Irish Organic Association

IOA

  • Home
  • About
    • Why Choose IOA
    • Join IOA
    • IOA Organic Food and Farming Standards
    • Steps to Organic Certification (Farming)
    • Steps to Organic Certification (Processor)
  • News
  • Research & Reports
    • Organic Market & Production
    • Research & Innovation Projects
    • Organic Farming & Public Goods
  • Contact Us
  • Farming
    • Organic Farming Scheme and Grant Aid Scheme
    • Why Choose IOA
    • Join IOA
    • Steps to Organic Certification (Farming)
    • Application Forms (Farmer)
    • Farmer Forms
    • IOA Organic Food and Farming Standards
    • Mart Information
    • Classified Ads
    • Education
    • Field Talks
  • Processing
    • Why Choose IOA
    • Join IOA
    • Steps to Organic Certification (Processor)
    • IOA Organic Food and Farming Standards
    • Application Forms (Processor & Retailer)
    • Processor Forms
    • Organic Aquaculture
    • Organic Health and Beauty- Private Standards
    • Organic Catering- Private Standards
    • Certified Products- Private Standards
    • DAFM Funding
  • IOA Members
    • Directory of Certified Organic Operators
    • Application Forms (Farmer)
    • Application Forms (Processor & Retailer)
    • Farmer Forms
    • Processor Forms
  • Certification
    • Farmers and Growers
    • Processors and Retailers
    • Organic Health & Beauty – Private Standards
    • Organic Catering – Private Standards
    • Certified Products – Private Standards
    • IOA Organic Food and Farming Standards
  • Organic Matters Magazine
  • Forms
    • Farmer Forms
    • Processor Forms
    • Application Forms (Farmer)
    • Application Forms (Processor & Retailer)
  • EIP
    • MOPS Videos
  • Find Organic produce
  • News
  • Contact Us
  • Home
  • About
  • News
  • Research & Reports
  • Contact Us

Agroecology best placed to feed the world – UN Report

15 March 2011 By IOA Webmaster

Our dependence on finite resources for food production adversely affects food security. A new report from the UN promoting a knowledge intensive approach rather than the current input intensive approach argues this point. “To feed 9 billion people in 2050, we urgently need to adopt the most efficient farming techniques available,”says Olivier De Schutter, the UN Special Rapporteur and author of the report, entitled “Agro-ecology and the right to food.”

“Today’s scientific evidence demonstrates that agroecological methods outperform the use of chemical fertilizers in boosting food production where the hungry live – especially in unfavourable environments,” he added. Conventional farming relies on expensive inputs, fuels climate change and is not resilient to climatic shocks, notes the study, which is based on an extensive review of existing scientific data.

“It simply is not the best choice anymore,” Mr. De Schutter stresses. “A large segment of the scientific community now acknowledges the positive impacts of agroecology on food production, poverty alleviation and climate change mitigation – and this is what is needed in a world of limited resources.

IOA welcomed this report. Grace Maher Development Officer stated that this report challenges those who are promoting GM as the way to combat global hunger and poverty. The timing of this report is important as Europe looks to change its current legislation on GM. “The economic element of the GM debate cannot be ignored. Famers who have grown GM crops have increased production costs due to a greater dependence on expensive inputs. GM technology is not resource or cost effective therefore it is not a viable option for famers either in Europe or in the majority world” she said.

Notes:

Agroecology –  applies ecological science to the design of agricultural systems that can help put an end to food crises and address climate-change and poverty. It enhances soils productivity and protects the crops against pests by relying on the natural environment such as beneficial trees, plants, animals and insects, according to the study.

IOA – The Irish Farmers and Growers Association is the largest organic certification organisation in Ireland representing approx 1,000 farmers, growers and processors. It is responsible for certifying the organic provenance of its members produce and the IOA symbol indicates that a product has met the highest standard of organic integrity. IOA also works to inform the public about the benefits or organic food and to support the development of organic food production in Ireland.

FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT

Grace Maher

Development Officer IOFGA

Tel 087 6125989

grace.maher@iofga.org

www.iofga.org

Filed Under: General

About IOFGA

©IOA (Irish Organic Association ) is Ireland’s leading organic certification body dedicated to certifying organic produce and products throughout Ireland.

  • Why Choose IOA
  • Join IOA
  • IOA Organic Food and Farming Standards
  • Steps to Organic Certification (Farming)
  • Steps to Organic Certification (Processor)

Address

Irish Organic Association
Unit 13 Inish Carraig
Golden Island
Athlone
Co. Westmeath
Ireland.
N37 N1W4

Contact

Tel: (+353) 090 643 3680
Fax: (+353) 090 644 9005
Email: info@irishoa.ie

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Twitter

Office hours

Open
Mon – Fri
9am – 5pm.

Closed 1 – 2pm

POLICIES

Data Protection Policy
Privacy Policy

LATEST TWEET

Species-rich grassland took centre stage in last night's episode of #WildIsles

This important habitat supports a rich variety of native plants & provides food and shelter for pollinators and many other creatures.

Dr Maria Long (@murlong77) tells us more
https://bit.ly/3JUTkPU

Copyright © 2023 IOA : Irish Organic Farmers and Growers Association CLG trading as the Irish Organic Association