Research on Increasing Productivity in Organic Agriculture

By

Dr. Sarath Ranaweera (Ph.D)

• To create self sustain agricultural production systems

• Develop stable and balance ecosystem

• Encourage all natural cycles (eg. Nutrients..)

• Protect soil, water, animals, plants and human health

• Stabilized economically viable production system in long run

Why Sustainable Agriculture is Needed

Organic farming

Nature farming

Ecological farming

Biodynamic farming

Types of Agriculture

History

Organic movement began in the 1930s and 1940s in the modern world as areaction to agriculture's growing reliance on synthetic fertilizers.

We had a farming system beyond the Organic – Biodynamic

Vanished during the colonial era

Artificial fertilizers had been created during the 18th century, initially withsuperphosphates and then ammonia derived fertilizers mass-producedusing the Haber-Bosch process developed during World War I.

Sir Albert Howard is widely considered to be the “father of organicfarming”.

Rudolf Steiner , an Austrian philosopher, made important strides in theearliest organic theory with his biodynamic agriculture.

Organic is:– Environmental friendly

– Culturally sensitive

– Socially just and

– Economically viable

sustainable agricultural method with anefficient management system.

What is Organic

“ Organic Agriculture is a production system that sustains the

health of soil, ecosystem and people.

It relies on ecological processes, biodiversity and cycles adapted to local conditions, rather than the use of inputs with adverse effects.

Organic agriculture combines tradition, innovation and science to benefit the shared environment and promote fair relationship and a good quality of life for all involved.”

IFOAM Definition of Organic Agriculture

WhyOrganic ?

• Fresh organic produce contains on comparatively more vitamins, minerals, enzymes and other micro-nutrients than intensively farmed produce.

Going organic is the only practical way to avoid eating genetically modified (GM) food. And when you buy organic food, you are showing your mistrust of genetically modified food in perhaps the most effective way – with your money.

WhyOrganic ?

• Industrialized dairy farms use a lot of artificial pharmaceuticals. Dairy milk and products is linked to many illnesses

WhyOrganic ?

• Intensive farming can seriously damage farm workers’ and consumers health. So go organic if you care about other people, wherever they are.

WhyOrganic ?

CKDu, Glyphosat and Sri Lanka

“In an era where Sri Lanka is facing boundless health problems, moving forward an organic concept might be one solution for a healthy and sustainable future”

Chronic Kidny Disease of Unknown Etiology

WhyOrganic ?

Help in conserving the environment

• Organic inputs that don’t leave toxic residues in the soil and general environment

• It promotes biodiversity of crops and animals to ensure complete and sustainable ecological systems with each species complementing the other for common good of nature and man

WhyOrganic ?

• It has very strong advocacy arm that fights for sustainable system of farming that tries to replicate nature as closely as possible

• It encourages recycling of biodegradable materials e.g. organic matter is composted to fertilize the soils as well as get rid of hazardous rotting materials from the environment

Organic agriculture help in conserving the environment?

WhyOrganic ?

Popular certifications for Organic

Global market: Distribution of Organic Retail Sales for 2015

Global market: The countries with the highest per capita consumption 2015

Organic Agriculture Worldwide:Current Statistics

The World of Organic Agriculture: Summary 2016

Distribution of organic agricultural land by region 2015

The ten countries with the largest areas of organic agricultural land 2015

Development of organic agricultural lands in World (2006 to 2015)

Widespread Conversion Development Towards True Sustainability

World Organic Future

Future Treands

• Gluten Free

• Vegan

• Herbs

• Raw food

• Functional Food ( Termaric, Coconut, Moringa)

• Biodynamic

Challenges in Organic Agriculture

• Low yield and high cost of productionQuality of traditional compost and plant inputs

• Change of MRLS and Detection sensitivity 0.1 mg/kg 0.01mg/kg 0.001mg/kg

• Role of scientists, labs and new findings (R&D)– Finding new chemical compounds– Increase the sensitivity level– Pollutants as a chemical residual (Biphenyl)– Poor understanding of naturally occurring chemicals and synthetic

chemicals (Anthraquinone and Poly alkaloids - PA)

Mnam, RAL, ITI

ITI - LC-MS/MS &ICP/MS for Food Analysis (in ppb)

Food – Sudan I, II, III, IV

(water) AflatoxinMelamine, DCDAntibiotic residues (Tetracycline, Chloramphenicol)HistamineMSGGlyposate30 common organic pesticides imported to the country80 other organic pesticides that are used in different

sectors including Ethaphone

Heavy Metal Analysis – all the metals including rear earth metalsin tea

Pesticide Residues and Heavy metal Analytical Facilities available at Industrial Technology Institute (ITI)

