Organic Agricultural Products Research Articles

Comparing the Collaboration of Smallholder Farmers through Participatory Guarantee System Practices in Northeastern Thailand

Organic agriculture based on the participatory guarantee system (PGS) is frequently touted as a tool for improving ecosystem sustainability and self-reliance and for alleviating the poverty of smallholder farmers in Thailand. However, specific criteria must be fulfilled for products to be certified organic. In this paper, we investigate the similarities and differences between three cases of organic agricultural production (based on the participatory guarantee system) in four provinces in northeastern Thailand: Nong Bua Lam Phu, Nakhon Phanom, Ubon Ratchathani, and Nakhon Ratchasima. A total of 135 smallholder farmers were selected to act as informants, and semi-structured interviews were held. The participatory guarantee system was utilized, considering the farmers’ diverse agricultural backgrounds and socio-economic conditions. For agriculture to be adapted with the ultimate aim of sustainability, policy support will be necessary in the form of financial measures and capacity building.

ORGANIC FARMING: DEVELOPMENT PROSPECTS IN RUSSIA, TAKING INTO ACCOUNT THE INTERNATIONAL MARKET

The production of organic agriculture products has become one of the most growing areas of economic activity, with projected annual growth of 10-12%. At the same time, the demand for organic products significantly exceeds the supply, which is largely due to the lack of land that can be allocated for this production. Russia, which has significant areas of virtually unused land on which mineral fertilizers and pesticides have not been used for a long time, reaching 19.7 million. ha, has a significant potential for development in this direction. At the same time, considering that a significant part of unused territories is located within the zone of risky agriculture, and also has soils with a low level of natural fertility, degraded, arid, waterlogged, etc., the actual amount of land resources that can be involved in organic agriculture is significantly less. For the most complete introduction into circulation of unused agricultural lands, it is necessary to increase the knowledge intensity and manufacturability of organic agriculture, for which research work in the following areas is highly relevant: 1) optimization of the balance of humus and nutrients in soils, 2) breeding and seed production of crops for organic agriculture, 3) development of biological products for disease and pest control, 4) development of optimal farming systems taking into account local soil and climatic conditions, 5) optimization of agricultural landscapes based on increasing the diversity of agricultural land use. Along with the involvement of unused lands in the organic production system, the development of the industry largely depends on the system of training qualified personnel in this area, which should take into account the specifics of the technologies used, which differ significantly from traditional farming systems. To do this, it is necessary to update existing professional standards, which should include generalized labor functions related to the development and implementation of organic farming technologies, as well as knowledge and skills in organizing organic production. On the basis of updated professional standards, universities should form new professional competencies and a corresponding set of academic disciplines. The personnel training system for the industry should include various levels of training: agricultural classes, higher education, additional professional education.

ПРОБЛЕМЫ И ПЕРСПЕКТИВЫ РАЗВИТИЯ ОРГАНИЧЕСКОГО СЕЛЬСКОГО ХОЗЯЙСТВА В РОССИИ

Currently, more and more attention is being paid to the problems of interaction between economics and ecology. As a result, among the priorities for the development of the agricultural sector of the economy, it is advisable to consider the development of the production segment of organic agricultural products. The priority of this area is considered from the perspective of ensuring sustainable economic growth, which in the “classical” version is associated with increased pollution and environmental degradation, which has negative consequences in the form of disturbances in the agroecosystem and limits the possibilities for further development. Organic agricultural production aims to solve problems that are difficult or impossible to solve within intensive agricultural production. Providing the country's population with safe and high-quality products, as well as preserving the environment from the point of view of ensuring ecological balance, is an urgent task of the modern “green” economy. It is worth noting that the prerequisites for the development of organic production are varied; environmental and social components can be distinguished. However, today the share of the organic products segment in the domestic market is only 0,13 %. The process of development of the domestic market for organic products is hampered by the presence of certain facts, and, above all, by the imperfection of the regulatory framework governing the certification processes of commodity producers, as well as the requirements for the production of products and the export procedure. In addition, compliance with certain industry principles serves as the basis for the formation of the production of organic agricultural products in Russia. The task of developing organic production is deeply studied at the federal level; the result of this attention was the project “Strategy for the development of organic production in the Russian Federation until 2030”, which clearly outlines the goals, objectives and key indicators for the development of organic production, which allows us to highlight the directions of its development in the near future. perspective.

