NATIONAL ECONOMIC UNIVERSITY

SCHOOL OF ADVANCED EDUCATION PROGRAMS

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Debate topic:
Can organic farming be a sustainable method
of food production for the future?

Course: Critical Thinking

GROUP MEMBERS:
Hà Thu Ngân - 11224549
Nguyễn Đào Minh Ngọc- 11224634
Ngô Thị Tố Trinh - 11226575

CLASS: Advanced Finance C – Intake 64

INSTRUCTOR - Ph.D: Do Thi Kieu Lan

HANOI, 2024
 I. Introduction

1. Definition of organic

Organic farming is a cultivation method which provides for the conservation of

the ecosystem and humanity's health. It makes use of ecological processes and
biodiversity adapted to local situations, that are not supplemented with badly
affecting inputs, to bring positive effects on natural surroundings for social
benefits, in addition for a good standard of living.

2. Definition of sustainability

Sustainability as a form of ethical relationship to the next generation mostly

urges today’s people to make environmental and economic activities aimed to
enable the next generations to have the same level of wealth, utility or welfare.

3. Thesis statement

The phenomenon of organic farming has drawn interest because of its

perceived beneficial influence on ecology and health. This report aims to
demonstrate that organic farming is not a sustainable method of agriculture for
the future food production, assessed from processes in production,
consumption, economic potential, and environmental impact.

II. Challenge for production

1. Lower productivity

The crop yields, in organic farming systems are rather smaller, as compared
with those that are produced by the conventional as there are several possible
reasons. First of all, in order to attain the target quality, the farmers couldn’t
apply any chemical tools that are useful in effective management of weeds,
pests and farmers diseases. It is the absence of these tools that renders the
production potential of plants lower than farming using conventional methods.

Hence, while merely catering to approximately 1-2% of global crop output,

organic farming ends up suffering the loss of productivity of at least 18.4%. 1 2
With the high demand for organic products, this yield gap requires extra
residential lands, which results in forest cutting and dropping the ability to
absorb the carbon dioxide.

1 Eco-Friendly Living Blog | Green and Happy Mom. (n.d.-b). GreenandHappyMom.

https://www.greenandhappymom.com/
2 Cruz, V., Tantriani, Cheng, W., & Tawaraya, K. (2023). Yield gap between organic and conventional farming
systems across climate types and sub-types: A meta-analysis. Agricultural Systems, 211, 103732.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.agsy.2023.103732
 Besides, organic food does not have artificial preservatives which decreases its
shelf life. Therefore, this leads to more storage and preservation problems and
ultimately food waste. Although other approaches exist, these are associated
with added labor and resource consumption, being therefore less cost efficient
than the traditional preservation methods.

2. Higher manufacturing cost

Meeting strict organic certification rules and turning out good high-quality
organic food is a challenge, both financially and administratively, and harder
for small farms and processors. Payments into startup capital (up to $1,500)
and renewal license fees are the obstacles that increase the operating costs of
smaller producers and limit their development.3 4

Besides, the literature suggests labor costing as a result of the need to cover
inputs like fertilizers and herbicides to enhance organic produce, thus organic
employees will not compete well with those of conventional farming.

Furthermore, restriction of artificial additive use is an additional barrier to

product diversity, while also reducing access to key distribution channels. So,
organic farmers and processors meet the hurdles in market development,
especially if the area is remote and the logistics of the organic products are
challenging to manage.

III. Challenge for consumption:

1. Higher price

Higher production costs of organic farming systems make its products

command elevated prices at retail compared to traditional counterparts. While
there is a steady growth in demand for organic foods consumption, organic
goods are perceived as premium goods affordable only to a segment of the
population with higher disposable incomes, restricting the availability of
organic foods to a wider consumer base. Price sensitivity among consumers
may limit the expansion of the organic market, especially during economic
downturns when customers prioritize lower-cost alternatives.

2. Competitiveness

3 Organic Produce Network. (n.d.). Organic certification requirements and the USDA organic standards.
https://www.organicproducenetwork.com/article-education/6/organic-certification-requirements-and-the-usda-
organic-standards
4 Eco-Friendly Living Blog | Green and Happy Mom. (n.d.-b). GreenandHappyMom.
https://www.greenandhappymom.com/
 Organic farming practices lower production than conventional approaches is
another aspect that determines the financial viability of organic farming. The
elevated prices of organic products tend to be a burden for the low-income,
making a customer's hesitancy in choosing organic products.

Also, even though a great amount of money is spent by people to consume

organic food, the short duration of storage in these foods and nutrition lacking
in organic compared to conventional foods, have a large effect on what people
purchase. Moreover, in contrast to traditional ways of preserving food, most
organic products require different and more complex preservation methods,
which might become difficult for consumers to deal with. This kind of a gap
between anticipated benefits and the price range contrast to the usual foodstuff
has an impact on the consumer choice.

IV. Rebuttal

1. Environmental Benefits

Organic farming practices prioritize soil health and biodiversity. By avoiding

synthetic pesticides and fertilizers, organic farming reduces chemical runoff
into water bodies, preserves soil quality, and supports diverse ecosystems.

Refutation: Organic pesticides and manure, on one hand, are of natural origin,
but they are just as dangerous for the environment, if not applied properly.
Apart from that, organic farming may result in the more land being needed,
which is why natural areas could be destroyed. Besides, using more land for
food, we have less land for carbon sequestration. In fact, although it diminishes
chemical runoff, other factors, e.g. soil erosion, could as well become the
source of water pollution.

2. Health Benefits

By opting for natural pest control methods and organic fertilizers, organic
farming reduces the risk of chemical residues in food and protects farmers and
consumers from exposure to harmful substances.

Refutation: Many Organic fertilizers could be sources for human health risks
such as microbial contamination, heavy metal presence and high nitrate levels.
Although organic farming omits an addition of synthetic pesticides, natural
insecticides can leave residues on crops.

3. Economic Benefits
 Through pricing dynamics driven by consumer demand for healthier and
sustainable options, organic farming stimulates economic growth. Additionally,
its participation in international trade bolsters economic development, creating
a ripple effect in regional and global economies.

Refutation: On the one hand, due to the participation and support of nations to
international trade of organic products as a powerful instrument, economic
benefits of organic farming systems can be enhanced partly. However, it might
be limited to a certain degree by such factors as market access barriers,
certification requirements as well as competition with conventional agriculture,
which requires these approaches to expenses remarkably to achieve destination.

V. Conclusion

1. Summary of key arguments presented

The obstacles organics face in both production and consumption highlight the
importance of effective solutions to guarantee long-term sustainability and
evolution of this type of farming. Rising production costs mean higher prices,
which makes it difficult for consumers and inhibits growth into the market.
Resource-consuming tasks and projects such as irrigation and infrastructure
generate stress on the economy, which is mostly a problem for regions with
low agricultural output. Critics notice that high prices foster food access
inequalities for poor people, and this worsens world food shortages even more.

2. Call for a balanced approach to sustainable food production

The balanced approach to sustainable food production is to combine the strong

points of organic and conventional agriculture while addressing the
shortcomings of each. Collaboration of stakeholders is necessary to arrive at
comprehensive solutions to overcome the obstacles of organic products.
Through resolving these issues, we can gradually build a more sustainable food
system for both humans and nature.
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