Organic farming worldwide -
A 100% pesticide risk reduction

The organic agriculture movement is growing rapidly and increasingly farmers are maintaining yields and increasing their incomes, while eliminating pesticide problems. This is an edited version of a keynote address by Bernward Geier, of the International Federation of Organic Agricultural Movements (IFOAM), at the International Conference on Pesticide Use in Developing Countries held in February 1998 in Costa Rica.

We have serious problems
International institutions and United Nations bodies fail to appreciate the contribution of organic farming as a truly sustainable form of agriculture. Pesticide problems continue: while the most effective way to reduce the risk is not use them-and this is precisely what organic agriculture successfully achieves on millions of hectares all over the world.
    The environmental problems that accompany the use of pesticides are serious, and health problems are not abating: the World Health Organisation Statistics Quarterly states that as many as 25 million agricultural workers in the developing world may suffer at least one incident of pesticide poisoning each year. Fundamental changes in the way we practise agriculture are essential, going beyond using a bit less pesticides, optimising spray equipment or providing instructions to farmers who cannot read.
    In the debate on pesticide risk reduction a curative approach prevails, and the favoured solution to address pesticide problems is integrated pest management (IPM)*, which may slow down the problems, but does not avoid them. The organic farming message and practise believes that avoiding problems is preferable.

The problems are well-known
Chemically synthesised pesticides have caused tremendous environmental and social problems. In Germany, the chemical industry issues information on 'IPM' (defining it as reducing and managing chemical risks), and there are serious attempts to reduce pesticide spraying. But still 30,000 tonnes of pesticides are sprayed every year. A recent study in part of Germany has shown that annual economic damage for society caused by the use of synthetic pesticides is up to 300 million DM. Even in a highly educated country with careful training of our farmers to handle pesticides, poisoning costs reach almost 8 million DM per year. The costs for monitoring the pesticide level in drinking water is the highest factor at 64 million DM. (See also PN 39 p4)
    Two aspects of pesticide risk are often forgotten: firstly, the victims of pesticides are the farmers and farming families who are exposed to much higher doses of pesticides than the residue-concerned consumers. Secondly, production of pesticides has brought catastrophes, notably in Seveso, Basel and Bhopal: all locations of factories producing pesticides. The industrial production of pesticides is both polluting and dangerous.
    It is time to shift from monitoring the 'environmental catastrophe', to research for real environmentally-sound solutions.

Competition for resources
A comparison of the resources going into chemically-based IPM research with those going into organic farming would show a great disparity. Organic farming is neglected in research funding. Nevertheless, every kg of pesticide not produced and used contributes to an improved environment. The development of chemical-IPM towards 'integrated plant production' (IPP) is overdue: it could pave the way for farmers to convert to real organic systems. IPM, IPP and organic farming can learn from each other. They are allies in the field, if the goal is the same: to reduce the environmental damage of pesticides.

What is sustainable agriculture?
Since the 1992 UN Conference on Environment and Development in Brazil, the term of 'sustainability' has been over-used by politicians, the UN and by chemical companies. In fact the organic movement claims parenthood of the concept of sustainability in agriculture. In 1977, the first IFOAM International Scientific Conference, held in Switzerland, was entitled 'Towards Sustainable Agriculture'. One of the earliest pioneers in the organic movement, Lady Eve Balfour, provided arguably the best definition of sustainability:
    "The criteria for a sustainable agriculture can be summed up in one word permanence, which means adopting techniques that maintain soil fertility indefinitely; that utilise as far as possible only renewable resources; that do not grossly pollute the environment and that foster life energy (or if preferred biological activity) within the soil and throughout the cycles of all the involved food chains."
    That is what organic farming is about. No other farming method is clearly defined and regulated by standards and rules. The organic movement has four decades of experience not only in defining the practice, but also in establishing inspection and certification schemes to give consumers confidence in the quality of products and guarantee environmentally sound production.
    The importance of organic agriculture may be seen in the development of organic regulations within Codex Alimentarius, and many countries are enacting legislation, including the EU, Argentina, Israel and Australia. The draft US organic regulation has been heavily criticised for an agro-industry bias which would destroy the organic movement and its market opportunities. But other countries have drawn on the IFOAM Basic Standards, which have now been translated into 18 languages from Chinese to Swahili. This clarity cannot be found in integrated farming methods.

