First Conversions To Organic Farming In Belgium example essay topic

What is Organic food? Organic refers to the way agricultural products are grown and processed. Organic farming prohibits the use of toxic and persistent chemicals in favour of more "earth friendly" practices that work in harmony with nature and preserve biological diversity - the multitude and variety of life. What about organic food in Belgium?

In Belgium, the percentage of organic farmers is still very low in comparison to the number of farms, but their number is growing. Today 20,265 hectares are managed organically by 628 farms, constituting 1, 48% of the agricultural land and 1, 08% of the farmers. The first conversions to organic farming in Belgium took place during the 1960's. But most organic farmers have only recently begun organic farming. This increase in conversions has been particularly strong in the Walloon region. Most organic farms in the Flemish region practice rather intensive agriculture on very few hectares (vegetable and fruit crops).

The biggest difference between the regions is extensive cattle farming in the Walloon region which is in contrast to intensive farming in Flanders, which also explains the difference in evolution of organic farming in the two parts of the country. Council Regulation (EEC) N^0 2092/91 was implemented in Belgium in 1993. A system in which products are certified organic is a likely next step in the socially responsible food movement. The certified organic label is already a clear standard from which consumers can judge a product's integrity. The state authority for organic farming is the Ministry of Agriculture. It supervises two inspection bodies: B lik and Eco cert.

Both inspect farms and farmers and are responsible for the certification of organic products. The traditional marketing channels for organic products are: natural food shops, weekly markets and direct farm sales. Marketing organic food through supermarkets (S.A. Delhaize, the GIB-group, S.A. Colruyt) gained importance in the 1990's. Today, supermarkets have half the organic market in their hands, the total market is about 160 million EURO. Personal advice and the perspective for the future in Belgium?

According to me the implementation of the European subsidies for organic agriculture in 1994 and the lack of consumer confidence in the quality of agricultural products due to well-known crises (e.g. dioxin, BSE, OGM) are the decisive factors for the increasing number of conversions in our country. In fact, consumers are fed up with conventionally produced food laden with pesticides, hormones, and antibiotics. I believe that organic can play a key role in the future of farming. In fact, organic agriculture represents an opportunity and an alternative for many farmers which enables them to receive better prices for their products. The development of the organic sector requires the organisation of networks.

The Belgian public also needs to be made aware of the problems due to conventional agriculture. According to me direct and indirect support by the government will, however, be necessary to achieve this. I try to buy organic food because I want to protect the future generations. In fact, numerous studies have indicated the environmental benefits of growing food organically.

It can improve biodiversity, protect wildlife habitats, and prevent the emission of vast amounts of toxic chemicals into our water, air, and soils. Some research has even indicated that the soil building process in organic farming stores significantly higher levels of carbon dioxide, thus providing a way to help reduce global warming. So I think that my food choice will impact my child's health in the future. In the future I think that this market will grow with the increased sales of organic products through supermarkets and through the implementation of the European regulation for animal production.

I think that these factors will make organic food much more widely available..