Impact of organic agriculture on the environment

WOS: 000226019700001Organic farming can be defined as an approach to agriculture where the aim is to create integrated, environmentally sustainable agricultural production systems. Maximum reliance is placed on self-regulating agro-ecosystems, locally or farm-derived renewable resources and the management of ecological and biological processes and interactions. Dependence on external inputs, whether chemical or organic, is reduced as far as possible. Market demand for organic products has expanded rapidly over the past decade. This is maybe the highest quality of organic production systems, that will in the future benefit to everybody on earth Organic farming encompasses a concept of a more sustainable approach to agricultural production. Organic farming is a way to protect the environment. In organic agriculture, the restricted use of mineral fertilizers reduces the use of non-renewable energy (fossil fuels) and reduces the emissions of agricultural greenhouse gases (carbon dioxide, nitrous dioxide and methane). Moreover, mixed farming and soil building allow for increased biological activity by providing support for micro-organisms, earthworms, fungi and bacteria. It is concluded that the benefits of the basic standards are primarily related to environmentally friendly production and to the animal welfare issue while the issues of animal health and product quality are more influenced by the specific farm management than by the production method. In summary, the basic standards of organic farming provide suitable tools to minimize environmental pollution and nutrient losses on the farm level. These seem to be more effective than measures in conventional production. However, there is a high variability within organic farms in relation to their efforts and their nutrient efficiency