What is Organic Agriculture?
We can explain what kind of an agricultural model organic agriculture is based on the International Federation of Organic Agriculture Movements (IFOAM) norms as follows: Without using synthetic chemicals; using biological, biotechnical and mechanical warfare methods in the fight against diseases and pests; It is a form of agricultural production made by using only natural materials for soil fertility and keeping their use to a minimum, without causing the depletion of natural resources.
The same main idea is not used in the processing and marketing of the products produced; choosing environmentally friendly packaging materials and methods; Observing human and animal rights and welfare in the production, processing and marketing processes is also among the principles of organic agriculture.
Although organic agriculture is perceived as a new production system, in fact this system is not a new one. The practices in the period from the first times when agriculture started in the world until after the second world war, when chemical fertilizers and pesticides were used intensively, are essentially organic agriculture. So, organic farming is actually the oldest farming model in the world. However, this model has come to the fore again as a trend towards the past in the face of the erosion of natural resources and the dangers posed by the residues of synthetic pesticides and fertilizers in agricultural products for human and animal health as a result of the intensive use of the innovations brought by the technological development to agricultural techniques in the last half century.
The development of the organic agriculture sector has led to the need to make legal arrangements in this regard and countries have enacted organic agriculture laws regulating the production, processing and marketing of organic agricultural products. In these laws, how organic agriculture will be done, how organic products will be processed and how they will be marketed are stipulated. While preparing organic agriculture laws and regulations, it was also considered important to protect the environment during the agricultural activity process and to leave soil resources to future generations in a way that would preserve their clean and productive characteristics. Thus, organic farming is also a good sustainable farming model. Since the 80’s, the organic product market has been growing by 15-20% per year. World organic product trade is around $50 billion.
More detailed information on organic farming; You can get it from the link https://www.tarimorman.gov.tr/Konular/Bitkisel-Uretim/Organik-Tarim .