ORGANIC FOOD IN THE AGE OF UNCERTAINTY: FACTORS IMPACTING CONSUMER INTENTIONS DURING THE PANDEMIC

The rising global concerns about health and the environment have led to a substantial increase in demand for organic farm products compared to conventional ones. However, there is limited research on consumers' behavioural intentions regarding organic product consumption during pandemics such as Covid-19, especially in regions like Sarawak, Malaysia. This study aims to investigate the factors that influence consumers' intentions to purchase organic products amidst the pandemic. The study expands on the attitude component of the Theory of Planned Behaviour (TPB), incorporating environmental concern, health consciousness, trust, product quality, and affordability. A questionnaire was used to collect data from consumers of organic farm products in Sarawak, Malaysia, and the collected data was analysed using partial least squares - structural equation modelling (PLS-SEM) technique. The findings indicate a significant positive impact of both environmental concern and affordability on purchase intention. However, health consciousness exhibited a negative influence, while product quality and trust did not significantly impact consumers' intention to purchase organic products during the pandemic. This study aims to raise consumers' awareness about the demand for organic products during the pandemic and assist the government and industry players in predicting future demand and developing strategies to strengthen the organic food industry.

유기인증 신뢰성이 유기가공식품 소비에 미치는 영향

This study examines the impact of consumer trust in organic certification on organic processed food consumption. Propensity score matching is utilized to analyze the impact of organic certification credibility on expanding organic processed food consumption. Results show that the credibility of organic certification has a positive effect on the expansion of organic processed food consumption. When comparing before and after the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, the credibility of organic certification led to a greater increase in organic processed food consumption before the outbreak of the pandemic. As a result of analyzing the effect of the credibility of organic certification by age on the expansion of organic processed food consumption, the effect of credibility on the expansion of consumption in the young generation is greater than the effect in the middle-aged. In addition, the effect of credibility on the expansion of consumption is more significant for higher-income groups. Through the results, we provide evidence for establishing related policies and marketing strategies to expand the market for certified organic agricultural products.

Проблемы и перспективы развития внутреннего рынка органической продукции в Казахстане

Organic production is one of the promising areas of agro-industrial production. The main advantages of organic agricultural production are to ensure food security, public health and environmental protection. An important direction of development of organic production is the state regulation of the formation of the domestic market of organic products. The article analyzes the state and trends of the development of organic production in Kazakhstan. Factors and conditions that constrain the development of the domestic organic market are identified. The methodology of the research is based on the analysis of scientific works on state support of the organic sector in foreign countries, economic analysis of the indicators of organic production, and the established trends of its development in 2018-2020. Proposals are formulated to facilitate the formation of a domestic market for organic products to ensure the food security of the country

ACCREDITATION AND PROSPECTS OF HACCP SYSTEM IMPLEMENTATION IN FOOD PRODUCTION

The need for accreditation, implementation of the system of analysis of hazardous factors and determination of critical control points (HACCP) at food industry enterprises as a quality management system based on environmental friendliness and product safety is well-founded. The main task in the development of the industry is to increase the competitiveness of products, to strengthen the innovative focus by implementing quality management systems that ensure the quality of products at all stages of its production (life) cycle and contribute to increasing the effectiveness of the work of enterprises [4]. Such a food safety management system, which has proven its effectiveness and is accepted at the international level, is the HACCP system. Guaranteeing food safety is the main goal of applying the HACCP concept to the production process. There are many factors that are not related to the production and processing of products, but have a negative impact on the safety of food products. One aspect of the spread and implementation of this product safety management system is that it is a kind of basis for forming the quality of organic products. When certifying organic products, the necessary prerequisites are documentation of all stages of production and the ability to trace the path "from the doe to the table". Accordingly, the lion's share of the documents that should be at the processing enterprises of organic agricultural products have already been developed, provided that the HACCP system is implemented, and the requirements for product safety are also met. The implementation of the HACCP system requires planning the control of all areas of the technological process, defining the limits of research, application and maintenance of this system. The HACCP plan is drawn up at the enterprise - a document that, in accordance with the principles, determines the procedures and sequence of actions to ensure the control of hazard factors. The HACCP plan covers all areas of product production, from raw material acquisition to product processing or packaging, as well as supply to retail.

