Introduction to Organic Agriculture - From Haber-Bosch to Howard: A Century of Agricultural Transformation

• Authors: Muhammad Khizar Hayat , Tahir Yab Khan , Muhammad Aseeb Azam , Faisal Imran , Ifra Ifra , Muhammad Shan , Pootchy Jasmin Belizaire , Muhammad Naeem Ur Rehman , Uzma Majeed , BA Oumar
• Languages of publication: EN

Abstracts

EN

Agriculture, the science and practice of cultivating plants and raising livestock, has been fundamental to human civilization, enabling the development of sedentary communities and food surpluses. Traditional farming methods, relying on natural practices like crop rotation and composting, gave way to synthetic fertilizers and pesticides in the early 1900s, raising concerns about soil health and food safety. The Haber-Bosch process, developed in the early 20th century, revolutionized fertilizer production by synthesizing ammonia from atmospheric nitrogen, significantly boosting agricultural yields. However, visionaries like Sir Albert Howard and Rudolf Steiner advocated for practices mimicking nature's cycles, emphasizing soil health and laying the groundwork for organic agriculture. Conventional agriculture, characterized by mechanization and reliance on synthetic inputs, has greatly increased food production. However, this approach raises concerns about environmental impacts such as soil degradation, water pollution, and biodiversity loss. Studies indicate pesticide use, while boosting crop yields, contaminates food and the environment, posing health risks. In China, agricultural emissions increased by 410 Mt CO2 eq between 2001 and 2018, primarily due to fertilization and irrigation in maize, fruit, and vegetable production. Animal husbandry, another key aspect of agriculture, involves breeding and raising domestic animals for food, fiber, and labor. In India, low livestock productivity necessitates a bottom-up breeding policy and improved market linkages. Aquaculture, the cultivation of aquatic organisms, is increasingly vital for global food supply. Asia dominates global aquaculture, producing over 91% of the world's farmed aquatic animals and plants (102.9 million tonnes in 2017). However, monoculture practices increase disease risk, and chemical use poses environmental risks. Forestry, the management of forests and woodlands, provides timber, fuelwood, wildlife habitat, and clean water. Non-timber forest products (NTFPs) are crucial for the livelihoods of 275 million poor rural Indians, but overexploitation and deforestation threaten these resources. Sustainable development strategies are needed to balance resource conservation with livelihood needs.

Keywords

EN

Agriculture; Aquaculture; Conventional Agriculture; Food Security; Forestry; Livestock; Mechanization; Organic Farming; Soil Health; Sustainability

Discipline

• AGRICULTURE: AGRICULTURE

• Publisher: Scientific Publishing House „DARWIN”
• Journal: World News of Natural Sciences
• Year: 2025
• Volume: 60
• Pages: 40-64

Contributors

author

Muhammad Khizar Hayat

• Department of Field Crops, Faculty of Agriculture, Sakarya University of Applied Sciences, Sakarya, Turkey

author

Tahir Yab Khan

• Department of Horticulture, Faculty of Agriculture, Ghazi Khan University, D.G. Khan, Pakistan

author

Muhammad Aseeb Azam

• Department of Agricultural Extension & Rural Studies, College of Agriculture, University of Sargodha, Sargodha, Pakistan

author

Faisal Imran

• Department of Agronomy, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Agriculture Faisalabad, Pakistan

author

Ifra Ifra

• Department of Agronomy, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Agriculture Faisalabad, Pakistan

author

Muhammad Shan

• Department of Agronomy, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Agriculture Faisalabad, Pakistan

author

Pootchy Jasmin Belizaire

• Department of Agricultural Sciences (Plant Protection), Manisa Celal Bayar University, Turkey

author

Muhammad Naeem Ur Rehman

• Department of Agronomy, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Agriculture Faisalabad, Pakistan

author

Uzma Majeed

• Department of Plant Pathology, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, Pakistan

author

BA Oumar

• Department of Agricultural Sciences, Institute of Sciences, Manisa Celal Bayar University, Manisa, Turkey

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• Document Type: article