What can organic agriculture contribute to sustainable...
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Research Institute of Organic Agriculture FiBL [email protected], www.fibl.org What can organic agriculture contribute to sustainable development in the tropics? Findings from a long-term farming systems comparison program (SysCom) 08.11.2017 Archived at http://orgprints.org/32404 [email protected] Dr.Gurbir S. Bhullar (Theme Leader- Sustainable Agriculture in the Tropics,)
Transcript of What can organic agriculture contribute to sustainable...
Research Institute of Organic Agriculture [email protected], www.fibl.org
What can organic agriculture contribute to sustainable development in the tropics?Findings from a long-term farming systems comparison program (SysCom)
08.11.2017
Archived at http://orgprints.org/32404
[email protected]. Gurbir S. Bhullar (Theme Leader- Sustainable Agriculture in the Tropics,)
www.fibl.org Gurbir S. Bhullar 2
Why alternative farming systems?
Polluted ecosystems
Depleted natural resources
Lost biodiversity
Less diverse diets
Lost soil fertility/ Soil Fertility Depletion
Dependence on industrial inputs
Diminishing economic returns for farmers
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Implications of prevalent practices of industrialized agriculture:
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Organic agriculture is a prominent alternative farming systems?
Productivity
Profitability
Soil fertility
Environmental sustainability
Social aspects
Market needs
But how does it compare with conventional production system for:
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8 treatments
5 crops in a 7 years‘ rotation
4 replications
96 plots à 100m2
In its 40th year now
Figure 1: since 1978, DOK Trial, Therwil (BL), Switzerland
DOK Long-term field trial, Switzerland
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How does organic perform under tropical environments?
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Long-term Experiment (LTE)Crop Rotation Design
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Long-term Experiment (LTE)Soybean
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Long-term Experiment (LTE)Wheat
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Long-term Experiment (LTE)Cotton
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Long-term Experiment (LTE)Cotton
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Long-term Experiment (LTE)Benefit Cost ratio
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Long-term Experiment (LTE)
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• Lower, but less weather-dependent yields in ORG
• Lower production costs in ORG
Same gross margin at plot level
• Less capital intensive Less financial risk
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Long-term Experiment (LTE)
Changes in Soil Organic Carbon
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Long-term Experiment (LTE)
Changes in Soil Organic Carbon
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In conclusion
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• Considerable yield variation across organic and
conventional farms
• Soybean yields are similar across systems
• Cotton and wheat yields are slightly lower
• Benefit / cost ratio is higher in organic
• Organic practices increase soil organic matter
• Higher soil biological activity contributes to higher P
supply in organic soils
• Policy brief08 December 2017
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Innovation platform: Participatory on-farm research (POR)
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With the farmer, for the farmer, by the farmer
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Current Topics in Participatory On-farm Research
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Seed for organic Cotton
› Participatory Breeding of Non-GM varieties
› Associated project “Green Cotton”
Pest Management
› Standardization of preparation methods for home-made organic pesticides
› Leaflets and brochures› On-farm testing
Nutrient Management
› Increase of P-availability › Acidulated RP using local
products: Buttermilk, Mahua vinegar (Madhucalongifolia), PSB
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Thank you for your attention!
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