History of organic farming

Organic agriculture is a modern phenomenon in the field of ecology and healthy eating. No other demand of society for a healthy diet and environment, favorable ecology, humane treatment of animals has not formed into a global, working, and steadily growing trade and production system.

Today, the market for organic products is estimated at 100 billion euros. 2.8 million farmers around the world are organic on 71.5 million hectares. The largest markets for organic products – the United States 40.6 billion euros, Germany 10.9 billion euros, and France 9.1 billion euros.

Organic agriculture was formed gradually under the influence of scientific works in different parts of the world. The scientifically substantiated work with the soil and the attitude to it as a renewable resource became the system-forming element of the system.

1st stage of the emergence of organic agriculture in 1924-1970

Rudolf Steiner (Germany), the founder of biodynamic agriculture, philosopher, esotericist, and teacher, had a great influence on the development of organic agriculture. In 1928, the first standards for quality control of the association were formulated, and the first Demeter trademark was registered. At this time, already 1,000 farms were engaged in biodynamic agriculture.

1940 – The term “organic farming” is first coined by Lord Northbourne, an agronomist at Oxford University. The concept is published in his book “Looking for the Earth” (Looking to the Land). He relied on Rudolf Steiner’s theory that farmers play an important role in maintaining the balance between agricultural land use and environmental protection. The idea of organic agriculture is purified from mysticism and is associated with more understandable and close to most people economic, social, and political aspects.

In the same year, one of the founders of organic agriculture, the British botanist Albert Howard, published the book “Agricultural Testament”, which had a huge impact on many scientists and farmers.

1939 – Under the influence of Albert Howard, Eve Balfour conducts the world’s first scientific experiment on agricultural land in Britain to compare conventional and organic agriculture. Four years later, her book “Living Soil” was published, which led to the founding in 1946 of one of the most famous and authoritative organizations to date in organic agriculture – the Soil Association of Great Britain (Soil Association), which still works.

1942 – In the United States, Jerome Irwin Rodale founded the first specialized magazine, Organic Farming, and Horticulture, and established an experienced organic farm to prove to skeptics that organic farming has advantages. The scientific activity initiated by him continues to this day.

At the same time, in 1940 in Japan, microbiologist Masanobu Fukuoka left his profession as a research scientist and devoted his life to the development of organic methods of growing grain. Masanobu Fukuoka’s best-known scholarly work is The Revolution of a Straw (1975).

In 1950, Jerome Irwin Rodale founded another magazine, Prevent, which taught the philosophy of organic agriculture.

1958 – Biodynamic agriculture continues to develop. A cooperative of producers and processors of Demeter products has been established.

1962 – Researcher Rachel Carson’s famous book “Silent Spring” is published, illustrating the detrimental effects of pesticides and other chemical compounds on human health and the environment, especially birds. In 2006, “Silent Spring” was among the 25 best science books of all time according to Discover magazine. The book has long been in demand for organic products.

2nd stage of formation of organic agriculture – 1970-1990

After the society recognized the need for the development of organic agriculture, the stage came related to the formation of production standards, certification systems, and state regulation of the industry. It was a struggle for consumer confidence and the organic farming system won that struggle. To date, there is no single world standard for organic products, but there are generally accepted world standards in the EU, USA, and Japan.

1967 – The first organic standard of the British Soil Association, the Soil Association, is established.

1971 – Bioland, an association of organic producers in Germany and South Tyrol, processors and restaurants using organic products. It is one of the largest professional associations of organic producers.

1971 – Robert Rodeil, son of Jerome Irwin Rodeil, founds the Rodeil Research Center, now called the Rodeil Institute for Experimental Farming.

1972 – the creation of the International Federation of Movements for Organic Agriculture IFOAM, which became an umbrella for the world’s leading organic movements (including “Demeter International”, Soil Association, Bioland, etc.).

1973 – The first Soil Association organic certification system is launched, which remains one of the most famous and authoritative to this day.

1974 – 1979 – The first laws of organic agriculture in the United States – in Oregon (1974) and California (1979). At the state level in the United States, the regulation on organic farming was introduced in 1979.

1981 – The first trademark of Bioland, Germany, is founded.

At the beginning of 1992, the common agricultural policy of the EU countries was re-adjusted and for the first time, organic agriculture with appropriate funding was included in its programs. This has become an important growth point for organic agriculture.

Modern organic agriculture – from 1990 to the present.

Organic agriculture around the world entered a new phase of growth in the 1990s. Large trade organizations for organic products were founded – Organic Trade Associations OTA, Australian Organic, the Italian Association of Organic Agriculture FederBio, and many others. Regulations of organic agriculture in different countries of the world are put into effect.

2005 – The IFOAM General Assembly approves the principles of organic agriculture. The goal of the principles is the ideological unity of the movement of organic agriculture throughout the world.

2020 – organic agriculture for twenty years – the leading global trend. The annual market growth is about 10%.

2020 – in the single coordinated agricultural policy of the EU after 2020, organic agriculture, along with agroforestry and precision farming, is one of the mandatory eco-practices. All farmers will be required to adhere to higher environmental standards (optional), even the lowest.

A total of 103 countries have their own legislation in the field of organic agriculture.

Ukraine

On September 3, 2013, the Law “On Production and Circulation of Organic Agricultural Products and Raw Materials” was adopted, which entered into force on January 10, 2014.

According to the Law, during organic production, the use of chemical fertilizers, pesticides, genetically modified organisms (GMOs), preservatives, etc. is excluded, and at all stages of production (cultivation, processing) the methods, principles, and rules defined by this Law are obtained. clean) products, as well as conservation and restoration of natural resources.