The impact of customer pressures and government regulations on the implementation of socio-environmental practices in organic certification in the Amazon region

PurposeThis research analyses the impact of customers and government regulations on the implementation of socio-environmental practices in certifying organic agricultural products. It explores the dyad’s relationship between the focal company and its suppliers in the application of socio-environmental practices.Design/methodology/approachThis study uses a quantitative methodology through a survey approach, with a sample of 206 agro-extractivists from the acai berry supply chain. The data are evaluated using regression analysis.FindingsThe main results reveal that customer pressure positively influences the implementation of social and environmental practices, but suggest a non-significant relationship between government regulations and the impact on environmental practices implementation. Social and environmental practices are positively related to operational performance. A moderating effect of organic certification is found in the relationship between customer pressure and the application of environmental practices.Originality/valueThe main contributions are exploring the use of socio-environmental practices in an emerging economy and organic certification as a moderating variable, revealing an “institutional void” that may hamper the enforcement of government regulations.

External audits and official controls – what’s the difference in their usefulness and credibility?

PurposeThe study aims to determine whether audited organizations experience differences between external audits and official controls.Design/methodology/approachA survey among 100 organic food producers was conducted to explore differences regarding the usability of external audits and official controls. The survey was conducted in 2020 using the computer-assisted telephone interview (CATI) method supplemented by the computer-assisted web interview (CAWI) method. Organizations processing organic farming products in Poland were chosen for the study.FindingsThree primary benefits associated with external audits and official controls were identified, i.e. (1) enabling and initiating activities related to the improvement of the organization, (2) improving the financial performance of the organization and (3) enhancing credibility. For most organizations, the assessment of these features was at the same level for both external audits and official control. However, if these assessments differed, commercial audits were assessed at a higher level than official controls.Research limitations/implicationsThe study is limited to only one specific type of manufacturing organization and one European country.Originality/valueThe literature review shows some conceptual differences between audits and official controls, but the results of this study show that the business environment does not perceive these differences as significant. Thus, the value of the study is reflected in the conclusion that both external audits and official controls are considered useful and credible approaches to monitoring the quality within the organization, which allows us to state that external evaluation is generally seen as an opportunity to improve the performance of the organization.

Legal problems of the production of agricultural raw materials for baby food

The article analyzes modern legal problems of the production of agricultural raw materials for baby food in Ukraine, taking into account the latest legislative changes in the field of baby food production, organic agricultural production, state control over the use of genetically modified organisms in the manufacture of food products.
 It has been established that the improvement of the legislation in the field of child nutrition should be carried out by making amendments and additions to the Law of Ukraine «On Child Nutrition» in order to bring its prescriptions into line with EU requirements, and not to cancel the specified special Law. Given the specifics of baby food and the importance of guaranteeing its quality and safety, replacing a separate special law with one article in the Law of Ukraine «On Basic Principles and Requirements for the Safety and Quality of Food Products» is hardly expedient.
 Taking into account the specific legal nature of a personal peasant economy, the author proves that persons who run such an economy can produce raw materials for baby food products, subject to compliance with legal requirements for the quality and safety of such raw materials. Based on the latest legislative changes in the field of legal provision of biosafety of Ukraine, the article proposes to legislate the possibility and necessity of using organic agricultural products as raw materials for baby food before creating an effective system of state control in the field of use and circulation of genetically modified organisms.
 In order to ensure the constitutional right of the child to sufficient, high-quality and safe nutrition, the author considers it expedient to conduct in-depth scientific research on these issues and make appropriate scientific conclusions and recommendations on improving the current legislation in this area, taking into account the requirements of EU legislation on the adaptation of the national agricultural, food, environmental and other legislation regarding the production of agricultural products for baby food.

