FAO's technical contribution to IFOAM's Scientific Conference
Mar del Plata, Argentina, 16-19 November 1998

 

EVALUATING THE POTENTIAL CONTRIBUTION OF
ORGANIC AGRICULTURE TO
SUSTAINABILITY GOALS

 

 

 

Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations

Environment and Natural Resources Service
Research, Extension and Training Division
Sustainable Development Department
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations

Table of contents

Preface

1. INTRODUCTION

2. DEFINING ORGANIC AGRICULTURE

3. GROWING INTEREST IN ORGANIC AGRICULTURE

4. INFORMATION GAPS

5. EVALUATING THE POTENTIAL OF ORGANIC AGRICULTURE

5.1. DIFFICULTIES IN EVALUATING THE FEASIBILITY OF ORGANIC AGRICULTURE

5.1.1. Agro-ecological considerations

5.1.2. Economic considerations

5.1.3. Social and institutional constraints

5.2. ISSUES REQUIRING SCRUTINY WHEN CONTEMPLATING A SHIFT TO ORGANIC AGRICULTURE

5.2.1. Labour input

5.2.2. Other inputs

5.2.3. Crop rotation

5.2.4. Yield

5.2.5. Total farm production

5.3 POTENTIAL IMPACTS

5.3.1. Long-term productivity

5.3.2. Food security and stability

5.3.3 Environmental impact

5.3.4. Social impact

6. SUMMARY AND CONCLUSIONS

References

 

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