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protect the environment and conserve natural resources. Healthy and fertile

Organic Crop Farming soil helps build resilience to the impacts of climate change. Organic farms
release fewer greenhouse gas emissions and are more energy efficient,
using 45% less energy than conventional farms.
Arable farmers today are facing considerable challenges in running a
profitable business. In recent months they have seen
unprecedented price rises in their main operating costs such as fuel,
Growth in Organic Farming
fertiliser and energy. No farming enterprise has been able to avoid Organic farmland is increasing at a rate of 5% every year with all continents
the impact of these soaring prices. In addition, they have been seeing strong growth. Over 78 million hectares are farmed organically
affected by a shortage of seasonal workers to operate efficiently which is over 1.6% of all agricultural land. Over half of this land is in the
through the harvest season, extreme weather events caused by Oceania region (38 million hectares), followed by Europe (20 million
climate change and a reduction in the price paid for their produce. hectares) and Latin America (12 million hectares). The global retail market
Farmers are having to reduce their costs and adapt their business for organic food is also showing strong growth. Consumers are becoming
models in response to these challenges. Some are considering more aware of environmental issues and the numerous health benefits
diversifying away from conventional farming to organic farming. associated with a natural diet. Many perceive organic food to be higher
This would reduce their reliance on expensive artificial fertilisers and quality with rich nutritional value and multiple health benefits. As a result
the fuel costs involved with spreading them across their fields. of increased public demand total sales in the organic food market exceeded
Organic methods of crop production offer a possible solution to 126 billion Euros last year. The following table shows this retail growth:
these problems but it is not by any means a simple solution and
requires careful consideration and planning. Growth in organic retail sales (million €)
Region 2010 2017 2023
What is Organic Farming? Africa 0.28 16.52 17.27 There are 3.4 million
Organic farming is also known as ecological farming. It is an agricultural Asia 1902.24 10079.24 13167.36 organic producers in 190
system of cultivating land to produce food using natural substances and countries with the largest
Europe 20413.85 39566.12 54600.25
processes. Crops are nurtured and grown without the use of synthetic number in India. Swiss
Latin consumers spent the most
fertilisers and pesticides. Organic techniques include: 14.37 1138.80 816.88
America per person on organic
 biological pest control North food and Denmark
20184.78 45162.80 56402.94
 companion planting America continues to have the
 crop rotation Oceania 742.44 1357.73 1674.16 highest organic market
share with 13% of its total
 fostering natural insect predators World Total 43257.97 97321.21 126678.87
food market.
 mixed crops for pest control
 natural fertilisers such as compost and green manure.
There are sound environmental reasons and ecological benefits to organic
farming. This uses sustainable techniques which benefit the wildlife,

Guide produced by: Mohammed Oreiby/Kw035/1234

larger, more complex operations. The inspector will report their findings
Organic Certification and identify any changes that are needed to bring production into line with
The labelling and marketing of organic food products is strictly controlled and the standards. Farms must undergo a conversion period where the land is
regulated. It is illegal to call a food product organic if it has not been managed using the organic production methods outlined in the Organic
inspected and certified by an approved organic control body. Any System Plan. The conversion period for land is typically two years. This
substance or compounds used in organic agriculture must comply with provides time to establish organic management techniques and build soil
organic regulations and be verified as suitable for use in organic production fertility and biological activity. All plants that are grown during the
systems. conversion period must come from organic seeds. For crops to be marketed
as organic the seeds must be sown and harvested from land that has
Producer Certification completed its conversion period and has organic status. The conversion
period can be a financially difficult time for farmers. Organic methods
Organic agricultural methods are internationally regulated and legally enforced often result in lower yields and higher production costs. The food produced
by governments in many countries. Certification and accreditation systems during the conversion period cannot be classified as organic and therefore
have been established to protect the production of organic goods. Any cannot command a premium price. This leaves the farm in a state of
person or business that produces organic products must hold a legal uncertainty with reduced income.
certificate of registration from a government approved control body and
be inspected at least annually. The process of gaining approval is long and
demanding with complex documentation and a considerable amount of
initial investment. To start the process a completed application form must
be submitted along with the registration fee which varies depending on the
size of the land. A certification officer will be assigned who acts as a point
of contact and provides guidance throughout the conversion and
certification process. All certification officers have extensive knowledge
of the regulations as well as practical experience in the industry.
Applicants are required to produce an Organic System Plan which provides
a detailed description of how the farming practices and procedures will
meet the organic standards.
A physical barrier such as a road, hedge or a 10-metre
buffer zone must separate organic farmland from
conventional farmland. This is to protect the organic
crops from contamination by chemical fertilizers and
pesticides used in traditional farming which may drift
over to the organic Aland.
Following a review of the application and documentation an inspector will visit
the farm to carry out an initial inspection. This visit will take
approximately two hours for smaller operations and up to a full day for

Guide produced by: Mohammed Oreiby/Kw035/1234

Once all these stages have been successfully completed the farm will achieve
organic status and be registered in the National Register. A Certificate of
Compliance will be issued which confirms the farm is a certified organic
producer and the crops can now be marketed as organic. A farm schedule
will specify the crops produced, the fields and area under organic
management, and the date organic conversion began. Certification is valid
for one year. Fees are payable on the renewal date each year and an annual
inspection is completed to ensure the production and processing standards
are still being met. The farm will also benefit from ongoing support from
the certification officer who is dedicated to looking after the licence.

The Future
Organic farming has a bright future. Public demand for organic food is growing
so fast that consumer demand is exceeding some domestic supplies.
Significant industry growth is predicted in the next decade. The European
Union has set a target that 25% of all agricultural land will be organically
farmed by 2030. It is also a popular farming method in other continents
where production and fertiliser costs are expensive. In some countries
organic farming produces 80% more than conventional farms and organic
farmers earn higher incomes due to lower production costs and the price
premium paid for their organic produce. Whatever the location there has
never been a better time for conventional farms to convert to organic
farming.

Guide produced by: Mohammed Oreiby/Kw035/1234