Evaluating the Path to the European Commission’s Organic Agriculture Goal: A Multivariate Analysis of Changes in EU Countries (2004–2021) and Socio-Economic Relationships

This study comprehensively analyzed the dynamic landscape of organic farming in the European Union (EU) from 2004 to 2021, investigating the shifts in dedicated agricultural areas influenced by evolving preferences and the priorities of farmers and consumers. Examining the impact of socio-economic factors, including gross domestic product (GDP) per capita, the human development index (HDI), and human population density, this study established multivariate relationships through country-level analyses based on correlations, principal component analysis, cluster analysis, and panel analysis. Despite a universal increase in the organic agriculture areas across all the EU countries during the study period, the production levels exhibited negative correlations with the human population density, GDP per capita, and HDI. Notably, the Baltic countries and Austria led in organic farming production, while Malta, the Netherlands, Belgium, Ireland, and Luxemburg formed a distinct group in the cluster analysis with less intensive organic agriculture per capita. These insights are crucial for supporting the resilience and sustainability of organic farming as it continues to evolve. Predictions of organic agriculture share for 2030 based on trends evaluated using linear regression in the years 2004–2021 estimated about 12% of utilized agricultural area, which was much lower than the target share of the European Commission at 25%. Predictions based on linear regression showed that achieving the European Green Deal target of a 25% share of organic agriculture in unlikely in most EU countries by 2030. The target is only highly probable to be obtained in Austria, Estonia, and Sweden. The EU countries varied significantly across various indices characterizing organic agriculture, including organic agriculture area share. It should be noted that the study was conducted on the data obtained prior to the outbreak of the war in Ukraine, which could potentially alter the previous trends in the development of organic agriculture in the EU.

Production of Organic Agricultural Products in Georgia: Challenges and Development Opportunities

Production of Organic Agricultural Products in Georgia: Challenges and Development Opportunities

Most Significant Changes Experienced by Organic Agriculture Production Training Beneficiaries in Ifugao, Philippines

The Most Significant Change (MSC) technique was used to explore the impacts of the Organic Agriculture Production (OAP) Training Program of Ifugao State University in Ifugao, Philippines. Beneficiaries were asked about changes that resulted from their participation in the program. Themes were identified from these changes. Bennett’s hierarchy of program outcomes served as basis in determining levels to which collected changes correspond. There were 105 stories in total. These referred to changes economically, socially as well as changes in beneficiaries’ knowledge, attitudes, and skills. Results revealed that the OAP Training Program brought about changes at higher levels that were in line with Bennett’s hierarchy. The OAP Training Program brought impacts to beneficiaries economic and social circumstances as well as knowledge, attitudes, and skills.

Soil Actinomycetes as Promising Alternative to Synthetic Herbicides


 Weed management is a key agronomic practice in agriculture. Since decades, synthetic herbicides played an indispensable role in weed control due to high effectiveness. However, recently there has been growing interest on exploring alternative weed control methods due to negative impacts of synthetic herbicides on the environment. Besides, there is an increasing demand for organic farm products. Actinomycetes, a group of filamentous, Gram-positive bacteria known for their bioactive secondary metabolites, have emerged as potential candidates for bioherbicides. In this study, we investigated herbicidal potential of twenty-three morphologically distinct actinomycetes strains isolated from soil using lettuce (Lactuca sativa) as a model plant. Eight weeks-old cell-free culture fermentation broth of actinomycetes strains were used for screening the effect on seed germination and seedling growth. Lettuce seeds were exposed to fermentation broth for two weeks while for control, sterilized distilled water was used. Ten seeds per treatment in three replicates were used. The results showed that sixteen actinomycetes strains, ACM25, 26, 29, 33, 34, 35, 36, 38, 41, 42, 43, 47, 48, 49.1 and 49.2 and ACM50 were able to completely inhibit seed germination while seeds treated with ACM32 did not produce roots although seed germination had initiated. It appears that these seventeen strains would be effective at pre-emergence weed control. Seeds that treated with the rest of the six strains had no effect on the seed germination. However, seedlings of ACM24, 45 and ACM46-treated seeds showed deaths by two weeks. Their gradual death started with discoloration of leaves followed by watery rotting of the entire plant. Seedlings of ACM30, 31, 37- treated seeds survived, and their growth performance were observed for two weeks compared to the control. Seedlings were dwarf and exhibited growth deformations such as reduced leaf size, chlorosis, leaf curling and stunted roots. Further, number of leaves, shoot length and root length were significantly different (p<0.05) from that of the control. These observations suggest that the effect of ACM24, 30, 31, 37, 45 and ACM46 would be systemic. In conclusion, our results clearly showed strong herbicidal effects of all tested twenty-three strains of actinomycetes at pre- and post- emergence stages of seed germination. Thus, they can be promising candidates for bioherbicide formulations.
 
