Organic Growing Approaches Highlight Preventative Pest Control

Organic farming is a holistic approach which aims to enhance the health of ecosystems, including soil, plants, animals and people. Organic methods focus on sustainability and balance with the environment, relying on natural processes and biodiversity, without the use of synthetic chemicals or genetically modified organisms (GMOs). This type of farming is unique in that it prioritizes natural processes via a set of clearly defined principles. These standards are industry-developed, supported by consumers, and independently verified each year. Since 2009, the Canadian Organic Standards have been regulated by the Canadian government (1).

Heavy reliance on chemical fertilizers and pesticides negatively affects public health and the environment, with modern agricultural practices contributing to soil erosion (2). Further, excessive fertilizer use results in $2.5 billion in wasted inputs yearly and negatively impact adjacent waterways and lands. Integrated pest and nutrient management systems and organic agriculture can minimize reliance on agriculture inputs and enhance environmental and economic sustainability, with sustainable management practices maintaining comparable crop yields and improving farm economy. Organic agriculture augments ecological processes that support plant nutrition, conserve soil and water resources, and enhance farm sustainability and environmental health. In a fifteen-year comparative study by the Rodale Institute, results showed that soil fertility and quality depend on microbes that cycle nutrients from decaying organic matter into forms usable by plants. These microbes also contribute to soil structure and aggregate formation. Hepperly et al., (2007) found greater microbial biomass and activity in manure-based systems compared to conventional cropping. 

Organic farming improves soil quality, saves money, and protects human health. It is therefore an urgent priority for Canada’s farmers to access knowledge and tools to transition towards organic pest management, for their own safety, agricultural sustainability, healthy food supplies and the safety of our planet. 

A healthy farm ecosystem includes many different lifeforms, including insects, fungi, and bacteria. These are referred to as “beneficial organisms” because they help crops by pollinating plants, providing nutrients, or attacking harmful insects (2).

Some organic practices that help to prevent pests while limiting the use of chemicals include: 

1. Rotating crops: Since pests and weeds tend to thrive on the same crops year after year, crop rotation puts an end to that. For example, potato beetles suffer when they emerge from winter hibernation to find themselves in a wheat field. 
2. Maintaining high levels of biodiversity by creating habitat for birds and invertebrates that attack pests. Ways to enhance biodiversity include growing many types of crops on a farm (or within one field), and leaving wild hedgerows and meadows on the farm. 
3. Intercropping is when a farmer grows a crop among plants of a different king, usually in the space between rows. Since many insects target specific crops, this can reduce the damage done by pests. For example, alternating rows of onions and carrots reduces the damage by carrot rust flies, which find carrots based on smell. 
4. Strategic planting is deciding when to plant and harvest, while considering pest life cycles when . Organic farmers often do this by planting later in the season to avoid the first flush of weeds and first generation of pests. They use high seedling rates because dense plantings leave lees room for weeds to grow. 
5. Planting cover crops—unharvested crops grown solely for their benefit to the farm. These species compete with weeds and provide habitats for beneficial organisms that control pests. 

There may be times when pest prevention is not enough. Many methods are available to control unwanted plants and harmful insects, that do not require the use of chemicals. For example, organic farmers use grazing animals and tillage to uproot weeds when necessary, small in-row robotic weeders are emerging, while some may resort to flame weeding to kill small weeds. Hand-weeding and hoeing are used on many smaller plots, and mulching covers bare soil with straw or a cover crop. If a pest problem arises despite preventative measures, farmers can also use substances that have passed stringent reviews on the ecological and ecological impacts of their production and use. Below are examples of environmentally accepted methods for controlling harmful insects: 

• Bentonite or kaolin is a fine clay that is suspended in water and lightly sprayed on leaves to discourage insect pests
• Diatomaceous earth (DE) is fossilized diatoms (hard-shelled algae), which scrape the bodies of insects, causing dehydration 
• Floating row covers (lightweight fabric) interfere with pests landing directly on plants
• Pheromones ( (chemicals released by insects ) are used to attract and trap pests, or prevent mating
• Soap damages cell walls or suffocates certain pests 

Overall, it is important realise that plants, insects and other creatures in the world around us are often our natural allies. They can help farmers and gardeners to control damaging species. Beneficial organisms are crucial because they perform roles like pollinating plants or attacking harmful insects. Farmers may recruit the support of beneficial organisms by sowing plants that attract them, welcoming wildflowers, or increasing biodiversity in their fields. 

References:

1. Agency CFI. Canadian Organic Standards [Internet]. 2015 [cited 2024 Sep 23]. Available from: http://inspection.canada.ca/en/food-labels/organic-products/standards

2. Bhosekar V. A Fifteen Year Review Summarizing Effects of Conventional and Organic Farming Systems on Soils, Nutrition, Environment, Economics and Yields (1981- 1995). ARTOAJ [Internet]. 2017 Apr 21 [cited 2024 Sep 23];6(1). Available from: https://juniperpublishers.com/artoaj/ARTOAJ.MS.ID.555678.php