Sustainability

Environment

Soil: At the heart of organic farming are soil conservation methods such as crop rotation, intercropping, symbiotic linkages, cover crops, organic fertilizers, and less tillage. It increases the nutrient and energy cycle, improves the soil's ability to retain nutrients and retain water, and makes up for the vacancy of mineral fertilizers.

Water: Organic farming bans the use of synthetic fertilizers and pesticides, replacing them with organic fertilizers and harnessing biodiversity, improving soil structure and water infiltration. Well-managed organic agriculture has an enhanced ability to retain nutrients, greatly reducing the risk of groundwater contamination.

Air: Organic farming reduces the use of non-renewable energy sources by reducing the need for agricultural chemicals. Organic farming traps carbon in the soil, helping to reduce the greenhouse effect and global warming.

Biodiversity: Organic farmers are custodians and users of biodiversity at all levels. At the genetic level, traditional and improved seeds and varieties are popular for their resistance to disease and harsh climates. At the ecosystem level, organic farmland maintains a natural environment free of chemical inputs, creating a favorable habitat for wildlife.

Genetically Modified Organisms: The use of genetically modified organisms is not permitted in organic systems at any stage of organic food production, processing or handling. Since the potential impact of genetically modified organisms on the environment and health is not fully understood, organic agriculture is cautious and encourages the use of natural biodiversity.

Ecological Services: Ecological services produced by organic farming include soil formation and improvement, soil stabilization, waste recycling, carbon sequestration, nutrient recycling, predation (pests), pollination, and habitat. .

People

The premium price of organic products is an important driver for farmers to engage in organic farming. Through crop rotation, multiple cropping and intercropping, introduction and improvement of production techniques and varieties, the yield of organic products can be effectively increased. With specific crop species, growing conditions, and good management practices, organic farms can approach or even exceed conventional farm yields.

Farmers' organic farming practices can provide them with healthy organic food and ecological environment, and reduce the health risks caused by exposure to agrochemicals, thereby improving their health. There is ample evidence to support this view. Organic farming practices prohibit the use of chemically synthesized production factors such as fertilizers and pesticides, and require the use of inputs that meet organic production standards, which can improve the health of organic farmers.

Organic food has higher nutritional value and is good for farmers' health. A study by the French Food Safety Authority on the nutritional quality of organic food shows that organic plant products have higher levels of minerals such as iron and magnesium and antioxidant micronutrients, and organic animal products have higher levels of polyunsaturated fatty acids than conventional products. Organic farming increased farm biodiversity, and organic farmers believed that increased biodiversity would improve their health, and their self-rated health was better than conventional farmers.

In addition, since organic farmers are satisfied with organic farming as a profession, a sense of social and environmental responsibility, social activities that promote human and social capital, and land-related benefits, these feelings are beneficial for improving their mental health.

Social Impact

The influence of farmers' organic agricultural behavior on their social relations is multi-dimensional.

Organic agriculture is a popular production method in line with the concept of sustainable development, which can alleviate people's negative views on agriculture due to the disadvantages of conventional agriculture, reflect the social and environmental responsibility of organic farmers, and establish an image of pro-environmental producers, Gain more social acceptance.

By cooperating with others and participating in technical training, experience exchange and other activities, organic farmers can not only reduce costs, but also expand their social network. Moreover, organic farmers can increase consumers' trust in organic products through green marketing methods, prompting them to pay a premium for organic products, thereby enhancing the cohesion between consumers and producers, increasing the income of organic farmers, and promoting the organic product industry. development of.