 Keywords: Actinomycetes, Bioherbicides, Weed management, Sustainable agriculture

Deep Learning-Based Weed–Crop Recognition for Smart Agricultural Equipment: A Review

Weeds and crops engage in a relentless battle for the same resources, leading to potential reductions in crop yields and increased agricultural costs. Traditional methods of weed control, such as heavy herbicide use, come with the drawback of promoting weed resistance and environmental pollution. As the demand for pollution-free and organic agricultural products rises, there is a pressing need for innovative solutions. The emergence of smart agricultural equipment, including intelligent robots, unmanned aerial vehicles and satellite technology, proves to be pivotal in addressing weed-related challenges. The effectiveness of smart agricultural equipment, however, hinges on accurate detection, a task influenced by various factors, like growth stages, environmental conditions and shading. To achieve precise crop identification, it is essential to employ suitable sensors and optimized algorithms. Deep learning plays a crucial role in enhancing weed recognition accuracy. This advancement enables targeted actions such as minimal pesticide spraying or precise laser excision of weeds, effectively reducing the overall cost of agricultural production. This paper provides a thorough overview of the application of deep learning for crop and weed recognition in smart agricultural equipment. Starting with an overview of intelligent agricultural tools, sensors and identification algorithms, the discussion delves into instructive examples, showcasing the technology’s prowess in distinguishing between weeds and crops. The narrative highlights recent breakthroughs in automated technologies for precision plant identification while acknowledging existing challenges and proposing prospects. By marrying cutting-edge technology with sustainable agricultural practices, the adoption of intelligent equipment presents a promising path toward efficient and eco-friendly weed management in modern agriculture.

The impact of a blockchain-based food traceability system on the online purchase intention of organic agricultural products

The issue of food safety has become a crucial public health issue worldwide. Blockchain technology allows consumers to track the flow of food and effectively record the sources and processes of their products, and reduces the elimination of associated food fraud phenomena, such as counterfeiting and dilution. Using signaling theory, structural equation model method and an online sample of 415 Chinese participants, this study investigates the impact of how blockchain-based food traceability system influences consumers' online purchase intentions of organic agricultural products. The results illustrate that: (1) blockchain-based food traceability system can increase consumers' willingness to buy organic agricultural products. (2) Blockchain-based food traceability system can increase consumers' product quality perceptions, product trust and environmental information transparency perceptions. (3) Product quality perceptions, product trust and environmental information transparency perceptions can also promote consumers' purchase intentions. (4) Product quality perceptions, product trust and environmental information transparency perceptions all have significant mediation effects in the in the relationship between blockchain-based food traceability system and consumer purchase intention. The findings of the research are valuable information for business managers and retailers who want to increase sales of their products, as well as helping relevant policy makers to achieve the ultimate goal of green and sustainable development in the food industry.

