According to the latest data from the Research Institute of Organic Agriculture (FiBL), only 1.5% of the global land used for agriculture is allocated to organic farming. However, there has been a 555% increase in organic farmland from 1999 to 2019, and 16 countries have a share of at least 10% of agricultural land being used for organic farming. While some consumers chose organic food products because they want to avoid pesticides, there are in fact a wide variety of agrochemicals that organic farmers use to control pests and weeds. The sustainability of organic farming depends greatly in the way it is practiced. Agrochemical companies and their supply chains play a critical role in helping to support the organic farming industry with better product offerings, as well as newer technologies for traditional, non-organic farming.
How Agrochemicals Benefit the Food Production Process
Agrochemicals are critical to ensuring food security in countries around the globe because they provide a series of benefits to the wider farming sector. From horticulture and dairy farming to commercial planting and subsistence agriculture, agrochemicals bolster production yields. They supplement nutrients in the soil and prevent detrimental effects from threatening species of fungi and pests. Combating disease is another critical function of these chemicals, ensuring the health of the crops for end consumers. Crop protection provides a higher standard of output, yield, and quality of agricultural production, benefiting the overall food production process.
Organic Farming and Organic Agrochemicals Support Sustainable Farming
Organic farming may increase the need for pesticides, as natural products often need to be applied in larger quantities on a more frequent basis. Historically lower yields also require more arable land to feed the same amount of people. While the goal of organic farming is to operate in an eco-friendly way without synthetic chemicals, access to safe, natural-based products and improved yields are critical to viability. By working to provide safe, affordable formulations, the agrochemical industry supports the wider organic farming initiative. One example of this is the approval of the fungicide “Vectorite” by the FDA in 2019. This product is a bee-friendly organic fungicide that can be delivered by the bees themselves when they pollinate the plant. There are currently over 100 products authorized by organic farming regulations in Europe and the United States. The full list can be found in Europe’s Commission Regulation (EC) No. 889/2008.
Technology developed in the support of organic farming is relevant to non-organic farming as well. By applying lessons learned, non-organic farms can find more sustainable ways to operate, e.g. by adopting soil renewal plans, or by utilizing low-impact pesticides. As the world looks to feed more people in a way that can sustain our population for generations to come, it is important that agrochemical companies and farmers of all kinds expand their partnerships toward sustainable farming practices.
CABB’s Expertise in Agrochemical Solutions
Adapting agrochemicals to changing demands of food consumption around the world requires true custom manufacturing. As specialists in multi-step chemical synthesis, CABB supplies fine chemical products to meet the needs of organic farming regulations.
If you would like to learn more about the role of agrochemicals in increasing food production, we would be happy to help. Contact a member of the CABB team today.
