Organic Farming - the Future of the Agricultural Economy of Bulgaria
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Trakia Journal of Sciences, Vol. 17, Suppl. 1, pp 572-576, 2019 Copyright © 2019 Trakia University Available online at: http://www.uni-sz.bg ISSN 1313-7069 (print) ISSN 1313-3551 (online) doi:10.15547/tjs.2019.s.01.091 ORGANIC FARMING - THE FUTURE OF THE AGRICULTURAL ECONOMY OF BULGARIA G. Mitev* Department of Management, Faculty of Economics, Trakia University, Stara Zagora, Bulgaria ABSTRACT Organic farming owes its emergence, existence and principles to the nature itself, while the fundamental rule of its practice is to be in harmony with it, without harming it. In fact, it is a new perception of the environment and a new attitude towards its protection, both now and in the future. Organic farming combines the best environmental practices, high biodiversity, the conservation of natural resources and high production standards based on natural substances and processes. It also corresponds to a specific market that responds to specific consumer demands while at the same time it provides public goods that are in terms with environmental protection, animal welfare and rural development. Key words: agroecology, organic farming, biodiversity, organic products. INTRODUCTION ecological areas, based on territorial location Organic farming is an important priority in the and climate, productive opportunities and their agricultural development policy of the suitability for cultivation of different plant Republic of Bulgaria and one of the highlights species according to the bonus score. This agri- of the Common Agricultural Policy. The environmental zoning shows the great adopted European standards for organic and opportunities of our country for the organic production, for food quality, etc., act development of organic production, thanks to as indirect Community regulators for the natural, climatic and soil diversity, which protection of the environment and ensuring determine the wide range of products that can food safety and animal welfare. (1) be grown organically. The main objective is to encourage farmers to We can positively state that in Bulgaria there switch to or sustain organic farming, while are good conditions for the development of contributing to: protecting the environment - organic agriculture. To this we can add the strengthening agro-ecosystems, protecting timely synchronization of our agri- biodiversity and enabling future generations to environmental legislation with the European benefit from preserved nature; Healthy food one, which opens the markets of Europe for production - this form of agriculture responds our organic products. to the growing needs of consumers as it uses safe and transparent production methods; 1. The essence, principles and rules of social impact - creates employment in rural organic farming areas and more jobs than conventional 1.1 Nature of organic farming agriculture. (MAF, 2014) Organic farming is such a production system that does not allow or completely exclude the Bulgaria is one of the countries in Europe with use of synthetic fertilizers, pesticides, growth the highest rates of biodiversity. Conditionally, regulators and feed additives, and in which the its territory can be divided into 14 agro- crop and crop residues are relied upon to ___________________________ maintain and improve the soil's nutritional *Correspondence to: Georgi Mitev, PhD, status, manure, green manure and biological Department of Management, Faculty of Economics, plant protection. It is important to realize that Trakia University, Stara Zagora, Bulgaria Post organic farming is much more than the code: 6000, e-mail: [email protected] exclusion of pesticides and mineral fertilizers. 572 Trakia Journal of Sciences, Vol. 17, Suppl. 1, 2019 MITEV G. This is a different manufacturing method, - Maintaining a buffer zone between the which is imholistic in nature, involving the farm and neighboring conventional farms to implementation of many preventative prevent accidental contamination. measures. Organic production can only be successful if its overall concept is understood General principles of organic farming: and applied. (2) .The definition of organic Health Principles: Organic agriculture must farming given by the World Food Organization maintain and enhance the fertility of soil, (FAO) is as follows: plants, animals and humans as a whole. "Organic farming is a holistic production Principle of ecology: Organic farming should management system that promotes and be based on living ecological systems and enhances agro-ecosystem health, including cycles, working with them and helping to biodiversity, biological circulators and soil maintain them. Honesty principle: Organic biological activity. farming must be built on interrelationships that ensure honesty with regard to the nature of Organic farming goals: vital relationships. Organic products from third (a) Putting in place a sustainable agricultural countries of the Common Market are only management system which: permitted where they are produced and - is compatible with the systems and controlled under the same or equivalent cycles of nature, preserves and improves the conditions, which eases the import regime. health of soil, water, plants, animals and the balance between them; When purchasing products bearing the EU - contributes to a high degree of logo, consumers are assured that: biodiversity; - at least 95% of the ingredients of the - responsibly uses energy and natural product, of agricultural origin, are produced by resources such as water, soil, organic matter the organic production method; and air; - the product complies with the - compies with high animal welfare requirements of the official control scheme; standards, in particular meeting the animal- - the product comes directly from the specific behavioral needs of animals; manufacturer or processor in a sealed package; (b) Production of high quality products; - the product bears the name of the (c) The production of a wide variety of foods manufacturer, processor or supplier and the and other agricultural products that meet the name or code of the inspection body. consumer demand for goods produced through Organic producers and importers must comply the application of processes that do not harm with strict regulatory requirements if they wish the environment, human health, plant and to use the EU organic logo. This requirement is animal health. (3) monitored at all stages of the production- 1.2 Organic farming principles supply cycle to assure consumers that they are The documents of the International Federation purchasing organic food produced to European of Organic Farming (IFOAM) standards that has been subjected to the (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biculture) relevant inspection procedures. outline the basic principles and activities to be The new procedure allows the EU Commission followed for organic farming: to exercise oversight and greater control over - Production of food of high quality and the import of organic products and the sufficient quantity; regulation of organic guarantees, and sets the - Harmony with the natural systems stage for the adoption of EU rules on organic without dominating them; aquaculture and algae. - Maintaining and raising for a long period of soil fertility; Cases where they are produced and controlled - Using variety of crop rotations under the same or equivalent conditions, saturated with legumes, which include natural thereby facilitating the import arrangements. and artificial meadows and pastures; - Not using synthetic pesticides and When purchasing products bearing the EU fertilizers; logo, consumers are assured that: - Applying mechanical and thermal - at least 95% of the ingredients of the weed control methods and alternative means of product, of agricultural origin, are produced by controlling diseases and pests; the organic production method; - Maintaining strict accounting of the - the product complies with the farm; requirements of the official control scheme; Trakia Journal of Sciences, Vol. 17, Suppl. 1, 2019 573 MITEV G. - the product comes directly from the - Environmental protection - strengthens manufacturer or processor in a sealed package; agro-ecosystems, conserves biodiversity and - the product bears the name of the enables future generations to benefit from manufacturer, processor or supplier and the preserved nature; name or code of the inspection body. - Healthy food production - this form of farming responds to the needs of a growing Organic producers and importers must comply number of consumers as it uses safe and with strict regulatory requirements if they wish transparent production methods; to use the EU organic logo. This requirement is - Social impact - creates employment in monitored at all stages of the production- rural areas and more jobs than conventional supply cycle to assure consumers that they are agriculture. (6) purchasing organic food produced to European standards that has been subjected to the 2.1 The state of organic production in Bulgaria relevant inspection procedures. in 2019 The new procedure allows the EU Commission There are very good prerequisites for the to exercise oversight and greater control over development of organic production in Bulgaria the import of organic products and the - ecologically preserved areas. regulation of organic guarantees, and sets the stage for the adoption of EU rules on organic The information on the state of organic aquaculture and algae. (4) production in Bulgaria for 2019 is based on data from the annual reports of officially 2. Current state of organic farming