The Real Green Revolution - Greenpeace UK

National and international development
agencies are a second force that is
encouraging the adoption of organic
production in the South. Here the primary
concerns are with enhancing food security,
increasing farmers’ incomes and halting (or
reversing) environmental degradation. Such
projects often, but by no means always,
focus on maximizing use of local resources
and knowledge in order to achieve these
aims. Some projects promoted under this
agenda will be wholly organic, but the
majority of such projects are neither
explicitly, nor wholly, organic, although they
may incorporate significant elements of
organic practice within them.
The role of organic farming as a ‘development
strategy’ has been gaining increasing cre d i b i l i t y
in recent years. In 1996 a UNCTAD re p o rt
highlighted the role that organic agriculture
can play in trade, environmental impro v e m e n t
and social development in the third world.
Although the re p o rt expressed some misgivings
about economic viability and technical
f e a s i b i l i t y, it concluded that:
‘Organic production has an undeniable edge
over conventional farming in terms of its
beneficial impact on the environment and
human health. Moreover, it can also
contribute to higher incomes, better food
security and creation of employment.’
(UNCTAD, 1996)
The report also commented upon the
‘flawed’ basis upon which comparisons
are made between conventional and organic
agriculture, stating that:
‘if an internalisation of environmental and
social costs and benefits were to take place,
organic farming would appear economically
justifiable’ (ibid.).
Since then the role of organic agriculture has
been recognised by FAO, who in 1999
included it within their sustainable
agriculture programme , recognising that: 16
‘it plays an important role in developing
innovative production technologies,
providing new market opportunities for
farmers and processors, and generally
focusing attention on environmental and
social concerns. COAG (the FAO’s
Committee on Agriculture) will consider the
need for an FAO-wide, cross-sectoral
programme on organic agriculture that
would provide information and discussion
forums on production and trade, supply
advice and technical assistance, develop
standards and use pilot projects to improve
organic farming techniques.’
(Eric Kueneman, 17 1999)
Since adopting organic agriculture within its
remit, the FAO has developed a medium
term plan intended to raise the profile and
support the development of organic farming
systems through developing dissemination
and networking vehicles, commissioning
studies, and providing effective decision
support tools (FAO, 2001). 18 However, the
FAO’s support for organic farming maintains
an element of caution. For example, in
several publications they argue for partial
conversion to offset potential loss of yields.
Other government-financed development
agencies are also taking a keen interest in
organic systems as a tool for development.
In the UK, DfID recently commissioned the
Henry Doubleday Research Association
(HDRA) to undertake reports into farmer
demand and potential for development of
organic farming in sub-Saharan Africa
(Harris et al.. 1998) and on management
of manure in the Kenyan Highlands (Lekasi
et al.., 1998). A forthcoming DfID handbook
for advisors will contain information on
evaluating organic projects. A further
publication on the role of ‘socially
responsible’ business as a development tool
will include a chapter on organic production
(Agroeco, 2001, van Elzakker, pers. comm.)
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