Why you should consider organic farming

The debate between conventional farming and organic farming is ongoing, with some professionals firmly backing its growth and others preferring traditional agricultural methods. Lycetts, a farm insurance provider, take a closer look at the organic farming industry.

Currently, organic farming accounts for just 1% of cropland around the globe — but it’s rapid growth has made it an enticing agricultural method for many farmers throughout the UK. Here, we’ll investigate what defines organic farming, how it can benefit food quality and wildlife numbers, and how you can make the transition from conventional agricultural practices.

Organic agriculture in the UK today

Many people are unaware of how large an industry organic farming is in the UK. According to the Department for Environment Food & Rural Affairs’ Organic Farming Statistics 2016 report, the UK had a total area of 508,000 hectares of land that was farmed organically in 2016. In the same year, the total number of organic producers and processors stood at 6,363 — up 5.1% from 2015.

However, there are some negative figures in relation to organic farming. While making up a substantial space, the total area of land that is farmed organically across the UK declined by 32% since its peak in 2008, while the number of producers is down by 35% since 2007, according to the Department for Environment Food & Rural Affairs’ report.

Organic farming: a definition

Organic farming must be clearly defined if you’re to fairly compare it to traditional farming practices. A type of crop and livestock production, the term ‘organic farming’ began in the early 20th century, and is today considered an alternative farming system that relies on natural fertilisers and farming techniques to encourage growth. Livestock, soil, people, and plant organisms are all covered in this holistic system, with the primary aim to develop enterprises that are both sustainable and kinder to the environment.

Organic farms must not use artificial chemical fertilisers, genetically modified crops or wormers; and instead, they should adopt methods such as soil rotation, clover (to extract nitrogen from the air) and other organic matter — like compost — to develop fertile earth.

Organic farming: wildlife and food quality

Aside from the potential financial gain of organic farms, this type of agricultural practice is reportedly beneficial for the environment. According to the Soil Association, 43% of British food was found to contain pesticide residues after government testing in 2015, and more than 17,800 tonnes of pesticides were used on British farms in 2015 during the same year. If all farms suddenly transformed into organic establishments, we would apparently see the use of pesticides decrease by 98% across Wales and England.

The Soil Association also found that there was a 50% average increase of wildlife found on organic farms, which is advantageous when you consider that wildlife numbers have dropped by 50% since 1970.

Crops and animals in organic farms

The next step in establishing the value of organic agriculture to is to look at them by type of farm (i.e. arable or pastoral). The three main types of crops grown organically in the UK are cereals, vegetables — which includes potatoes — and other arable crops. When it comes to how large an area each type of crop constituted in UK organic farming:

• Sugar beet had a total organic area of 100 hectares.
• Maize, oilseeds and protein crops had 1,700 hectares.
• Fodder, forage and silage had 5,400 hectares.
• Wheat had a total organic area of 10,900 hectares.
• Oats had 11,600 hectares.
• Barley had 12,900 hectares.

How about pastoral farming? According to findings, poultry is the most popular organic livestock type in the UK and has even risen by 10% in 2016 to more than 2.8 million birds — a figure that far exceeds the 840,800 sheep, 296,400 cattle and 31,500 pigs that make up the next three most popular types of livestock farmed organically.

Professional views on organic farming

We’ve dealt with a lot of facts and figures regarding organic farming, but what are the professional views around it? John Reganold, a Regents Professor of Soil Science & Agroecology at the Washington State University, and doctoral student Jonathan Wachter claim that organic agriculture has high potential.

Reading the professor’s Organic Agriculture in the 21st Century study, it’s apparent that organic farming is connected with delivering healthier foods containing less pesticides than those produced by conventional means. But can organic farming systems deliver more lucrative and eco-friendly yields than conventional agriculture? Perhaps, although, you’d have to accept the chance that you could produce a lower yield than you might in traditional farming.

According to findings from Professor Reganold’s book, organic farming systems delivered 10-20% less produce than standard farming, on average. In support of organic farming, Professor Reganold commented to The Guardian: "Overall, organic farms tend to have better soil quality and reduce soil erosion compared to their conventional counterparts. Organic agriculture generally creates less soil and water pollution and lower greenhouse gas emissions, and is more energy efficient. Organic agriculture is also associated with greater biodiversity of plants, animals, insects and microbes, as well as genetic diversity."

However, Professor Reganold asserted that potential organic farmers should not be dissuaded by this finding. He added: "Despite lower yields, organic agriculture is more profitable (by 22–35%) for farmers because consumers are willing to pay more. These higher prices essentially compensate farmers for preserving the quality of their land."

Making a switch to organic farming

In a world packed with fitness fans, healthy-eating chefs and self-improvement books: organic farming is potentially a highly lucrative industry for investment. But what is the procedure for becoming an organic farmer?

• Firstly, register with an organic control body.
• Then, submit an application.
• Afterwards, allow for an inspection.
• And finally, receive a certificate from an organic control body (CB).

Bear in mind that this process can take up to two years and you will have to renew after one year. However, it’s illegal to claim that a food product is organic if it hasn’t been inspected and certified by a CB, so you will need to go through this procedure to qualify.

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