Page 276 - Environment: The Science Behind the Stories

60 200

50 150
Production (metric tons) 40 100 Millions of dollars (U.S. 1995 dollars)

30

20

10 Pesticide production 50
Pesticide subsidy
Milled rice production

1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990
Year Figure 10.21 Look for the USDA organic logo to ascertain
whether a product is certified organic under the National
Figure 10.20 Once Indonesia threw its weight behind inte- Organic Program.
grated pest management in 1986, pesticide production and
imports were reduced, pesticide subsidies were phased out, Organic approaches reduce inputs
and yields of rice increased.
and pollution
IPM has become popular in many parts of the world that are
embracing sustainable agriculture. Indonesia stands as an exem- The bounty of organic agriculture is increasingly available
plary case (Figure 10.20). This nation had subsidized pesticide to us (Figure 10.21). But what exactly is meant by the term
use heavily for years but came to understand that pesticides were organic? In 1990, the U.S. Congress passed the Organic Food
actually making pest problems worse. They were killing the nat- Production Act to establish national standards for organic
ural enemies of the brown planthopper, which began to devastate products and facilitate their sale. Under this law, the USDA in
rice fields as its populations exploded. Concluding that pesticide 2000 issued criteria by which crops and livestock can be offi-
subsidies were costing money, causing pollution, and decreasing cially certified as organic (Table 10.1). These standards went
yields, the Indonesian government in 1986 banned the import of into effect in 2002 as part of the National Organic Program. In
57 pesticides, slashed pesticide subsidies, and promoted IPM. crafting a formal definition for the word organic, the National
International experts helped teach Indonesian rice farmers about Organic Standards Board wrote:
IPM in “Farmer Field Schools,” collaborative groups of farmers
who traded information and experimented with new approaches. Table 10.1 uSda criteria for certifying crops
Within just 4 years, pesticide production fell by half, pesti- and livestock as organic
cide imports fell by two-thirds, and subsidies were phased out For crops to be considered organic . . .
(saving $179 million annually). Rice yields rose 13%.
Since that time, over 1 million Indonesian farmers have • The land must be free of prohibited substances for 3 years.
been trained in IPM in Farmer Field Schools, and the approach • Crops must not be genetically engineered.
has spread to dozens of other nations. Across Asia, studies • Crops must not be irradiated to kill bacteria.
show that farmers in these programs are able to increase crop • Sewage sludge cannot be used.
yields while greatly reducing pesticide use. • Organic seeds and planting stock are preferred.
• Farmers must not use synthetic fertilizers. Only crop rotation, CHAPTER 10 • A g R i C ulT u RE , Bi o TECH nology, A nd THE Fu T u RE o F Food
Organic Agriculture cover crops, animal or crop wastes, or approved synthetic
materials are allowed.
• Most conventional pesticides are prohibited. Pests,
Concerns over chemical pesticides and other aspects of indus- weeds, and diseases should be managed with biocontrol,
trial agriculture have led many people to support agriculture mechanical practices, or approved synthetic substances.
that involves fewer fossil-fuel inputs and less of the pollu- For livestock to be considered organic . . .
tion that these inputs cause. Low-input agriculture describes
farming and ranching that uses lesser amounts of pesticides, • Mammals must be raised organically from the last third of
gestation; poultry, from the second day of life.
fertilizers, growth hormones, antibiotics, water, and fossil fuel
energy than in industrial agriculture. This approach seeks to • Feed must be 100% organic, although vitamin and mineral
reduce the costs of food production by allowing nature to pro- supplements are allowed.
vide ecosystem services (such as pest control, pollination, and • Dairy cows must receive 80% organic feed for 9 months,
fertilizer) that farmers using industrial methods must pay for followed by 3 months of 100% organic feed.
themselves. Food-growing practices that use no synthetic ferti- • Hormones and antibiotics are prohibited; vaccines are permitted.
lizers, insecticides, fungicides, or herbicides—but instead rely • Animals must have access to the outdoors.
on biological approaches such as composting (pp. 634–635) Adapted from the National Organic Program. 2002. Organic production
and biocontrol—are termed organic agriculture. and handling standards. Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Agriculture. 275

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