1.2 Contact details of resource persons and institutions involved in the assessment and documentation of the Technology

Name of project which facilitated the documentation/ evaluation of the Technology (if relevant)

Interactive Soil Quality assessment in Europe and China for Agricultural productivity and Environmental Resilience (EU-iSQAPER)

Name of the institution(s) which facilitated the documentation/ evaluation of the Technology (if relevant)

Stichting Dienst Landbouwkundig Onderzoek, Wageningen University & Research Centre (DLO) - Netherlands

1.3 Conditions regarding the use of data documented through WOCAT

When were the data compiled (in the field)?

20/11/2017

The compiler and key resource person(s) accept the conditions regarding the use of data documented through WOCAT:

Yes

1.4 Declaration on sustainability of the described Technology

Is the Technology described here problematic with regard to land degradation, so that it cannot be declared a sustainable land management technology?

No

2.1 Short description of the Technology

Definition of the Technology:

Certified Organic Agriculture (EU standards) with a combination of arable and vegetable crops on sandy loam soils in the Netherlands

2.2 Detailed description of the Technology

Description:

The technology is in this specific case applied on sandy loam soils in the Netherlands. It is not limited to those specific conditions. Organic agriculture could as well be applied on other soil types, and it could be applied in various cropping systems as well. There are no environmental limitations known which would prevent a farmer from applying certified organic agriculture on his farm fields.

The characteristics which a system has to fulfill to be certified organic agriculture are to be found in the standards for organic production in the EU (Council Regulation (EC) No 834/2007). Main points in this standard are: no application of synthetic pesticides and no use of synthetic fertilizer. Next to that, there are certain specifications on how many crops you need to have as a minimum in your rotation etc. The purpose of this technology is a sustainable production in general. The idea behind is, that with more care and attention for your production, without the use of synthetic products, you will have a more sustainable and resilient system.

The major input in organic agriculture is organic manure. Because synthetic fertilizers are not allowed more care and attention is paid to apply the right amount of the right organic fertilizers. In general this leads to higher inputs of organic matter to the soil.

The positive impacts of organic agriculture are:
- better general soil quality (more organic matter, better structure, higher fertility, more soil life, more diverse soil life)
- better water holding capacity
- reduced nitrate leaching to the groundwater
- good economic impact (with the label 'organic' farmers can sell their products for a higher price)

Organic agriculture (compared to conventional) also has a negative impact: yields are in general up to 20% lower than conventional production. This yield reduction is mainly caused by pests and diseases, because no synthetic pesticides are allowed, the control of many diseases and pests is not possible.

Land users like this technique because it is actually more than just an application of a technique, it is a way of farming. Organic farming calls upon the craftmanship of the farmers. They like it because they know they are contributing to a more sustainable farming system. Farmers may dislike it because it is complicated to obtain the same yields as with conventional agriculture, and because it is not yet possible to control all pests and diseases.

2.5 Country/ region/ locations where the Technology has been applied and which are covered by this assessment

2.6 Date of implementation

Indicate year of implementation:

2009

2.7 Introduction of the Technology

Specify how the Technology was introduced:

• through land users' innovation
• during experiments/ research
• through projects/ external interventions

Comments (type of project, etc.):

Researchers, policy makers and farmers are all more and more aware that it is important to work towards a more sustainable farming system. At first, organic agriculture was mainly applied within research and by precursor farmers, but it is becoming more common and widespread.

3.1 Main purpose(s) of the Technology

• reduce, prevent, restore land degradation
• preserve/ improve biodiversity
• adapt to climate change/ extremes and its impacts
• create beneficial economic impact

3.2 Current land use type(s) where the Technology is applied

3.3 Further information about land use

Water supply for the land on which the Technology is applied:

• mixed rainfed-irrigated

Number of growing seasons per year:

• 1

Specify:

The climate is limiting the growing season

3.4 SLM group to which the Technology belongs

• rotational systems (crop rotation, fallows, shifting cultivation)
• integrated soil fertility management
• integrated pest and disease management (incl. organic agriculture)

3.5 Spread of the Technology

Specify the spread of the Technology:

• evenly spread over an area

If the Technology is evenly spread over an area, indicate approximate area covered:

• 0.1-1 km2

Comments:

At this farm, they have 60 hectares of organic agriculture

3.6 SLM measures comprising the Technology

3.7 Main types of land degradation addressed by the Technology

3.8 Prevention, reduction, or restoration of land degradation

Specify the goal of the Technology with regard to land degradation:

• prevent land degradation

4.1 Technical drawing of the Technology

4.2 Technical specifications/ explanations of technical drawing

The most important aspects of organic agriculture are: application of only organic manure and no application of synthetic pesticides, with the idea that soil quality and environment can be positively effected by this.