Reuse of Sewage Sludge as Organic Agricultural Products: An Efficient Technology-Based Initiative

Rapid urbanisation has led to a dramatic increase in sewage sludge production. There are limited methods of managing sewage sludge along with high energy and monetary investment. A cost-effective, environment-friendly, and sustainable solution needs to be developed for the management of sewage sludge. In the current study, sludge from the Jagjeetpur sewage treatment plant (STP) had been collected, composted, and characterized during January and February 2022. A comparison of STP sludge compost and compost made from farmyard manure showed the presence of essential agricultural nutrients in them, due to which they find application for plant growth. Two products, Jaivik Poshak and Jaivik Prom, containing farmyard compost, were compared with the amended version of the same, containing compost from STP sludge instead of normal compost. The results showed that the modified Jaivik Poshak was the best for maintaining pH and increasing electrical conductivity. The available nitrogen in the soil upon its application increased by 1.6 times (p<0.001) with respect to control, and it brought about 100% tomato seed germination within sixteen days. The above finding has been validated by goodness of fit value, factor analysis, and hierarchical analysis. The product, modified Jaivik Prom increased organic carbon content and brought about 5.81 and 8 times the enhancement in available phosphorous (p<0.001) and potassium (p<0.001) content in soil, respectively, with respect to the control set. The heavy metal content in the soil as a result of all types of treatment was within the permissible limit. This study thus proves that sludge from STP may be used for agricultural uses after proper fortification and testing to convert waste to wealth along with environmental sustenance.

Application of Propolis Extracts in Prevention of the Occurrence and Development of Phytophthora infestans in Ecological Agricultural Production of Tomatoes (Solanum lycopersicum)

Organic Agricultural Production is a special system of food production that exists in a rule-based, socially demanding, and environmentally constrained space within wider agriculture. It must meet social standards in key areas, such as sustainable use of natural resources, while minimally impacting local ecosystems throughout the growth cycle. The use of phytopharmaceutical substitutes is a core component, replacing conventional agriculture pesticides which have been shown to damage local ecosystems. In recent years, considerable research effort has been put into discovering alternative natural substitutes with pesticidal and antifungal properties.
 The aim of this paper is to investigate the effects of propolis extracts on the growth and development of Phytopathological fungi, presenting an alternative to other phytopharmaceutical substitutes.
 In this paper, the “American” tomato species are used throughout as it represents a common supermarket tomato variety. The following are the conclusions central to this paper: (1) preventative usage of alcoholic extracts controlls the likelihood of development of Phytophthora infestans and its subsequent growth while having a reduced environmental impact (2) a comparison of propolis extracts with other staple organic extracts found improvements in profitability, produce growth speed and energy requirement (3) produce yield was increased with the use of a propolis solution compared to other organic extracts, however, a combined alcoholic extract of propolis was found to have further benefits, specifically in the prevention and neutralization of aphids.

Persepsi Kelompok Tani Alfa Omega Terhadap Penerapan Pertanian Organik Di Kelurahan Rurukan Kecamatan Tomohon Timur Kota Tomohon

The aim of the research was to determine the perception of the Alfa Omega farmer group regarding the implementation of organic farming in Rurukan Village, East Tomohon District, Tomohon City. This research lasted for three months from May to July 2023. The data used in primary data was obtained through interviews with 13 respondents from the Alfa Omega farmer group, which were taken by census and secondary data was obtained from agencies related to the research conducted. Data analysis used is descriptive. The results of the research show that the perception of the Alfa Omega farmer group regarding the implementation of organic farming is relative profit, namely profit if sold to shops that collaborate with the Alfa Omega farmer group, having good quality plants. The perception of suitability of plants is that they are suitable because of fertile soil, high soil moisture and good water access. The perception regarding the ease of trying it is that it is easy to implement organic farming and easy to get raw materials. The perception of complexity is that it takes a long time to neutralize the soil and it is difficult to get a clear price comparison on the market between organic agricultural products and non-organic products. There needs to be outreach so that the Alfa Omega farmer group implements organic farming. It is also hoped that the Department of Agriculture will provide financial assistance to be able to switch to organic farming.

Conceptual Basis for the Development of Organic Agricultural Production

The article deals with the conceptual framework for the systematic development of the production of organic agricultural products, providing for the consolidation of the main provisions of this area in the priorities of state programs for the development of agriculture and rural areas. The authors present the life cycle of development of technologies for the production of organic products which allows for the step-by-step implementation of new production technologies in various areas of the agro-industrial complex.