Advances in Organic Farming: Principles, Practices and Certification: A Comprehensive Review
Bonika Pant
Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Gautam Buddha Nagar, SVPUAT, Meerut, Uttar Pradesh, India.
Rajinder Kaur *
Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Barnala, Guru Angad Dev Veterinary and Animal Sciences University, Ludhiana, India.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Organic agriculture has emerged as a significant paradigm in sustainable food production, characterised by its commitment to ecological balance, biodiversity conservation, and the exclusion of synthetic inputs. This comprehensive review examines the contemporary advances in organic farming, encompassing its foundational principles, evolving practices, and certification frameworks. The global organic sector has witnessed remarkable growth, with approximately 99 million hectares under organic management by 2024, representing 2.1 per cent of global agricultural land, and retail sales exceeding 145 billion euros annually. This review synthesises evidence from peer-reviewed literature examining yield comparisons between organic and conventional systems, environmental impacts including biodiversity enhancement and greenhouse gas mitigation, soil health improvements, and pest management strategies. The search strategy focused on literature published between 2005 and 2026. Meta-analytical evidence indicates that whilst organic yields are typically 19 to 25 per cent lower than conventional yields, diversification practices such as crop rotation and multi-cropping can substantially reduce this gap to approximately 8 to 9 per cent. The review critically evaluates certification systems, including third-party certification under the International Federation of Organic Agriculture Movements framework and participatory guarantee systems that provide accessible alternatives for smallholder farmers. Regulatory developments, particularly the European Union Regulation 2018/848 and the Farm to Fork Strategy targeting 25 per cent organic land by 2030, are examined alongside their implications for global organic agriculture. The review identifies persistent challenges, including certification costs, knowledge gaps in pest and nutrient management, and market access barriers, whilst highlighting opportunities in policy support, technological innovation, and consumer demand growth. This synthesis provides a foundation for understanding the multifaceted contributions of organic farming to sustainable agricultural development and informs future research priorities and policy directions.
Keywords: Organic agriculture, sustainable farming, certification systems, microbial community, yield gap, synthetic inputs, participatory guarantee systems