4.3 General information regarding the calculation of inputs and costs

Specify how costs and inputs were calculated:

• per Technology area

other/ national currency (specify):

euro

Indicate exchange rate from USD to local currency (if relevant): 1 USD =:

0.87

4.4 Establishment activities

	Activity	Type of measure	Timing
1.	Adapt/change machinery	Management	before and during conversion to organic
2.	Stop using synthetic pesticides	Management	before conversion to organic
3.	Stop using synthetic fertilizers	Management	before conversion to organic
4.	Choose conversion period crops	Agronomic	2 years before start certified organic production
5.	start conversion period	Management	2 years before start certified organic production
6.	Design and adapt crop choice and rotation	Agronomic	Before/during and after conversion

4.5 Costs and inputs needed for establishment

	Specify input	Unit	Quantity	Costs per Unit	Total costs per input	% of costs borne by land users
Equipment	Investment in mechanical weed control machine	piece	1.0	5000.0	5000.0	100.0
Total costs for establishment of the Technology					5000.0

Comments:

The costs for establishing organic agriculture are hard to estimate, it depends on the farm specific situation. Anyway, there will be a need to adapt machinery for the weed control. there will be a loss (in turnover and profitability) in the conversion period, because crops grown in this period are organically managed, but cannot yet be sold as organic.

4.6 Maintenance/ recurrent activities

	Activity	Type of measure	Timing/ frequency
1.	Mechanical weed control instead of herbicides	Agronomic	each cropping season
2.	Handlabour for weed control	Agronomic	each cropping season
3.	Spread of organic fertilizers instead of synthetic fertilizer	Agronomic	each cropping season

Comments:

These are the biggest, most important activities that change by converting from conventional to organic. There are more smaller activities not listed here.

4.7 Costs and inputs needed for maintenance/ recurrent activities (per year)

	Specify input	Unit	Quantity	Costs per Unit	Total costs per input	% of costs borne by land users
Labour	Additional handlabour mostly for weeding	hours	250.0	160.0	40000.0	100.0
Labour	Additional labour for mechanical weed control	hours	75.0	160.0	12000.0	100.0
Equipment	Yearly costs of weed control mechanization	euro	1.0	5000.0	5000.0	100.0
Total costs for maintenance of the Technology					57000.0

Comments:

The additional costs (compared to conventional) and yield losses are most of the time more than covered by additional income because of premium product prices. Costs are calculated for a 50 ha farm.

4.8 Most important factors affecting the costs

Describe the most determinate factors affecting the costs:

Increase in labour for weed control

5.1 Climate

5.2 Topography

Indicate if the Technology is specifically applied in:

• not relevant

Comments and further specifications on topography:

The area is reclaimed land from the sea, it is therefore about 3 meters below sealevel.

5.3 Soils

If available, attach full soil description or specify the available information, e.g. soil type, soil PH/ acidity, Cation Exchange Capacity, nitrogen, salinity etc.

Remark: the organic matter in the topsoil is around 3%

5.4 Water availability and quality

Is water salinity a problem?

No

Is flooding of the area occurring?

No

5.5 Biodiversity

5.6 Characteristics of land users applying the Technology

5.7 Average area of land owned or leased by land users applying the Technology

5.8 Land ownership, land use rights, and water use rights

Land ownership:

• individual, not titled

Land use rights:

• individual

Water use rights:

• communal (organized)

5.9 Access to services and infrastructure

6.1 On-site impacts the Technology has shown

Socio-economic impacts

Production

Income and costs

Ecological impacts

Water cycle/ runoff

Soil

Biodiversity: vegetation, animals

Climate and disaster risk reduction

6.2 Off-site impacts the Technology has shown

6.3 Exposure and sensitivity of the Technology to gradual climate change and climate-related extremes/ disasters (as perceived by land users)

Climate-related extremes (disasters)

Climatological disasters

	How does the Technology cope with it?
drought	well

6.4 Cost-benefit analysis

How do the benefits compare with the establishment costs (from land users’ perspective)?

How do the benefits compare with the maintenance/ recurrent costs (from land users' perspective)?

6.5 Adoption of the Technology

• 1-10%

Of all those who have adopted the Technology, how many have did so spontaneously, i.e. without receiving any material incentives/ payments?

• 90-100%

Comments:

There is no support/financial compensation from governments. Switching to organic agriculture is driven by the mindset that taking good care of the soil and environment is crucial for the future of agriculture

6.6 Adaptation

Has the Technology been modified recently to adapt to changing conditions?

No

6.7 Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities of the Technology

Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities in the land user’s view
better soil quality
more income per product
challenges your farmer skills

Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities in the compiler’s or other key resource person’s view
more sustainable
more resilient
less nitrate leaching

6.8 Weaknesses/ disadvantages/ risks of the Technology and ways of overcoming them

Weaknesses/ disadvantages/ risks in the land user’s view	How can they be overcome?
More handlabour for weeding	improve mechanical weeding techniques, more craftmanship
more losses due to pests and diseases	resistant varieties,enhancement of natural enemies, more crop diversity
more work to market your products	better market organisation, cooperation

Weaknesses/ disadvantages/ risks in the compiler’s or other key resource person’s view	How can they be overcome?
High dependancy on manure from animal husbandry in the region	mixed farms, cooperation between organic animal farms and organic arable farms
risk of dependency on biopesticides	More resilient production systems, resistant

7.1 Methods/ sources of information