Organic farming is much more than a system of agricultural production whereby pesticides, synthetic fertilisers and genetically modified organisms are not used in favour of sustainability and a better quality of life.
Wider benefits of organic farming include protection of biodiversity so that wild plants and animals can live side by side with cultivated crops; this contributes to a more balanced ecosystem, and in turn, healthier crops.
Backed by the principles of fairness, care, ecology and health, growing crops organically is much more than chemical-free agriculture. Specific hallmarks of organic farming include high standards for animal welfare and production methods in keeping with the preference of certain consumers for products using natural substances and processes.
When organic methods are used to work the land, soil becomes more fertile with time. Ground water quality is also likely to improve.
Demand has slowly but steadily grown among Europeans as the market for organic products has quadrupled in the past decade. Yet suppliers of organic products are struggling to keep up and are understandably wary of excessive legal barriers being introduced by the European Commission.
Although the amount of land certified as organic has doubled in the past 10 years the gap between demand and supply continues to widen.
Last year the Commission proposed a tightening and simplification of rules governing organic production, with a new regulation taking effect in 2017. In reality, the new measure could make it more difficult for conventional farmers to shift to organic agriculture practices. There is a risk that it could even force some organic producers to switch back to conventional farming.
It is true that organic farming is associated with a higher cost than conventional agriculture techniques. Yet diversity of production can make up for any fluctuation in yields.
Since the gains to society and the environment outweigh the disadvantages, organic farmers deserve better support. Unfortunately, the organic sector in Malta has never been given the benefit of an action plan.
Now that the opportunity is on our doorstep, will Malta make full use of the potential of 2014-2020 Common Agricultural Policy funding to give our organic farming community a much-needed boost?
At a recent seminar organised by the Malta Organic Agriculture Movement (MOAM) a list of measures was put forward to help face the challenges ahead facing the sector.
Opening the seminar, Environment Minister Leo Brincat said the sector had to be well prepared for the challenges that lie ahead.
Help is needed for farmers, most especially during transition from conventional to organic methods of farming. Speaking on the importance of access to funds to compensate farmers in the transition phase, the head of the University’s Faculty of Economics, Philip Von Brockdorff, noted that transition generally takes between two to five years.
The benefits of organic farming on ecosystems can be seen within a couple of years but it can take up to seven years for yields to recover from heavy use of chemicals. However, farmers save money by not using pesticides if they make the transition to organic.
Organic farming in Malta is still in its early days in terms of techniques used and knowledge gained. Yields on farms that have converted to organic are seen to increase over time as ecosystems recover and farmers gain experience with soils.
Since the gains to society and the environment outweigh the disadvantages, organic farmers deserve better support
Questioning whether there was adequate sustained compensation from the rural development fund for farmers in transition, Dr Brockdorff said that young farmers must unite to rally for support on certification and compliance costs.
A call has been made for a national plan for agriculture and water to span the current seven-year period and look beyond to 2050. Speaking on the proposals, MOAM president Mario Salerno pointed to water quantity and quality as a priority issue:
Organic wheat production is possible in Malta and fetches a high premium. Some bakers have shown an interest to establish their bread as a DOC (Denominazione di origine controllata) food item made from local wheat varieties.
Alkaline soil around Siġġiewi and Żebbuġ would most benefit from treated waste water, while there would be need for careful selection of the right type of plants to be grown in the deep, heavy soils of Pwales and Miżieb valleys.
There is good potential to obtain funds for mobile steam sterilisers. This is useful as a measure to wean farmers off chemicals, although not entirely organic as it destroys soil biota.
If the predicted rise in two degrees Celsius of global warming makes itself felt, local farmers will have to seek seed varieties that are resistant to high temperatures. Perhaps a greater threat will be new insect species in a warmer climate.
A number of positive examples were presented by Maltese farmers practising organic agriculture.
Joe Sciberras, an organic farmer from Mellieħa for the past seven years, gave some good working examples of how organic farming as a system is more resilient to threats than conventional methods.
Future plans apart, there are immediate concerns over a threat to local olive trees.
The plant health directorate in the Agriculture Ministry has asked the public to be on the alert for a disease that has struck olive trees in Italy. Dry scorched leaves wilt and the tree eventually dies.
Transmitted by small insects, the Olive Quick Decline Syndrome also poses a threat to grapevines, citrus, peach and plum trees. Once established, it is very difficult to control.
The directorate is monitoring olive, almond and oak trees and oleanders for signs of the epidemic in case it reaches Malta.
Fears run high, especially among the organic farming community, that if the disease is detected there will be massive dosing with pesticides to stop it spreading. The disease itself cannot be controlled by any pesticide, however, carrier insects will be targeted by widespread application of pesticides. Infected trees will have to be uprooted and burned.
Stricter control on importation of possibly infected trees and plant products is essential.