Lasting -vs- Organic Farming from a Dutch perspective

Cultivation Farming based on environment, nature, animal welfare and production methods and regulations. Use of ‘old methods’ without use of fertilizers and pesticides. Use of ‘new methods’ like biological pest control using ichneumon wasps. Farming based on highly productive and efficient methods. Use of fertilizers and pesticides is allowed and common practice. Intensive methods. Large number of plants or animals on as small as possible space.

One of the species of ichneumon wasps used as biological pest-control.

Distribution In Australia and Europe there is a high percentage of organic farming. Based on contribution to the GNP there is a lot of organic farming in Latin America. Africa has a low level of professional farming. Farmers in North America are still highly focused on production levels above environment and animal welfare. In Asia there is a rising number of lasting farmers.

Intensive methods of farming are common practice in North America and Europe.

Pesticides Strict regulations for the use of pesticides. High level of usage of ‘biological pesticides’. Low impact on the environment. No pile-up of pesticides in the food chains around the farms. Farmers try to eliminate all pests from their farms. Usage of high levels of pesticides. Damage to environment and even people because of aerial application.

Marketing Marketing based on ‘good feeling’ of customers. Buying an organic produced product gives people the feeling of ‘saving the world’. High prices due to more expensive production methods. Low prices have to trigger people to buy products from lasting farming. Extra additives used to improve taste and shelf-life and to make product more attractive. Much higher advertising budget than the organic farmers can use.

Health Lesser use of antibiotics. No use of grow supplies. No use of pesticides which is more healthy to eat but also it is more healthy to live next to an organic farm without pesticides. High use of antibiotics can cause resistance in bacteria and diseases. Use of grow supplies and fertilizers can affect the health of people. Certain places in this world suffer from a lack of control on the use of pesticides.

Pesticides can affect our health. In some places there is no control on usage.

Regulations Official labels: – E.U. Organic Label – EKO Label Regulations for the use of pesticides. Animal welfare and environmental care are strictly regulated. Few rules for use of pesticides, grow supplies and fertilizers. No rules in certain countries around the world. Continuous high usage of additives is allowed.

Netherlands Increasing acreage. Growing awareness amongst consumers. Increasing percentage of agriculture in the Netherlands. Strong lasting farming tradition. Large contribution to the Dutch GNP. Certain places in this world suffer from a lack of control on the use of pesticides.

Ecological farming is the choice for our future! Conclusion