有機農業が拓く農業経営の新局面

抄録

Organic agriculture emerged in the 1900s–1940s, yet it was not until the 1970s that significant progress began to emerge. The rapid spread observed since the 1980s can be attributed to three main factors: i) the limits of postwar agriculture, characterized by the widespread use of agrichemicals, became evident, prompting a demand for alternative farming practices from within agricultural management; ii) the technical and economic potential of organic agriculture was verified by farmers’ practices; and iii) the imperative for sustainable development (SDGs). The surge in organic agriculture not only impacts agricultural technology and management structures but also influences economic organization, food trade, food security, and the formulation of international regulations governing food and agriculture. These changes may indicate a paradigm shift in the agricultural landscape.

In Japan, the advancement of organic agriculture manifests in several ways: i) According to the 2020 agriculture census, organic farmers accounted for 6.4% of the total, with organic farmland occupying 3.6% of agricultural land across family farms, agricultural corporations, prefectures, and almost all crops. ii) Organic agriculture is not only suitable for small farmers; some organic farmers manage land ranging from several hectares to hundreds of hectares. iii) Farmers with a 100% organic share of the total farming land accounted for 38% of organic farmers in 2020, and over 50% of organic farmland share reached 67%. Many farmers with several hectares to hundreds of hectares are found in the category of farmers with over 50% organic farmland share. iv) Innovative practices in farming, marketing, and farm management are adapted in organic agriculture.

Three factors hinder the expansion of organic agriculture: i) Preconceived notions that “organic agriculture is difficult”: ii) Ambiguous agricultural policy marked by complex farm product labeling systems and: iii) Insufficient research efforts dedicated to organic agriculture.