Enoch Selorm Kofi Ofori, PhD’s Post

📢Concerns rise as European Commission's proposal on #NGTs suggests a blanket ban on NGT crops in #organicfarming. Despite good intentions, this move may hinder growth and #innovation. Organic farmers call for collaboration on a nuanced policy. 🌱🌍 ℹ️ https://lnkd.in/eXnQU2j8 #GrowingTheFuture #seedinginnovation

Hemp, a plant that has been around for ages, is gaining renewed attention in the field of agriculture. Prairie View A&M University (PVAMU) will be at the forefront of researching this versatile crop thanks to a grant from the USDA’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture. The nearly $300K grant awarded to Dr. Negusse Kidane, an assistant professor and research scientist at PVAMU, will fund a three-year study on the potential of hemp biomass byproducts as animal feed for goats. This research has the potential to not only improve animal nutrition but also have a significant impact on the environment and economic sectors. Animal feed plays a crucial role in global supply chains, providing the necessary nutrition for livestock and poultry production. However, traditional grain feed production comes with its own set of challenges, such as high costs and impacts on the environment. In recent years, there has been a growing interest in exploring alternative sources of animal feed that are more sustainable and cost-effective. This is where hemp comes into play. Read more about this at the link below.

ORGANIC FARMING Organic farming, also known as ecological farming or biological farming, is an agricultural system that uses fertilizers of organic origin such as compost manure, green manure, and bone meal and places emphasis on techniques such as crop rotation and companion planting. It originated early in the 20th century in reaction to rapidly changing farming practices. Certified organic agriculture accounts for 70 million hectares (170 million acres) globally, with over half of that total in Australia.Biological pest control, mixed cropping, and the fostering of insect predators are encouraged. Organic standards are designed to allow the use of naturally-occurring substances while prohibiting or strictly limiting synthetic substances. For instance, naturally-occurring pesticides such as pyrethrin are permitted, while synthetic fertilizers and pesticides are generally prohibited. Synthetic substances that are allowed include, for example, copper sulfate, elemental sulfur, and veterinary drugs. Genetically modified organisms, nanomaterials, human sewage sludge, plant growth regulators, hormones, and antibiotic use in livestock husbandry are prohibited. Organic farming advocates claim advantages in sustainability, openness, self-sufficiency, autonomy and independence, health, food security, and food safety. #snsinsitutions #snsdesignthinkers #designthinking

💡 Agricultural Knowledge and Innovation Systems will play a key role in achieving EU organic targets – 25% of agricultural land under organic farming and a significant increase in organic aquaculture by 2030 Read more about it in the recently published article from the #OrganicTargets4EU project, it summarises the assessment of the knowledge and innovation systems in organic agriculture, aquaculture, and value chain actors ➡ https://lnkd.in/eRejEyyD

It is characterized with the intensive use of pesticides, fertilizer and other production inputs for crops and medication as well as concentrated feeding for the animal stock. The practice concentrates more on getting the most output per area by using high input strategies.

Harnessing the Power of Biological Control in Organic Farming #OrganicFarming #BiologicalControl #SustainableAgriculture #FertilizerRegulations #AgriculturalInnovation #FarmersTraining #EcoFriendlyFarming #FAOData #IndonesiaAgriculture #EnvironmentalSustainability The demand for synthetic chemicals in agriculture remains high, with Indonesia ranking as the third-largest global consumer of pesticides in 2021, following Brazil and the United States (FAOSTAT, 2023). President Joko Widodo’s directive to revisit regulations on subsidized fertilizers emphasizes the need for a shift […] https://lnkd.in/g-mMQ8rj

Role of Non-synthetic Pesticides and The Benefits and Challenges of Organic Farming. Organic farming is a method of agriculture that relies on natural processes and inputs to grow crops and raise livestock. Unlike conventional farming, which relies heavily on synthetic fertilizers, pesticides, and genetically modified organisms (GMOs), organic farming focuses on building healthy soil, promoting biodiversity, and reducing the environmental impact of agriculture. https://lnkd.in/gPCnnMP9 #pesticides #organicfarming #pesticide #fertilizer #farming #agriculture #agrifair #gmos #soilhealth #biodiversity #pestmanagement #pestcontrol