Present Scope of Accreditation Matrix Technique Category No of Parameters CAB

Water, WW, Seawater, Pool water

AAS/Flame, VGA, GTA

Heavy Metals 24 SLAB

Fish AAS/Flame, VGA, GTA

Heavy Metals 04 SLAB

Water, WW, Seawater, Pool water

GC Pesticide Residues

27 SLAB

Mnam, RAL, ITI

Future Expansion of Accreditation Scope

Matrix Technique Category No of Parameters CAB

Water ICP MS Heavy Metals 28 SLAB*

Wastewater ICP MS Heavy Metals 14 SLAB*

Inorganic Fertilizer

ICP MS Heavy Metals 09 SLAB*

Tea ICP MS Rare Earth Elements

17 Will apply for accreditation end of this year

* SLAB Evaluation completed and Recommended to grant Accreditation on October 2017

Mnam, RAL, ITI

Future Expansion of Accreditation ScopeMatrix Technique Category No of Parameters CAB

Water LC MSMS Pesticide Residues 23 SLAB*

Fruits and Vegetables

LC MSMS Pesticide Residues and Ethaphone

28 SLAB*

Fish and Fish based products

LC MSMS HistamineChloramphenicol

02 SLAB*

Spices LC MSMS Sudan dye (I, II, III and IV)

04 SLAB*

* SLAB Evaluation completed and Recommended to grant Accreditation on October 2017

Mnam, RAL, ITI

•Cross Contamination

•Less Institutional Support

•True Cost in Organic Products

(Is organic food price always higher than the conventional market price??)

•Guaranteed minimum income

• Social Recognition over chemical farming

Challenges in Organic Agriculture

The way forward for organic agriculture

• Policy formulation and legislation

• Incorporation of organic agriculture in syllabus at all levels

• Research to improve knowledge and relevant methods that will enhance productivity

• Development of common standards in organic agriculture

• Develop and strengthen local markets and export

• Home processing of organic products

More Productivity → More Sustainable Project

Improve Soil In-puts

New technology

High Yield

Immunity

Control loss & wastage

How to Increase Productivity

Research on increasing Productivity

We need a new concept of farming

Improve Soil and Plant In-

puts

New Technology

High Yield Immunity

How to Increase Productivity

Compost

An organic matter that has been decomposed and recycled as

a fertilizer and amendment.

Compost is a key ingredient in organic farming.

Bio fertilizer

A substance which contains livingmicroorganisms which, when applied

to seed, plant surfaces, or soil, colonizes the rhizosphere or the

interior of the plant and promotes growth by increasing the supply or availability of primary nutrients to

the host plant.

Compost vs. Bio-fertilizerHow to Increase Productivity…

Soil & Plant

inputs

Bio fertilizer microorganisms

New approachHow to Increase Productivity….

Inert carrier

Beneficial soil

microorganisms

Organic matter

Macronutrients

Micronutrients

Growth promoters

Immunity improving

components

Antibiotics etc

Bio Fertilizer

Compost

The Bio-fertilizer Microorganisms

Azotobacter – free living soil bacteria that can fix atmospheric nitrogen and store in them in soil.

Azospirillum – free living but closely associated with rhizosphere and fix atmospheric nitrogen and store in them in soil

Phosphate solubilizing bacteria, yeast and fungi – solubilize unusable phosphate

How to Increase Productivity….

Mycorrhza – symbiotic association with plant roots & increase area of absorption.

Trichoderma sp. – guard against pathogenic soil fungi (biopesticide)

Azolla ferm – symbiotic association of blue green algae with

Azolla fern in the leaves – fix atmospheric nitrogen

The Bio-fertilizer Microorganisms How to Increase Productivity….

Enriching the Micro Organisms in soil

70% of the demand for organic fertilizer comes from

conventional farmers!

WHY???

Control Loss & wastageHow to Increase Productivity….

• Agricultural Production

• Post harvest handling & Storage

• Processing

• Distribution

• Consumption

Conclusion – Increase Productivity

Improved soil inputs with new technology can increase the yield thus productivity.

However, control on loss and wastage would increase benefit to the farmer project

Thus Food Security would be enhanced

As environmental friendly and organic farmers, we look

forward to a green productivity and for a sustainable

environment practices to ensure a safe future for our

future generations locally and globally.

THANK YOU…………