Comments on EU legislation governing organic animal production and the role of values in agriculture

Organic nutrition and its variant organic animal products constitute one of the most important areas of nutrition today. The consumption of organic animal products, which are known to make significant contributions to strengthening the immune system and ensuring a balanced and adequate diet, becomes even more important, especially for the development of children. For this reason, it is necessary to determine the extent of knowledge of child development specialist candidates, who work with children and families and have significant effects on children’s development, about organic animal products. Based on this idea, the aim of the research was to examine the knowledge, attitudes and behaviors of university students studying at universities that provide associate and undergraduate child development education in Türkiye through the screening method. The screening model, which is one of the quantitative research methods, was used in the study and it was conducted with the students of the child development department who continue their associate and undergraduate education in the child development program throughout Türkiye. The data were collected with the “Knowledge, Attitude and Behavior Survey Form for Organic Animal Products” developed by Aral and Çufadar. As a result of the study, it was determined that the scores of male students, those with a birth date of 2000 and below, associate degree students, those who know organic products, those who consume organic products, and those who look at the certificate when buying organic products were significantly higher in the behavioral dimension. In addition, in the attitude dimension, it was also found that the scores of those with a birth date of 2000 and below, those who consume organic products and have knowledge about organic products, those who look at the certificate when buying organic products and associate degree students were significantly higher. Moreover, it was concluded that there was a weak relationship between knowledge and behavior dimensions and attitude dimension. Based on the results obtained from the study, it can be suggested that students should be informed about organic animal products and necessary measures should be taken to facilitate access to these products.

The European Commission's Farm to Fork (F2F) strategy, under the European Green Deal, acknowledges that innovative techniques, including biotechnology, may play a role in increasing sustainability. At the same time, organic farming will be promoted, and at least 25% of the EU's agricultural land shall be under organic farming by 2030. How can both biotechnology and organic farming be developed and promoted simultaneously to contribute to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)? We illustrate that achieving the SDGs benefits from the inclusion of recent innovations in biotechnology in organic farming. This requires a change in the law. Otherwise, the planned increase of organic production in the F2F strategy may result in less sustainable, not more sustainable, food systems.

Microeconomic analysis of exports and imports of agricultural organic products in Ukraine. Organic agriculture is a way of conducting agricultural production on the conditions of sustainability, which with the help of natural, technologically unprocessed means allows to produce agricultural products - organic food. In recent years, Ukraine has seen a rapid change in the structure of the market for organic agricultural products. The progressive increase in demand for organic food is a consequence of a healthy lifestyle. Demand for organic products is the result of consumer demand for certified agricultural products using organic technology, producers' demand for organic raw materials for further processing and export volumes. The market supply for organic agricultural products is defined as the sum of the supply of organic products, which is formed by agricultural enterprises and the volume of products through imports. Demand and supply of organic consumer products in the world and in the European Union in recent decades have shown exceptional growth dynamics. In Ukraine, the market for organic products is small, but is growing systematically. In 2020, the domestic market for organic agricultural products was estimated at approximately 24.3 million euros. Domestic organic products are exported to more than 40 countries. Recently, domestic organic products are exported mainly to the Netherlands, USA, Switzerland, Germany, Great Britain, Lithuania, Austria and Poland. The main organic products exported from Ukraine over the past five years are corn, wheat, soybeans and sunflowers. The growth of the organic market for agricultural products is changing the role of exports and imports. However, in today's conditions, the volume of exports of organic agricultural products significantly exceeds the volume of imports.

Adoption of organic animal production legislation, particularly at the Community level, is done with a spirit of compromise and an attempt to reach consensus. In this sense, legal tools are used to solve technical problems so that an appreciable number of derogations (exceptions) are introduced. These may allow the use of certain feed additives, tethered animals or even application of castration. However, derogations should be avoided in legislation where harmonization is pursued, since they bring about distortion in the marketing of organic products. The validity of these derogations has expiry dates. However, at least the EU was hesitant to proceed with the necessary amendments to lift these derogations so that eliminate ambiguities and block loopholes. In turn, mention is made to geographical issues raised from the exceptions question posed again with the new EU Regulations. Furthermore some thoughts are expressed concerning the relationship between setting standards and the crucial role of values in agriculture, organic in particular, social aspects and pursued policy. Finally, the essential feature of this work is that derogations in legislation inevitably lead to conventionalization of organic animal production, which necessitates the clear definition of “organic”. To substantiate this, relevant arguments are put forward.

