A major new report commissioned by international organic produce distributor Eosta uses the latest scientific data to show how organic farming can help deliver crucial global sustainability targets.
In January 2016, the United Nations launched the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, a plan of action based on 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) – covering everything from climate change to working conditions; health and wellbeing to land management – to address the main global challenges of the coming 15 years.
The new 68-page report from Eosta (published via its Nature & More initiative, in collaboration with the University of Twente in the Netherlands) is based on the view that solving the complex challenges that underly each of the SDGs “requires a holistic, transformative approach, building on the principles of economic, social and environmental sustainability”.
This report, written by University of Twente student Simon de Schaetzen, takes a detailed look at the existing literature on how sustainable agriculture can contribute to the accomplishment of multiple SDGs – and more specifically, how organic agriculture can directly contribute to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals. The report also looks at the negative impact that agro-chemicals have on the SDGs.
The report shows that current discussion on how best to deliver SDGs generally divides into those who favour fine-tuning conventional agriculture, by introducing more careful and efficient farming with new technologies, and those who argues that more fundamental changes are needed, requiring a major transformation of societal values. The second approach is that called for in the Eosta report.
The report focuses on eight of the SDGs where organic agriculture can deliver clearest benefits – SDG 15 Life on Land, SDG 13 Climate Action, SDG 14 Life Below Water, SDG 6 Clean Water, SDG 2 Zero Hunger, SDG 3 Good Health and Wellbeing, SDG 8 Decent Work Conditions and SDG 12 Responsible Consumption and Production.
On each SDG the report offer detailed examples of how and why organic approaches offer clear, measurable advantages. So, in the case of SDG 13 Climate Action, the report shows how organic performs better than conventional farming in the vital area of carbon sequestration (locking carbon into the soil), whilst also demonstrating the negative impact of conventional farming in its heavy use of agrochemicals (specifically artificial fertilizers), which are the second-largest emitter of CO2 in agriculture.
Meanwhile, in the case of SDG 12 Responsible Consumption, the report shows that of the five different forms of sustainable farming practices credited by the UN with improving soil quality and fertility – agro-ecology, agro-forestry, zero tillage, conservation agriculture and organic farming – “only organic agriculture has a strong independent control system that adheres to strict international regulations and just as importantly, is recognized and trusted by concerned consumers”.
The report concludes with 14 case studies, showing practical examples from around the world – in both emerging and developed economies – of how organic agriculture is helping to facilitate achievement of UN SDGs. The report is supported by references to 120 scientific papers, studies and reports.
A number of organic organisations are involved in the international campaign: Organic Sweden/ Krav, Oikos (Norway), Organic Denmark, Pro Luomu (Finland), Bionext (Netherlands), Bio Vlaanderen / Wallonie (Belgium) Irish Organic Association, Soil Association, Bio Austria, Bio Suisse, German Sustainability Consortium (including Naturland, Slow Food), Ecovalia (Spain), Asso Bio (Italy), IFOAM EU, IFOAM – Organics International, IFOAM North America, Canada Organic, Partners in Japan, Malaysia, France and Singapore.