Organic Farming
First, what exactly organic farming?
Even today there is great confusion about what a term so widely abused.
The organic farming provides the exploitation of the natural resources of the soil with the addition of limited intervention and without the use of synthetic products or genetically modified organisms.
This should be taken into account the agricultural ecosystem as a whole and the importance of maintaining and promoting biodiversity.
The new regulation contains the requirements of the Organic brand products will come into force in January 2009, repealing the previous year. He says:
The European Union agriculture ministers have reached political agreement on a new regulation on organic production and labeling of organic products, which will be simpler for both farmers and consumers. The use of the EU organic logo will be mandatory, but may be accompanied by national or private logos. Indicated to inform consumers of the place of origin of products.
They can carry an organic logo only foods that contain at least 95% organic ingredients, but non-organic products will indicate, in the composition, any organic ingredients. It remains banned the use of genetically modified and is now shown explicitly that the adventitious presence of GMOs in a proportion not exceeding 0.9% also applies to organic products. Remains unchanged the list of substances allowed in organic farming. The new rules also create the possibility of adding rules on organic aquaculture, wine, seaweed and yeasts. In the second phase of this process of revising the regulations on the basis of the new regulation, the existing strict detailed rules will be transferred from the old to the new regime.
The new regulation has the following characteristics:
* Explicit the objectives, principles and rules on organic farming, while leaving some flexibility to take account of local conditions and the various stages of development;
* Ensure that the objectives and principles apply equally to all stages of organic livestock, vegetable, aquaculture and animal feed and the production of organic foods;
* Clarifying the rules on GMOs, reiterating in particular the absolute prohibition on the use of GMOs in organic production and stating that the general limit of 0.9% for the adventitious presence of authorized GMOs will also apply to organic products;
* Fills the legislative gap as a result of which the adventitious presence of GMOs in a proportion higher than 0.9% does not currently preclude the sale of a product as organic;
* Makes compulsory the EU logo for organic products of Community origin, but allow the complementary use of national brands or private, to promote the "common concept" of organic production;
* Authorizes stricter private standards;
* Ensure that they are labeled only foods containing at least 95% organic ingredients;
* Authorizes an indication of organic ingredients in the composition of non-organic products;
* Does not cover the catering and canteen, but allows Member States to regulate this sector, pending a review at EU level in 2011;
* Enhances the risk-based approach and improves the control system by aligning existing EU system of official controls to the generality of the food and feed, but maintaining specific controls for organic production;
* Establishing a new permanent import regime, under which member countries can export to the EU market under the same or equivalent to those applicable to EU producers;
* Require the indication of place of origin of products, including imported products carrying the EU logo;
* Opens the possibility for adding rules on organic aquaculture, wine, seaweed and yeasts organic;
* No changes to the list of substances allowed in organic farming, and require publication of requests for authorization of new substances and a centralized system for granting exceptions;
* Gives rise to the implementation of the implementing Regulation and the previous, with particular regard to the list of substances, the rules of control and other provisions.
In 2005, about 6 million hectares were either farmed organically or were being converted to 
organic production in the EU-25. This represents an increase of more than 2% over 2004. In the same period the number of producers "bio" has grown by over 6%.
(Source: European Commission http://europa.eu )
Actually the term organic is misleading: in agriculture because there is always a biological process, carried out by a body plant.
To be clear, and organic farming would be corrected, or ecological, to emphasize their commitment to the conservation of natural resources and production with low environmental impact. To realize such a project will adopt measures such as crop rotation, use of organic fertilizers, pest control with natural enemies and plant substances.
Those who choose an organic diet does often for reasons of environmental awareness.
In fact, the impact on health has never been scientifically proven, partly because of the methods of transportation and storage following the same logic of industry anyway, so reducing the nutritional quality of products.
Despite the higher price of organic products to the market is growing slowly but steadily, driven by recent food scares.
Supported financially by the European Union, is a type of investment is very frequent in Italy despite the relatively low uptake of certified organic products.
If he United States or Japan are specialized and organic food supermarkets under the brand name of the major retail chains, in our country must rely on the dedicated channel of the store or directly to the farmer.
Integrated Production
Ultimately, organic farming is nothing but a rational and environmentally friendly yet productive cultivation.
A lighter version a bit 'more casual and less codified is the production that does not exclude the use of chemical, but restricts the choice active ingredients at low environmental impact, to be used only in case of proven necessity.
In this case the use of resources summary is provided only in case of failure or exhaustion of natural resources, to maintain high crop yields.
And 'admitted use of mineral fertilizers, provided that in small doses and methods, with particular respect for the environment (prevention of pollution from runoff and contamination of groundwater).
The tillage is to preserve the structure with minimal intervention, even traditional, that will reduce erosion and instability.
Even in case of infestation or disease, you have tried natural remedies allowed an appeal sipped to chemicals and pesticides.
The integrated farming is therefore a highly productive method in which the concept applies to the limitation of damages, the result of mediation between the organic and conventional. Is not regulated but regionally and controls are often lacking, organized by the municipalities or by private associations.
It follows that the label affixed to the product has no value, and often is misused for purely commercial ends.
Some argue that this is the only integrated sustainable form of commercial agriculture, mediating between the needs of industry and the consumer's right to have the healthiest products possible.
Biodynamic agriculture and natural.
Although these different techniques, are united by a more philosophical approach to farming.
Biodynamic farming aims to products that comply with the ecosystem on the basis of the teachings of the esoteric philosopher Rudolf Steiner.
The fixed point is the consideration of a single system made up of the soil and the life that thrives on it.
Taking some common theories of homeopathy (exasperated dilution of nutrients), based largely on successful composting to be carried out with particular elements and devices, and the use of unusual substances prepared by following practices codified and succussions. The plantings then strictly follow the move of the Moon and some planets.
Natural Farming Masanobu Fukuoka was born agronomist and theories is to make the fewest possible interventions.
Nothing, therefore, pruning, or fertilizing, or smuovimenti soil, but only sowing and harvest.
To obtain the results is given a small use of fertilizer to be spread directly on the soil surface and to return what he took to the land, all waste must be left in place, collecting only the minimum necessary and allowing a rough mulch.
In the fields you can insert antagonists to combat insect infestations and allow grasses (mainly legumes) lay down on the ground so that the nitrogen and limit erosion (green manure technique).
Although you often hear elect, even out of place, we wanted to mention that these techniques are conceptually opposed to industrial production and usage is largely ideological or religious.
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Tags: biodynamic , organic , integrated production , cultivation techniques
September 16th, 2009 at 17:48
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