The Agriculture Biologique is a agricultural System of production specific which aims at the search for an agricultural production of quality in the respect of the natural ecosystems. It uses the recycling of the organic matters, the rotation of crops and the biological fight. It prohibits the use of chemicals of synthesis.
The organic farming is regulated with the international level and is defined legally by many countries. These regulations are generally based on the standards of the International federation of the movements of organic farming (IFOAM), international association coordinating the active organizations in the sector bio. In the world, approximately 31 million hectares is devoted to the organic farming .
Bases
The organic farming is, with the clean direction, a pleonasm (there does not exist nonbiological agriculture). The term appeared towards 1950, in opposition to the system of production qualified of chemical because of its use of Intrant S chemical, i.e. products of synthesis: Manures, produced plant health (such as Weedkiller S, Insecticidal S or Fungicidal S…). This system being often regarded as durable pollutant and not . One now speaks about conventional agriculture vis-a-vis the organic farming.
The organic farming is under development full and includes/understands a whole active range of techniques of the intensive organic farming to the husbandries based on a more significant vision of nature as for example the Agriculture biodynamics which takes into account the cycle of the seasons, the lunar cycle and of planets in a very precise way in order to increase the output of the cultures and to allow their development in a natural and more effective way, these techniques being able however to be used in conventional Agriculture.
Situation in France
In the years 1970, a movement of company of return to nature supports the development of biological modes of production.
In 1981, the public authorities recognize officially the organic farming.
In 2007, Useful Agricultural Surface devoted to the Organic farming is of 2%. The number of the farmers bio slightly increased, passing from 10.000 producers in 1982 to 11.640 today.
The food consumption resulting from the organic farming progressed of almost 10% on average per annum since 1999, to account for 1,56 billion euros in 2005, while the annual demand for conventional food increased only 3,6%, according to the last figures of the French Agence for the development and the promotion of the organic farming, a Groupement of public interest where the professionals of the sector are represented.
In 2005, the French market of the biological food products amounted to 1,6 billion euros, the most important station being that of the fruit and vegetables, which adds up 264 million euros. But the whole of the market products with the rays dairy - dairy products (132 million euros), milk (99 million) and eggs (95 million) - represent themselves 21% of the consumption of the food bio, with a total of 326 million euros.
The weakness of the agronomic research devoted to the organic farming does not support its development. Indeed, 20 researchers work full-time on this field. This research would in particular make it possible to select varieties adapted to this mode of production
Legislation
At the European level, the first payment on the organic farming came into effect in 1992 (Payment n° 2092/91), followed in August 1999, of rules relating to the production, labelling and the inspection as regards breeding (Payment n° 1804/1999). The basic rules are prohibition to use chemical Engrais and Pesticide S or Herbicide S of synthesis. The use of genetically modified organizations (GMO) is also prohibited. The products of the organic farming profit from marks and logos protected at the European level.An action plan to harmonize the schedule of conditions as regards biological production by the European commission is appeared on June 12th, 2007. The actors concerned (farmers, salesmen, National federation of the Biological Farmers (FNAB) are mainly against for the following reasons:
-
No true consultation of the operators of the organic farming and the consumers, votes in catimini and urgency which will prevent any expression citizen.
- It adapts the rules of the organic farming with the detriment of the Member States and the European Parliament but especially of the producers and the consumers.
- fuzzy and unfinished Text: no rules of detailed production.
- the defined principles and objectives as being those of agriculture biological are disputed (e.g.: use of chemicals and contamination GMO accepted, labelled products transformed bio but in which the products bio are minority).
The term organic farming is now legally protected in France since the law from agricultural orientation of July 4th, 1980 and the decree of March 10th, 1981, which defined, and fixed the certification requirements of the schedules of conditions and specified the substances which can be used in the production, the conservation and the transformation of the agricultural produce known as biological.
