Ecological agriculture, also known as organic farming, is an agricultural system that promotes environmentally and economically sustainable production without the use of synthetic fertilizers, pesticides, or genetically modified organisms. It involves building healthy soil, growing pest-resistant plants, and enhancing biodiversity. Millions of small-scale farmers around the world already use ecological farming techniques to produce enough food while protecting the environment and mitigating climate change impacts. Studies show ecological farms can yield 30% more food per hectare on average than conventional farms while proving more profitable for farmers.

1. Ecological agriculture
Dragomir Elena-Cristina
Group 8218
University of Agronomic Sciences and
Veterinary Medicine

2. What is ecological agriculture?
It is farming in harmony with nature,
using cultivation techniques and
breeding programmes that do not
rely on soluble chemical fertilisers,
pesticides or herbicides, or artificial
genetic modifications.

3. Millions of farmers around the
world are practicing ecological
farming. They are showing that it’s
possible to produce enough food and
to achieve economic success using
ecological farming methods.
Who Practices It?

4. The practice of ecological agriculture involves
building the strengths of natural ecosystems into
agroecosystems, purposely disturbed to produce
food and fiber.
The overall strategies include using practices that :
•grow healthy plants with good defense capabilities
•stressing pests
•enhancing populations of beneficial organisms.

5. Ecological farming enables communities to
produce enough food to feed themselves. This
form of agriculture fosters a future of healthy
farming, and healthy food, to all people.
Ecological farming helps the world’s
population to mitigate and adapt to climate
change.

6. • Ecological farming keeps food
production in the hands of farmers
and away from corporate control.
• Ecological farming helps cope with
climate change.
The benefits:

7. • 2.6 billion small-scale farmers already
produce the majority of the world's
food.
• Ecological farming is proven to be more
profitable for farmers in studies from
Europe, Africa, Asia and America.

8. Analyses have also shown that ecological
farming makes sense economically. First, this
modern farming method leads to increased crop
yields. Globally, ecological farming can produce
an average of approximately 30% more food per
hectare than conventional agriculture.

9. Organic farming is the main type of
ecological farming, with a set of
standards which are recognised
world-wide. In many countries it is
called ‘biological’ farming.

10. Organic pest control is another
feature of ecological farming. Instead
of using chemical pesticides,
ecological farmers use non-polluting,
long-term pest protection. One
method is to introduce beneficial
insects to the field.

11. Another method is to plant crop
fields strategically and to use “low-
input” technologies that are
available locally. As a result, crops
are less vulnerable to pest invasion.

12. Using natural fertilizers also saves
on farmers’ costs; it eliminates the
need for artificial inputs. With natural
fertilizers, soil is richer in organic
matter, better able to retain water,
and better protected against erosion.

13. Finally, evidence indicates that ecologically
farmed products taste better and promote
better health. A recent study in California
shows that organically-grown strawberries
taste sweeter than their conventional,
chemically-grown counterparts.

14. Bibliography:
• http://www.greenpeace.org
• http://www.small-farm-permaculture-and-
sustainable-living.com
• http://wikipedia.org