinery and this has helped to alleviate hunger in the developed world.

Nevertheless, overuse of pesticides, especially in vegetables and fruits resulted in residues above safety levels and brought to the attention the ill-effects of modern agriculture. Drinking water was not spared. The ill-effects of over-use of nitrogen fertiliser was recognised in Europe and USA. These were nitrate enrichment of ground water and rivers and release of ammonia and nitrous oxide to the atmosphere. The former added to the problem of acid rain while the latter led to reduction in the ozone layer. These ill-effects of modern agriculture forced people in rich countries to demand food grown without fertilisers.

The roots of organic farming can be traced back to 1927 when a movement for agricultural reform was formed following Christian concepts of land stewardship and preservation of family farms. By using crop rotation, soil fertility was maintained. In 1947, a soil and health foundation was formed in the USA that was to study production of healthy crops and livestock while maintaining healthy and fertile soils and to link farm produce to health and nutrition.
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