Integrated and organic farming

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Integrated and organic farming: leveraging the power of nature

In the Italian processing tomato supply chain, integrated production and organic farming are nowadays preferred agricultural methods because they promote economic stability, environmental conservation, and improved food security. Let’s explore these modern approaches.

There’s rarely one way of doing things – even in agricultural production. Agricultural methods encompass various techniques and practices used to cultivate crops, which differ in crop management, use of external synthetic inputs, environmental impact, and overall sustainability.

Conventional farming is the most prevalent and widely adopted agricultural approach globally. This farming method, which is focused on increasing productivity and profits, involves high energy consumption and the use of chemicals for fertilization and plant defense. Conventional farming relies heavily on chemical fertilizers to provide essential nutrients to crops and pesticides and herbicides to control pests and weeds. This approach can lead to soil depletion, increased susceptibility to infestations, and decreased biodiversity.

Integrated and organic farming are the more sustainable and environmentally conscious alternatives to conventional agriculture that strongly emphasize natural processes and ecological conservation. Both approaches significantly limit synthetic chemical fertilizers and pesticides, and they prohibit the use of genetically modified organisms (GMOs). Instead, they rely on organic materials and natural processes for nutrient cycling and pest management while practicing crop rotation and composting to maintain and improve soil fertility and quality, maximize resource utilization, and minimize waste.

Integrated production has developed around the principles of a holistic pest management method called Integrated Pest Management (IPM), regulated by the European Union through Directive 2009/128/EC on the sustainable use of pesticides [i]. The regulations of this method foster good practices for the use of most sustainable and risk-free agrochemicals for human and environmental health, and they offer helpful guidelines for reducing their impact on the ecosystem. Integrated production is considered one of the most advanced agricultural methods to achieve sustainable agriculture, as it offers numerous advantages, including higher productivity, better resource management and reduced environmental impact.

Source: https://www.smartprotect-h2020.eu/what-is-ipm/

Organic farming is regulated in many countries around the world; in Europe there is a rigorous supranational legislation (Regulation EC 848/2018 and Regulation EC 834/2007) that manages and establishes what methods and substances are applicable from field to fork. These regulations are designed following general and specific principles that promote environmental protection, maintain biodiversity, and build consumer confidence in organic products. Nothing is left to chance: every substance used in organic farming to control pests or plant diseases must be approved by the European Commission.

Let’s discover what integrated and organic production mean in our processing tomato supply chain.

OI Pomodoro del Nord Italia’s production system

All tomatoes in the OI Pomodoro del Nord Italia’s supply chain are produced following two cultivation methods: integrated production and organic farming. Specifically, about 90% of our crops are grown according to integrated production, while 10% from organic farming. This guarantees excellent quality of the final products and environmentally friendly production techniques. Our main goal is to minimize the use of agrochemicals and rationalize fertilization by respecting the toxicological, economic, and ecological principles.

This means that, for 90% of the production, we are following the integrated production specifications for processing tomatoes in force in the region were the plants are grown, namely Emilia-Romagna, Veneto, Lombardia, and Piemonte. The integrated production specifications make up a system of different technical standards for each type of crop (in terms of protection, fertilization, and irrigation), issued and constantly updated by the Regional Authorities. Farmers are subject to compliance controls.

Together, we are working to standardize the specifications of our Po Valley area. Additionally, an increasing number of our tomato producers are joining the SQNPI (National Integrated Production Quality System), a national certification recognized at the European Community level (EC Reg. 1974/2006), that aims to enhance agricultural production obtained in compliance with the regional integrated production regulations.

Integrated and organic productions are reflected in our everyday work in the fields through:

Soil care and preparation: we respect nature from the start by preparing and protecting soil fertility and biodiversity to avoid erosion, hydrological risks, and soil compaction. In some cases, vegetation cover shields the soil during the year’s colder months.
Crop rotation: we work to ensure that fertile soils remain productive; in fact, the growth of different types of crops in the same field over a series of seasons or years promotes long-term soil health and sustainability. For this reason, we never perform chemical soil sterilization. It’s essential to follow the natural rhythm and regeneration of the land.
Fertilization: Soils are analyzed to determine the organic matter content, which is used to determine nutrient requirements. To reduce the need for fertilizers, residues from previous crops are recycled through mechanical tillage. The amount of fertilizer added to the soil is determined by the current condition and nutrition needs of the soil at a specific moment, within the limits set by regional regulations. Organic fertilizers, such as manure and compost, are preferred products as they improve soil fertility and biodiversity.
Irrigation: We use irrigation only when and where needed. Drip irrigation systems are used to efficiently distribute water and nutrients directly to the plant’s root zone, providing the right amount at the right time for optimal growth.
Decision support: Highly technological monitoring systems are an invaluable support to our collaborators. With them, farmers can constantly measure field and crop conditions, keep them under control, and react in the quickest and most efficient way when needed. For example, soil moisture monitoring systems check the moisture conditions and regulate irrigation accordingly, without water waste. For what concerns pest control, farmers can easily detect the presence of harmful insects through specific technologies and decide if ad-hoc treatments are necessary to restore the field.

Conclusion

In the modern world of agriculture, innovation and sustainability take center stage. Sustainable practices are increasingly vital, focusing on reducing environmental impact, conserving resources, and promoting organic and regenerative farming methods. Therefore, food supply chains like ours choose farming approaches that reflect these needs. OI Pomodoro del Nord Italia was one of the first supply chains in Europe to assess the concrete steps taken towards sustainable farming methods. In fact, in 2015 we were among the first, participating in the Life PREFER (Product Environmental Footprint Enhanced by Regions) project co-financed by the European Commission, to measure the environmental footprint of our products. And very soon we will release the new data updated to 2022. Through our ongoing project Tomato SAUCE we are sharing with you all the results of these studies, from our production method we just wrote about in this article, to our environmental footprint and social responsibility.