A critical analysis of the research discourse on the development of organic farming is imperative if it is to contribute to the spread of sustainable consumption patterns, as indicated in the European Green Deal (EGD). However, there is a notable dearth of research from a macroeconomic perspective. What and how much we consume affects human health and the environment. Therefore, there is a need to increase consumer awareness of the consequences of food choices, as organic animal products can contribute to sustainable consumption and production. The study aims to determine the level of development of the production of organic animal products in European Union (EU) countries. Synthetic indicators of the development level of EU countries in 2016 and 2020 were constructed based on the Principal Components Approach (PCA) using Eurostat data. A survey and literature review shows that countries at the top of the ranking, such as Denmark, Sweden, Finland and Austria, have active policies to support the development of organic agriculture on both the supply and demand sides. On the other hand, a divergence in the factors that influence the development of organic agriculture was also observed in the top-ranked countries. Therefore, the development of organic agricultural production, including organic animal products, requires the diffusion of experiences across the EU to support the multifaceted OAFR (organic agriculture and food research) paradigm and the Sustainable Development Goals.

The purpose of the article is to analyze current trends in the world and domestic market of organic agricultural products, to conduct a comparative analysis of the production of traditional and organic products in an agricultural enterprise and to assess the efficiency of its production. Methodology. Methodological and theoretical principles are based on the results of research obtained by Ukrainian and foreign scientists in the field of agricultural organic production. To achieve this goal, the dialectical method of cognition and the method of system analysis, monographic and economic-statistical methods, methods of comparison and expert evaluation, methods of computer processing, analysis and display of information using Microsoft Excel were used. Results. It is revealed that the market of organic products is a promising segment of the modern agro-industrial world and domestic market, so the number of farms engaged in organic production is constantly increasing. It is established that the export of domestic organic products significantly exceeds the domestic consumer market due to the low solvency of the population of Ukraine, but given the growing popularity of products grown without chemicals, organic farming looks like an attractive industry for investment. The calculation and analysis of indicators of economic efficiency of organic production of winter rye in comparison with traditional. It has been found that a higher price for organic products compensates for the cost of uncollected gross fees due to low yields, and gross profit is higher due to lower costs for the purchase of ancillary products. Practical meaning. Strict adherence to the technology of organic production and the use of the necessary agricultural machinery allows obtaining high profits, and non-use of chemical pesticides and fertilizers allows producers of organic agricultural products to have lower total costs, which leads to increased profitability. Prospects for further research. Extremely relevant for producers who work in the organic market and for those who are just planning is to justify the offer price for this product. They need to know at what price level the produced organic products will provide them with the expected result and provide an opportunity to cover all the costs of production development and product certification.

Advances of organic products over conventional productions with respect to nutritional quality and food security

Purpose. The aim of the article is to develop scenarios of consumption of the main types of organic livestock products in Ukraine. These scenarios should include the creation of an effective institutional environment aimed not only at strict quality control, but also at stimulating the modernization of production, the implementation of environmentally friendly technologies and genetic technologies for the production of safe products. Methodology / approach. The methodological basis of the study is an integrated (systemic) approach, which allows forecasting more accurately the reproduction of the processes of quality supply of organic livestock products, taking into account the factors that affect it. Methodological aspects of calculations in forecasting the capacity of new segments of the organic market (which replace the market segments of traditional or mass products) are based on criteria of rational consumption, taking into account the influence of such factors: potential of organic livestock production in Ukraine, number of households (consumers), income of households (consumers), differentiation of household incomes (consumers), prices for organic livestock products, prices for livestock products originating from the traditional (mass) sector, consumer confidence in the quality assurance system for livestock products (including state quality control systems), consumer confidence in the organic certification system of livestock products. Results. The main factors influencing the consumption of organic livestock products in Ukraine are identified, among which the main ones are the price and quality of products. The reasons of low rates of production of livestock products development with protected geographical names and organic products in Ukraine are described. In particular, it is substantiated that due to the high cost, complexity of production technologies, high cost of certification, the long transition period to organic production, the production of organic livestock products does not reach potential. Originality / scientific novelty. The forecasting of the capacity of the organic sector is made under the conditions of partial or complex implementation of measures aimed at improving the quality of livestock products with the definition of inertial, innovative and systemic scenarios. The authors identified the system scenario as a priority. According to the systemic variant in Ukraine for the period up to 2025 the forecasted capacity of the internal market for organic meat and meat products (in terms of meat) will amount to 3.26 bln UAH; organic milk, dairy products and butter (in terms of milk) will amount to 2.65 bln UAH; organic eggs will amount to 0.47 bln UAH. In general, the market potential capacity of the main types of organic livestock products (at prices in 2019) will be 6.38 bln UAH (0.2 bln Euro) or 151.9 UAH (4.9 Euro) per one person. This is much less than the current European figure of 50 euros per person. In the potential consumer market, the share of organic livestock products in accordance with the systemic version of the solution of the quality problem will be from 1.6 % (meat and meat products) and 1.5 % (milk and dairy products) to 2.3 % (eggs), which is much lower than European indicators. Practical value / implications. Scenario forecasting of the dynamics of potential demand for organic livestock products allows understanding the pace of development of the domestic market of organic products, justification of measures and tools to stimulate domestic organic production, determining the impact of these measures on the capacity of the organic market. Otherwise, a significant market share of organic livestock products and food products of animal origin, including milk and dairy products, will be filled by imported products of European producers. The authors identified as a priority systemic scenario for the development of consumption of the main types of organic livestock products in Ukraine.