Place in the European agricultural policy of the beginning of the 21e century
According to the Diary 2000, the farmers are held to respect certain standards Environnement basic ales, without receiving financial equalization. They are also subjected to the respect of the principle of Pollutant-payer. However, agri-environmental measurements propose to remunerate the farmers subscribing to engagements going beyond the agricultural Good practices. In particular, the practice of the organic farming makes it possible to perceive premiums. Moreover, the biological farmer can receive assistances with the investments. These actions should tend to support the adoption of practices of organic farming.
The European assistances with conversion diverge from a country to another. In Austria, the assistance with conversion is of 450 euros per hectare. In France the assistance is granted over one 5 years period:
- 100 euros per hectare and per annum for a surface in permanent meadow
- 200 euros per hectare and per annum for a surface in temporary meadow, cereals and oleo-protagineux
- 350 euros per hectare and per annum for a surface in vegetable culture
- 600 euros per hectare and per annum in truck farming
Since the adoption of the European payment of 1992, many exploitations are converted with this new type of agricultural production.
A new European payment on the bio will come into effect in 2009.
Organic farming in the world
The International Conference UNO/FAO of May 2007 on the organic farming and food safety concluded that with global scales, the organic farming, if it is supported by a political will, can:- to contribute to the food safety , of which rich countries also threatened by the crisis of fossil energies, the climate changes and certain weaknesses of the food chain.
- to attenuate the impacts of new problems (of which climate changes, thanks to a fixing improved of the carbon of the ground and better a impact strength).
- to reinforce hydrous safety (water quality, less requirements in irrigation, humic restoration of the ground, better outputs in the event of hydrous stress due to the risks climatic.
- to protect the agrobiodiversity , and to guarantee a durable use of it.
- to reinforce nutritional sufficiency (increased diversification of biological food richer in micronutriments).
- to stimulate rural development (in zones where the only choice is the labor, thanks to the local resources and knowledge.
Worldwide production
It exceeded into 2007 the 31 million hectares, with strong regional variations.
In the European Union
3,9% of the utilized agricultural area of the UE25 In 2005 (6,5 million hectares) were devoted to the organic farming, but with strong variations of surface according to the countries.Surface (in Bio) by country : largest was In 2005 in Italy (1,1 million hectares, either 17% of the total of the UE25), in front of the Germany and the Spain (0,8 million hectares each one, or 13%).
Percentage of agricultural surface used: the Austria was In 2005 at the head with 11,0%, followed Italy (8,4%), the Czech Republic and the Greece (7,2% each one). The lowest rates were measured with Malta (0,1%), Poland (0,6%) and Ireland (0,8%).
Percentage of the exploitations in bio, in the UE25 : 1,6% in 2005)
average Surface of the exploitations bio in the UE25, in 2005 : It is higher than that of a conventional average exploitation. 39 hectares (ha) by biological certified exploitation, against 16 ha by average exploitation. The largest farms bio covering surface were in Slovakia (463 ha by exploitation), in Czech Republic (305 ha), with the Portugal (148 ha) and with the the United Kingdom (142 ha).
Evolution : for the UE15, the share of the cultures cultivated in bio passed from 1,8% in 1998 to 4,1% in 2005. The share of surface in the course of conversion in the total of the surface cultivateds into bio, strongly varies, of less than 10% with the Denmark (1%), with the Netherlands (4%), in Finland (8%) and in Sweden (9%) with more than 80% with Malta (100%), Cyprus (87%) or in Latvia (83%), country or the development of certification bio is more recent.
In Germany
Many labels exist with very different schedules of conditions.
In Belgium, 2005 (figures published by Eurostat in June 2007, for the UE25)
The Belgian share of the European surface cultivated in bio of 1,7%, was cultivated out of 22.994 ha, that is to say 0,4% of the total surface area devoted to the organic farming the intermediate size of the biological exploitations was of 31,9 ha/exploitation, to compare with an intermediate size of 26,9 ha/exploitation (bio and non-bio). The Share of the surface in the course of conversion in the total surface area devoted to the organic farming was of 14,0%.
