Ecological agriculture

Dragomir Elena-CristinaGroup 8218

University of Agronomic Sciences and Veterinary Medicine

What is ecological agriculture?

It is farming in harmony with nature, using cultivation techniques and breeding programmes that do not rely on soluble chemical fertilisers, pesticides or herbicides, or artificial genetic modifications.

Millions of farmers around the world are practicing ecological farming. They are showing that it’s possible to produce enough food and to achieve economic success using ecological farming methods.

Who Practices It?

The practice of ecological agriculture involves building the strengths of natural ecosystems into agroecosystems, purposely disturbed to produce food and fiber.

The overall strategies include using practices that : •grow healthy plants with good defense capabilities •stressing pests •enhancing populations of beneficial organisms.

Ecological farming enables communities to produce enough food to feed themselves. This form of agriculture fosters a future of healthy farming, and healthy food, to all people. Ecological farming helps the world’s population to mitigate and adapt to climate change.

• Ecological farming keeps food production in the hands of farmers and away from corporate control.• Ecological farming helps cope with

climate change.

The benefits:

• 2.6 billion small-scale farmers already produce the majority of the world's food.• Ecological farming is proven to be more

profitable for farmers in studies from Europe, Africa, Asia and America.

Analyses have also shown that ecological farming makes sense economically. First, this modern farming method leads to increased crop yields. Globally, ecological farming can produce an average of approximately 30% more food per hectare than conventional agriculture.

Organic farming is the main type of ecological farming, with a set of standards which are recognised world-wide. In many countries it is called ‘biological’ farming.

Organic pest control is another feature of ecological farming. Instead of using chemical pesticides, ecological farmers use non-polluting, long-term pest protection. One method is to introduce beneficial insects to the field.

Another method is to plant crop fields strategically and to use “low-input” technologies that are available locally. As a result, crops are less vulnerable to pest invasion.

Using natural fertilizers also saves on farmers’ costs; it eliminates the need for artificial inputs. With natural fertilizers, soil is richer in organic matter, better able to retain water, and better protected against erosion.

Finally, evidence indicates that ecologically farmed products taste better and promote better health. A recent study in California shows that organically-grown strawberries taste sweeter than their conventional, chemically-grown counterparts.

Bibliography:

• http://www.greenpeace.org

• http://www.small-farm-permaculture-and-sustainable-living.com

• http://wikipedia.org