Pest control in organic farming
Organic farming is not a return to the extensive methods. It utilises the most modern technology-especially for pest control-and can be very (bio)-intensive. Instead of replacing nature's capacity to balance eco-systems with synthetic chemicals, organic farmers implement strategies which naturally intensify the regulating power of nature.
    The first step is to establish a system as closed as possible with cycles which allow nature to work. Strategies include seven or nine year crop rotations; using the disease suppressive potential of compost; planting hedge rows; integrating forestry into agriculture; mulching; and other steps which establish healthy soils for healthy plants and animals.
    Organic farmers also rely on direct means to deal with pest problems,. In the area of weed control farmers use a great diversity of mechanised technology: hoes, spring harrows, brushes, and thermal energy. Ducks have successfully controlled weeds in rice in Japan, and geese control couch grass (Agropyron repens) in potato fields, which may reduce chemical industry profits, but means extra income for farmers.
    For insect control organic farmers use colour or pheromone traps and many biological control methods are available. There is considerable evidence that organic farmers have fewer problems with fungal diseases: but when necessary, plant extract products or a rockdust are available. An enormous body of knowledge and scientifically sound data has been gathered to serve organic farmers, many of which are set out in the 450 pages of the proceedings of the 4th IFOAM International Scientific Conference on Non-Chemical Weed Control.

Worldwide success of organic agriculture
IFOAM membership is growing rapidly. Founded in 1972 by six organisations from three continents, the federation developed over 15 years to an umbrella federation with about 100 member organisations in 25 countries. In the last 10 years, with the explosive development of organic agriculture all over the world IFOAM now unites 670 member organisations and institutions in over 100 countries.
    Germany is home to some of the biggest transnational chemical companies, whose political and financial power creates pressure on the organic movement. But there are about 8,000 organic farmers in Germany. In the state of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern 10% of total land is under organic cultivation. Other states are committed to a 10% organic goal, but nationally only 2% of farming is organic. In Italy 18,000 farms are either organic or in conversion to organic farming. In Switzerland the organic share has reached 7%, and in the Graubünden Canton the figure is 30%. In Austria, more than 20,000 organic farmers provide 10% of agricultural output. Sweden and Finland are now competing with Austria for the lead.
    There has also been impressive growth in developing countries. An organic cotton farming project in Uganda started with a couple of hundred farmers and within three years attracted 7,000 farmers. In Mexico ten thousands of campesinos (small farmers) produce organic coffee for export as well as organic food for the local market. The Mexican UCIRI co-operative alone has organised some 7,000 farmers in over 30 villages converting a whole region into organic farming.

Organic boom reflects on the food market
Fortunately, market development and consumer demand for organic products is matched by the rapid growth of organic farming. The organic market in the US is in the range of US$3 billion and is expected to double in the next two or three years. In Germany the babyfood sector is well on its way to being exclusively organic. More than 30% of the bread in Munich is baked with certified organic ingredients.
    In Egypt organic produce is becoming mainstream. The bio-dynamic SEKEM initiative, employing about 1,000 people, delivers its products to 6,000 pharmacies and to 1,200 shops. Rapidly growing consumer demand is also reported from countries as diverse as Argentina, Japan, Poland and Australia.
    The boom for organic products is not a luxury only of the developed world. Local markets for organic food are becoming increasingly established in so-called developing countries. Of growing importance in this context will be close cooperation between organic agriculture and the fair trade movement.
    Respected organic market analysts such as Prof. Ulrich Hamm have forecast annual growth rates of 20-30% and in some countries up to 50% per year. The largest organic trader in the UK expects today's estimated US$11 billion world organic market to reach US$100 billion in the next 10 years, with a major share of growth taking place in the US and Japan. Denmark aims for organic products to take a 20% share of the total food market within a few years.
    Major corporations, like Nestlé, Sandoz and Lufthansa have entered the organic sector. MacDonald's in Sweden uses organic milk and Swiss Air provides 5,000 organic meals a day.

Will organic feed the world?
Opponents of organic agriculture say that it will never be able to feed the rapidly growing world population. Who will feed the world? Not organic farming, gene technology or the chemical industry. It will always be farmers-and increasingly the smallholders and home gardeners who take this responsibility.
    Despite the green revolution and use of synthetic chemical fertilisers and pesticides over the last four decades, 800 million people are starving. The real reason for hunger is poverty: a problem which will not be solved by examining agricultural production methods. The solutions to hunger lie in the social and political fields, and in improving the living conditions of the poor.

Conclusions
Organic farming will one day be so widespread that synthetic-chemical fertilisers and pesticides will become 'endangered species'. Farmers will not be forced to stop using pesticides, but the power of markets and consumer demands will support the logic of organic farming. Organic farming has grown beyond many expectations.

Now, genetic engineering is accelerating the problems of pesticide use. It brings additional risk, and the same unrealistic promises offered by the pesticide industry. Organic has at its core an attention to healthy soils, cycle economies and care for social aspects. This positive approach will be the starting point not only for healthier farmers and food but also for a change in lifestyle and consumption patterns.

* In this article criticism of integrated pest management (IPM) refers largely to the use of the term by industry as a means of managing pesticides.

Bernward Geier is the Executive Director of IFOAM (International Federation of Organic Agriculture Movements), Ecocentre Imsbach, D - 66636 Tholey-Theley, Germany, Fax+49-6853-30110, E-mail ifoam@t-online.de.

[This article first appeared in Pesticides News No. 40, June 1998, pages 10-11]