Url original document: http://www.adb.org/publications/organic-agriculture-and-post-2015-development-goals
Summary:
The book makes an evidence-based case for organic agriculture in
developing countries, particularly those in Southeast Asia. It starts by
examining the data from organic agriculture farms, comparing them
with those from nonorganic agriculture farms to see what can be said
about the effects of organic agriculture on the livelihoods of comparable
people and in terms of the MDGs (Chapters 1, 8, and 9).
The book then goes on to look at the economic dimension of promoting
organic agriculture and actual experiences in implementing it. It
explores the following questions: Are the benefits of such programs justified in terms of their costs (Chapter 2)? Does certification help
farmers in terms of increased incomes for their products (Chapter 3)?
How well has certification worked to increase incomes and livelihoods
in particular cases (Chapter 4)? Which benefits motivate farmers to
adopt organic agriculture (Chapter 5)? (This is important as a guide to
which policies to use to promote the practice.) Is organic agriculture the
best way to improve rural livelihoods, or can we do better through other
interventions, such as promoting biofuels (Chapter 6)? What are the
macroeconomic impacts of promoting organic agriculture (Chapter 7)?
Following these chapters, the book looks at evidence on some of the big
environmental questions related to sustainable agriculture. The first is
its role in sequestering carbon, a major issue given the threats we face
from climate change (Chapter 11). A second is enhancing biodiversity
and preventing the loss of genetic material (Chapter 12).
Finally, the book considers some of the big issues in the debate
surrounding agriculture which touch on organic agriculture in
developing countries. One deals with the environmental costs of
shipping agricultural products over large distances (food miles,
Chapter 13). Another is whether organic agriculture does indeed lower
yields and thereby reduce our capacity to feed the growing population
of the planet (Chapter 14).