The adoption of organic agriculture has acquired particular significance as one of the effective means of high-quality and safe products recovery. A brief conformity assessment of requirements for organic products and their regulation in the European Union is provides. The EU legislative acts are confirmed to EU market features raised for organic products. EU regulatory legal acts for imports of organic products from third countries, food quality and labeling of organic production, organic aquaculture animal and seaweed production, organic wine are considered. All food manufacturers must comply with general EU foodstuff laws and regulations, which include labeling regulations. Regulation is complemented by several legislative acts on the production, distribution and marketing of organic products, which are the legal framework for determining rules for their implementation in the EU. The United States permits the sale of European products that produced and certified under the EU organic program as organic in the United States are considered. Legislative acts EU Regulation 1235/2008, EU Regulation 2020/25, EU Regulation 889/2008, EU Regulation 710/2009, EU Regulation 203/2012 are discussed.

Comparison of Organic and Conventional Food and Food Production

As public awareness of organic food products' advantages for health, social convenience, the environment, and sustainable development has grown, so has their knowledge of their benefits. Gaining understanding of consumer views is crucial for the sector as it continues to grow. The current study was methodically created to assess the strength of the data supporting the benefits of feeding organic foods to health. Foods labeled as organic are produced utilizing only natural fertilizers. The regulations around organic animal production are extensive and impact various aspects such as nutrition, reproduction, housing, medical care, and treatment. Additionally, these foods are not produced using genetically modified pesticides or insecticides. Animals raised in organic farms are given more space to live in than those raised in conventional systems, and they are also required to consume organic feed, straw bedding, and roughage. The fatty acid composition of milk, eggs, and meat is significantly influenced by the animal diet. Breed selection is used in connection to animal health and wellbeing; proper diet, husbandry, and management all contribute to illness prevention and improved animal welfare. Antimicrobial durability is a global public health concern these days, and many international health organizations recognize that it poses a threat to the current health care system. Thus, the market's demand for organic products and their simplicity of use has grown over the past several years, contributing significantly to the economy. Because organic food is healthier and less likely to contain chemicals, many people are beginning to choose it over conventional food. As a result, raising consumer knowledge of the value of organic products and supporting their production is crucial for the growth of organic farming and the production of pure water. The market for organic food products is growing quickly because consumers believe that organic food may be healthier than conventional food and has a superior nutritional profile.

Environmental impact assessment of conventional and organic milk production

A same-but-different dichotomy has recently been encapsulated within the ill-defined concept of “substantial equivalence”. By invoking this concept the genetically modified organism (GMO) industry has escaped the rigors of safety testing that might otherwise apply. The curious concept of “substantial equivalence” grants a presumption of safety to GMO food. This presumption has yet to be earned, and has been used to constrain labelling of both GMO and non-GMO food. It is an idea that well serves corporatism. It enables the claim of difference to secure patent protection, while upholding the contrary claim of sameness to avoid labelling and safety scrutiny. It offers the best of both worlds for corporate food entrepreneurs, and delivers the worst of both worlds to consumers. The term “substantial equivalence” has established its currency within the GMO discourse. As the opportunities for patenting food technologies expand, the GMO recruitment of this concept will likely be a dress rehearsal for the developing debates on the labelling and testing of other techno-foods - including nano-foods and clone-foods.

Quality of organic animal products

Organic milk production is an environmentally friendly production system based on local forage and a ban on using chemical fertilizers and certain other rules. Organic milk is considered to be healthier and is gaining attention worldwide. The market for organic products is increasing. The aim of the paper was to analyze changes in the development of organic dairy production in Poland in the context of the EU. We analyzed the changes on the European Union (EU) level and the Poland level. To analyze the changes in organic milk production on European Union level, we used the autoregressive integrated moving average model (ARIMA). Our results show that both organic milk production and the farm area used for organic production will increase. Moreover, we analyzed the organic dairy farms running rural accountancy within the Farm Accountancy Data Network (FADN) in Poland in the years 2007–2018. We used tabular and graphic methods to present the data. In the analysis the methods of correlation and regression were used. Germany, France, Austria, and Great Britain are the countries with the largest numbers of organic dairy cows. Our prognosis examined the development of organic milk production in the European Union (EU). The number of cows on dairy organic farms will increase in most countries in the EU. Then, we analyzed the impact of the chosen factors on three dependent variables: organic milk production, total production of organic dairy farms, and income from family farms. The most important independent variables were cow numbers, the value of fixed assets, the value of current assets, long-term debt, and short-term debt.