?url_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Adc&rft.title=How+organic+agriculture+contributes+to+sustainable+development&rft.creator=Kilcher%2C+Lukas&rft.subject=+%22Organics%22+in+general&rft.subject=+Education%2C+extension+and+communication&rft.description=Organic+agriculture+can+contribute+to+meaningful+socio-economic+and+ecologically+sustainable+development%2C+especially+in+poorer+countries.+This+is+due+on+the+one+hand+to+the+application+of+organic+principles%2C+which+means+efficient+management+of+local+resources+(e.g.+local+seed+varieties%2C+manure%2C+etc.)+and+therefore+costeffectiveness.+On+the+other+hand%2C+the+market+for+organic+products+%C3%A2%C2%80%C2%93+at+local+and+international+level+%C3%A2%C2%80%C2%93+has+tremendous+growth+prospects+and+offers+creative+producers+and+exporters+in+the+South+excellent+opportunities+to+improve+their+income+and+living+conditions.+Establishing+whether+organic+agriculture+is+a+viable+alternative+for+a+particular+holding+needs+to+be+carried+out+on+a+case-by-case+basis.+What+potential+does+organic+agriculture+have+for+solving+the+problems+of+hunger+and+poverty%3F+What+can+organic+agriculture+contribute+to+achieving+socially+and+ecologically+sustainable+development+in+poor+countries%3F+Central+to+organic+agriculture+are+promotion+of+soil+fertility%2C+biodiversity+conservation+(e.g.+native+flora+and+fauna)%2C+production+methods+adapted+to+the+locality+and+avoidance+of+chemical+inputs.+These+methods%2C+together+with+cultivation+of+a+diverse+range+of+crops%2C+stabilize+the+delicate+ecosystems+in+the+tropics+and+reduce+drought+sensitivity+and+pest+infestation.+Organic+agriculture+reduces+the+risk+of+yield+failure%2C+stabilizes+returns+and+improves+the+quality+of+life+of+small+farmers%C3%A2%C2%80%C2%99+families.+To+date%2C+no+systematic+attempt+has+been+made+to+evaluate+the+benefits+and+effects+of+each+system.+In+2006%2C+FiBL+therefore+launched+a+network+of+long-term+system+comparisons+in+the+tropics+that+aims+at+examining+the+contribution+of+organic+agriculture+to+food+security%2C+poverty+alleviation+and+environmental+conservation.%0D%0AThe+article+presents+this+discussion+based+on+experience+gained+in+practice+and%0D%0Aencompasses+the+following+hypotheses%3A%0D%0A1.+Organic+agriculture+is+sustainable+and+diverse%3B%0D%0A2.+Organic+farmers+conserve+resources%3B%0D%0A3.+Organic+farmers+produce+more%2C+better-quality+products+and+achieve+higher+incomes%3B%0D%0A4.+Organic+products+provide+market+access+and+create+added+value%3B%0D%0A5.+Organic+agriculture+increases+self-confidence+and+mobilizes+new+partnerships.&rft.date=2007&rft.type=Newspaper+or+magazine+article&rft.type=NonPeerReviewed&rft.format=application%2Fpdf&rft.identifier=http%3A%2F%2Forgprints.org%2F10680%2F1%2FKilcher_2007_JARTS_SP_89.pdf&rft.identifier=Kilcher%2C+Lukas+(2007)+How+organic+agriculture+contributes+to+sustainable+development.+In%3A+JARTS+Witzenhausen%2C+Supplement+89%2C+2007%2C+pp.+31-49.&rft.relation=http%3A%2F%2Forgprints.org%2F10680%2F