Organic farming environmentally friendly

An overview of animal welfare in organic farming by Vonne Lund is presented elsewhere (see Chapter 8). Animal welfare is reduced in conventional intensive housing systems because of high densities and lack of stimuli like straw, and this may lead to behavioural disturbances, injuries or some diseases. Livestock housing on organic farms should allow for the behavioural requirements of different farm animal species, facilitate efficient management, and use environmentally friendly construction materials and methods. 

Remark whereas in organic farming mineral nitrogen fertilizers, herbicides or conventional pesticides are forbidden, they are allowed in other so-called environmental friendly system approaches, e.g. sustainable agriculture or conservation agriculture (see Dumanski et al. 2006). 

As already mentioned by Mahlanza et al. (2003) there is also a considerable potential for research in the field of organic agriculture in South Africa. This could cover technical, economic and social aspects. The contribution of organic farming to the development of sustainable and environmentally friendly agricultural systems as well as the impacts of a widespread conversion to organic farming on public costs and benefits should be evaluated. 

While there is no specific organic farming policy in Japan, organic farming is encouraged as one of the forms of environmentally friendly agriculture (EFA). 

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