In France
the Figures : The French organic farming accounts for 8,81% of European biological agriculuure). At the end of 2006,11 640 exploitations were committed in organic farming, that is to say 552.824 hectares accounting for 2% of the national SAU. On these 552.824,53 235 hectares are in conversion.
the label : The pioneers of the organic farming in France spent several years to obtain an official recognition of label AB by the public authorities. The label organic farming (Logo AB) is recognized today by the Ministère of Agriculture, a precise schedule of conditions defines the rules making it possible to be certified. Several certification body has the authorization to deliver certification: Aclave, Agrocert, ECOCERT, Quality France SA, Ulase, SGS ICS
the Image of the organic farming in France : According to an investigation of the institute SCUMS, realized at the end of 2005, for the French Agency for the development and the promotion of the organic farming:
- 90% of French estimates that products AB contribute to preserve the environment;
- “Close to a French on two (47%) consumes biological products at least once a month” and “more one on two (56%) feels near to the values bio”.
- they buy their products AB, for 72% in great and average surfaces, 43% on the markets, 29% in specialized stores, 22% near craftsman-tradesmen and 22% directly with the farm;
- the majority of the consumers of products AB live in the areas Île-de-France and those of the Mediterranean circumference.
the die milk AB : It passed, on the level of the collection, of 45 million liters of milk in 1998 to 145 million liters in 2001. In parallel, the number of dairy exploitations with triplet for this period (of 350 in 1998 to 1040 in 2001).
the Distribution networks :
- Biocoop
- AMAP : Association for the Maintenance of a Country Agriculture. (Not exclusively bio)
In Quebec
Some farmers in Quebec turned to this type of production. Two organizations of certification act officially in Quebec, the organization Quebec Vrai and Guaranteed bio/Écocert
In Switzerland
The bio made beautiful great strides, mainly thanks to large surfaces. The most known label is the " Bio" bud;. Their productions are controlled only by Bio.inspecta (an independent organism) since January 1st, 2007. This label is famous to be one of most strict of Europe.The Swiss ones spent on average 160. - CH in 2005, which makes them the world large-scale consumers of biological products. In 2006, approximately 11% of the farms are certified " bio".
The biological market started to stagnate for the first time in 2005. One explains this retreat by a too strict schedule of conditions or by the price drops in large surfaces. In spite of that, the persons in charge of the Bud remained optimistic at the time of the 25 years of Bio Suisse on August 18th, 2006 and think that quality is higher and in connection with their price.
The Agricultural policy 2011 will have to make it possible an exploitation to profit from a label bio, even if the pieces all are not cultivated in bio. Bio Suisse which holds the Bourgeon label disputes this easing.
Organic farming and conventional agriculture
The opposition between these two types of agriculture is not as radical as that can appear at first sight. On the one hand, the schedule of conditions of the organic farming recommends a certain number of measurements of management which can apply in traditional agriculture, for example the Rotation of crops, or the minimum time of demolition of the animals, which also is essential for certain quality control marks.In addition, the prohibition of chemicals (the schedules of conditions define them precisely) is not total in agriculture bio, it is more restrictive, the natural pyrèthres and the Roténone, two natural insecticides drawn from plants are authorized, they have a fast biodeterioration and, being the pyrèthres, are less harmful than a great number of insecticides resulting from chemistry from synthesis. The use of the roténone is currently disputed, initially because of its very broad spectrum, and finally following the discovery owing to the fact that its chronic exposure causes the Parkinson's disease in the rats, and that the vulgarizing of its employment coincides with the increase in case of Parkinson's disease.
The farmers bio prefer to maintain balances of auxiliary fauna by supporting useful fauna and the predatory natural ones rather than to eliminate any animal activity indistinctly, even if the authorized use of roténone is not very selective.
