You already know that at Agromática we do not condemn any type of nutrition or method of controlling pests and diseases as long as they are within the established legal limits. We do not reject ecological treatments, although we have sometimes criticized certain assessments made in this regard.
We are also not strong advocates of so-called “traditional” agriculture that does not fall under ecological standards, but we defend it according to the context because there are times when ecological alternatives simply do not have their place (crop yield, very specific pests, etc.) .
Basic principles that lay the pillars of organic farming
You may or may not agree with what I’m about to say, but that’s what I believe this production method called “Organic Agriculture” is based on.
The ground is alive, it is not static
This principle has governed agriculture for millennia, but in the super-intensive cultures of the 20th century, it has been neglected. Now, thanks to research and looking a bit at our great-great-grandparents, soil life is more taken into account even in non-organic farming. The so-called integrated production which tries to be more sustainable although it does not limit the active ingredients and materials dedicated to nutrition and protection against pests and diseases.
In a very dichotomous and almost Manichean way, one could say that organic agriculture takes into account the soil as a living, dynamic entity, whose life cycles are essential to the development of the plant and respects them as much as possible.
However, for traditional agriculture, the ground is a simple and flat physical support where the plant takes root to develop. The rest is provided by us (irrigation and nutrition).
Protecting plants from pests starts with good nutrition
It’s not that traditional agriculture doesn’t take this into account. If he does; what happens is that it has more effective methods against pests and diseases than organic farming, ergo, organic farming, a priori, is more based on prevention. We have less active ingredients against pests and diseases and we need a strong and healthy plant.
This, although very general, has its rationale and also combining it with the use of rotations, avoiding monocultures, looking for somewhat more modest yields, etc., we obtain (not always) a better general health. Like I say, that doesn’t always happen. For example, the olive maggot is the olive maggot and it will be there even if we have the healthiest, brightest and most ecological olive grove in the world. The same with Botrytis in grapes, repilo in pears.
This second principle brings us back to the field. Because in organic farming, good soil nutrition begins with the recovery of a percentage of humified organic matter available to the plant of around 2-3%. Although it seems little, it is expensive to have this material available.
Traditional agriculture uses fertilizers of all kinds, manure too (like organic farming) but it also has synthetic fertilizers. However, organic farming has certain restrictions in this regard, having organic matter and also specific organic fertilizers. These fertilizers are regulated by law if one wants to be certified as an organic producer. Common examples of organic fertilizers are:
And what about active ingredients that control pests and diseases?
Ok, we are going to do a little reflection because we are deviating in particular from what is considered ecological and non-ecological for a phytosanitary product.
In traditional agriculture, copper is used in various formulations (normally copper oxychloride or copper sulphate) mainly to prevent fungal attacks, what we call cryptogamic diseases.
The chemical formula of copper oxychloride is: Cu2(OH)3Cl.
You can’t use a “chemical” like copper sulphate in organic farming, can you? Well, you are wrong. Copper is a substance present in nature and as such, since it is not chemically synthesized, it is perfectly usable in organic farming. This is one of the premises. From there, we have ecological plant protectors:
- trichoderma
- Potassium permanganate. Powerful oxidant against fungal diseases
- Copper oxides and certain copper salts like the one just mentioned.
As insecticides we find such well-known substances as:
These are very well known compounds but we recommend that you take a look at the substances authorized in organic farming in APPENDIX I of the
Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2021/1165 of July 15, 2021 which authorizes the use of certain products and substances in organic production and establishes their lists.
You will be surprised at the number of products authorized in formulations for organic farming. They are not all organic materials. Some are simply minor components, additives or adjuvants allowed to stabilize mixtures.