Citation: Kioumarsi, H., Alidoust, M., & Özbey, B. G. (2025). Organic farming to promote the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Springer Nature Communities. https://communities.springernature.com/manage/posts/29407
Abstract
The United Nations introduced the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) as a comprehensive framework for poverty eradication and environmental conservation, with the vision of ensuring prosperity for all by 2030.
Food science and agriculture are able to address these goals in numerous ways. Farming has always been linked with climate change and biodiversity loss. Organic farming provides a sustainable method with practices that try to inflict minimal harm to the environment. Organic agriculture improves ecosystem and soil fertility. Organic agriculture relies on natural processes, biodiversity, and local ecosystem functions without the use of synthetic chemicals or genetically modified organisms. Organic agriculture also employs environmentally friendly practices such as crop rotation, organic manures (compost and manure), and biological control for minimal human-related damage to the environment. Organic agriculture has a positive impact on other SDGs.
For the eradication of poverty, organic farming generates labor employment in intensive agriculture and rural jobs. For zero hunger and food security, organic agriculture approaches ensure sustainable agroecosystems that ensure long-term food supply. Organic agriculture ensures healthy and safe food by non-use of agrochemicals. Organic farming enhances economic security and promotes education in sustainable agriculture, environmental management, and rural development for quality education. With regard to gender equity, organic farming creates employment for women in rural areas and empowers them economically through fair remuneration and improved family welfare. Organic farming aids in clean water and sanitation by preventing nutrient runoffs and reducing releases of pollutants, thereby improving drinking water and aquatic ecosystem quality. It also improves the effectiveness of water use through improved retention of soil water. In the area of clean and affordable energy, organic farming utilizes renewable energy sources and biomass recycling to generate energy, minimizing fossil fuel usage and improving energy sustainability.
Organic agriculture contributes to decent work and economic growth through improved labor standards and connecting small-scale farmers to fair supply chains and niche markets. In the area of industry, innovation, and infrastructure, organic farming enhances competitiveness, post-harvest handling, and infrastructural development. It also reduces inequalities by enabling poor and small-scale farmers to access global markets, leading to a more equitable distribution of income. It also promotes sustainable cities and communities as well as responsible consumption and production through ethically oriented consumption that drives socially and environmentally conscious demand, underpinning local food systems that reduce waste and enhance resilience. Organic farming is at the center of climate action through the mitigation of greenhouse gas emissions and building ecosystem resilience through methods like cover cropping and agroforestry. For aquatic life, organic farming discourages chemical pollution. It is also a cause of peace, justice, and good institutions through the encouragement of partnership and community-based programs. The benefits are achieved in partnerships for objectives, such as collaborative efforts between governments, NGOs, private enterprises, and farmer groups. Although organic farming has benefits, it is also faced with many challenges. In order to make proper use of its potential in driving the SDGs, increased investment in research, extension, farmer training, policy influence, and consumer promotion through labeling and education is important.
Lastly, organic agriculture provides an integrated solution for sustainable agriculture to address poverty, hunger, health, gender equity, environmentally friendly agriculture, and climate change simultaneously. If enacted as a universal strategy, it has the potential to strengthen the SDGs' transformative agenda and contribute to making a healthier and more equitable world.
References:
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