An example which is not discussed any more is that of the Bouillie of Bordeaux (containing Copper sulfate) used amongst other things in vine growing and fruit-bearing Arboriculture (not only in organic farming) is authorized whereas the toxicity of the Cuivre for the aquatic environments and the grounds will lead to a drastic reduction of its use, including in traditional agriculture, already the effect harmful of copper had involved a reduction in the authorized copper amounts and the increasingly frequent recourse to other methods. This evolution constitutes a strong constraint for the biological production of wine which is pressed quasi exclusively on copper to control Plasmopara viticola, agent of the mildew of the vine.
Agriculture bio eliminates a certain number of health hazards induced by the use, or the abuse some chemical Intrant S, but it introduces risk factors related to some practical:
- the prohibition of some Fongicide S even certain chemical insecticides increases the risk of presence of Mycotoxine S in food;
- the use of organic fertilizers can bring germs Pathogène S for the man; it is true also in traditional agriculture;
- the use of homeopathic drugs must be subordinate to a checking of their real effectiveness, this is why the use does not make consensus among the farmers bio.
- the prohibition of employment of weeding involves the increase in farming work from where an increase in the energy expenditure per produced unit (in contradiction sometimes with the concept of Sustainable development).
The organic farming also made it possible to maintain or develop many techniques and innovating technologies whose majority are diffused slowly in agriculture productivist and have significant advantages:
- it removes the majority of the harmful effects related to the pesticides that it is for the ground water or surface water, fauna and the man;
- it decreases the infrastructures of raw material extraction, extremely polluting infrastructures in general;
- it uses much less materials resulting from the Pétrochimie and thus would tend from this point of view to delay the oil Pic;
- according to a disputed study of the ecologist David Pimentel of the Cornell University of New York, it consumes 30% of energy in less, less Eau and not of chemical Pesticide S for equivalent outputs.
Among the ecological and social, advantageous impacts or not, according to the point of view:
- by relocating the productions and while resorting less to the Input S, it revitalizes the socio-economic Tissu local, creates Emploi S
- it avoids flows of goods factor of Greenhouse effect
- it increases the number of credits per unit of area and makes it possible to decrease the Rural migration by improving the long-term viability of the exploitations and the image of the Paysan S;
- it is very favorable to the Biodiversité;
- its role as regards erosion is ambivalent, on the one hand with the use of fixing nitrogen cultures which occupy the ground, like the alfalfa, it slows down the latter, on the other hand the quasi obligatory use of the ploughing to fight against many bio-attackers whose adventitious ones, increases it.
Nevertheless, it is diffused very slowly in the agricultural professional circle and remains marginal, in spite of the important assistances with the reconversion. It finds the majority of its followers and defenders among therural ones and the movements ecologists of the cities.
Many are the territorial collectivities to support the organic farming actively, nottament by imposing the use of products resulting from the organic farming in the canteens.
Thebiological one
Could the organic farming being overall 30 to 50% less productive than conventional agriculture, replace this one and nourish the world population? While leaving on the quantity of food necessary to a French average meal and while basing themselves on the figures of the Ministry for agriculture and INSEE, French agricultural surface could nourish 48 million people into biological. But this figure is not able to be extrapolated with the whole world, in particular because of intensivity of French agriculture.
It seems in addition that, far from protecting the environment, the fact of requiring more hectares, is a growth factor in the ecological Empreinte. To note, moreover, that the development of the Biocarburant S, often also preached by the movements ecologists, enters in conflict with food agriculture, and with the maintenance of the forest, for the division of cultivable surfaces.
All-bio would be perhaps possible by removing the wasting and by a food regime change, less rich in meats (the animal feed requires a very important surface agricultural, which could be used partly for the human consumption if meat demand decreased, but partly only because the surface devoted to the animal feeds, in particular grass surface, is not usable for the production of human consumption).
Such an agricultural upheaval would be, from the point of view of its supporters, advantageous economically (definitely less energy expenditure, more profitable sector, less related spending with the treatments of pollution, less expenditure for health), creative of employment, healthy and ecological. That would suppose methods derived from the truck farming (biointensive Microphone-agriculture for example).
| Random links: | Panacea | Angua | Ring of Souabe | Large Fires of the Casino | Jerome Carion |