🌱 Leading the Way in Organic Farming Innovation 🌍 At Ostara, we're thrilled to share a significant breakthrough in the domain of organic agriculture. Our premier product, Crystal Green, stands out as the world's first 100% struvite product to be officially registered for use in certified organic farming, validated by the rigorous standards of the EU organic legislation and the Dutch Input List. This certification signifies our deep commitment to fostering sustainable, efficient, and environmentally friendly farming practices globally. Offering a phosphorus-rich (P) starter fertilizer, Crystal Green perfectly aligns with EU organic standards, marking a significant step forward in our journey towards sustainable agriculture. 🔬 Optimised Nutrient Profile: Crystal Green is a starter fertilizer with a NP analysis of 5% Nitrogen (N), 28% Phosphorus Pentoxide (P2O5), and 16% Magnesium Oxide (MgO), designed to meet the comprehensive nutritional needs of crops in organic farming systems. This specialized formulation ensures the availability of essential nutrients, promoting healthy and robust plant growth. A key attribute of Crystal Green is its 100% solubility in weak acids, which maximises nutrient availability to plants and eliminates the environmental issues often associated with conventional fertilisers. Importantly, we take pride in offering a sustainable phosphorus source that is entirely free from animal byproducts, catering to the standards of modern organic agriculture. 📜 For an in-depth look at Crystal Green’s certification and to explore more about its unique nutrient profile, we invite you to visit our official listing at https://lnkd.in/eCDHD7Kd As the global community advances towards more sustainable agricultural methodologies, Ostara is at the forefront of innovation, crafting solutions that safeguard our planet while enhancing the sustainability of our food systems worldwide. Let's celebrate this pioneering achievement as we continue to innovate and set new standards in organic farming. Learn more about Crystal Green and our dedication to sustainable agricultural practices at www.ostara.com #Ostara #OrganicFarming #SustainableAgriculture #Innovation #CrystalGreen #EcoFriendly #NoAnimalByproducts

Interesting news about the impact of organic farms on neighboring conventional farms, which, in some cases, are now using more pesticides. Generally, it is the organic growers that are concerned about the drift of herbicides and pesticides from conventional growers that end up in their fields, which can threaten not only their organic crops but also their organic certification. Generally, any lawsuits are settled by having distances of separation between the crops, but the spraying can still drift. As a child, I remember when a neighbor across the road applied pesticide that drifted and settled on our Concord grapes; they lost their leaves and fruit. We thought they were dead, but they came back the next year. Common sense (and being a good neighbor) is generally all it takes to avoid chemical drift from wind, but insects, some weed seeds, pollen, and microscopic pests and fungus are another matter entirely. The agrochemicals of today weren’t designed for polyculture or even strip farming.

Organic farming, also known as ecological farming or biological farming,[1][2][3][4][5] is an agricultural system that uses fertilizers of organic origin such as compost manure, green manure, and bone meal and places emphasis on techniques such as crop rotation and companion planting. It originated early in the 20th century in reaction to rapidly changing farming practices. Certified organic agriculture accounts for 70 million hectares (170 million acres) globally, with over half of that total in Australia.[6] Biological pest control, mixed cropping, and the fostering of insect predators are encouraged. Organic standards are designed to allow the use of naturally-occurring substances while prohibiting or strictly limiting synthetic substances.[7] For instance, naturally-occurring pesticides such as pyrethrin are permitted, while synthetic fertilizers and pesticides are generally prohibited. Synthetic substances that are allowed include, for example, copper sulfate, elemental sulfur, and veterinary drugs. Genetically modified organisms, nanomaterials, human sewage sludge, plant growth regulators, hormones, and antibiotic use in livestock husbandry are prohibited.[8][9] Organic farming advocates claim advantages in sustainability,[10][11] openness, self-sufficiency, autonomy and independence,[11] health, food security, and food safety. #snsinstitutions #snsdesignthikers #designthinking