Justus von Liebig (12 May 1803 – 18 April 1873) develops a theory on mineral plant nutrition. He believes that mineral salts, were the only nutrients plants needed and they could completely replace manure.

He was a German chemist who made major contributions to agricultural and biological chemistry, and worked on the organization of organic chemistry. As a professor, he devised the modern laboratory-oriented teaching method, and for such innovations, he is regarded as one of the greatest chemistry teachers of all time.

He is known as the "father of the fertilizer industry" for his discovery of nitrogen as an essential plant nutrient, and his formulation of the Law of the Minimum which described the effect of individual nutrients on crops.

Chemists Fritz Haber and Carl Bosch develop an ammonia synthesis process, making use of nitrogen from the atmosphere. This form of ammonia already had been used to manufacture explosives, and following the war was made available for fertilizer in agriculture. (Fritz Haber, left - Carl Bosch, right)

Organic agriculture (as opposed to the agriculture of indigenous cultures, which always employs only organic means) began more or less simultaneously in Central Europe and India. The British botanist Sir Albert Howard, often referred to as the father of modern organic agriculture, works as an agricultural adviser in Pusa, Bengal, where he documents traditional Indian farming practices, and came to regard them as superior to his conventional agriculture science. (see his 1940 book below)

American agronomist F.H. King tours China, Korea, and Japan, studying traditional fertilization, tillage, and general farming practices.

He publishes his findings in “Permanent Agriculture: Farmers of Forty Centuries” (1911, Courier Dover Publications, ISBN 0-486-43609-8).

King visualizes a "world movement for the introduction of new and improved methods" of agriculture and in later years his book becomes an important organic reference. (Return to Top)

In Germany, Rudolf Steiner's publishes his “Spiritual Foundations for the Renewal of Agriculture” which may be the first comprehensive organic farming system and leads to the development of “biodynamic agriculture”.

His book began with a lecture series Steiner presented at a farm in Koberwitz (now in Poland) during 1924.

Steiner emphasizes the farmer's role in guiding and balancing the interaction of the animals, plants and soil. Healthy animals depend upon healthy plants (for their food), healthy plants depend upon healthy soil, healthy soil depends upon healthy animals (for the manure).

The first use of the term "organic farming" is by Lord Northbourne (aka Walter James, 4th Baron Northbourne).

The term derives from his concept of "the farm as organism", which he expounds in his book, “Look to the Land” (1940).

Within the book he describes a holistic, ecologically balanced approach to farming. Northbourne writes of "chemical farming versus organic farming". (Return to Top)

Influenced by Sir Albert Howard's work, Lady Eve Balfour (Evelyn Barbara Balfour, 1899-1990) launches the Haughley Experiment on farmland in England.

It is the first scientific, side-by-side comparison of organic and conventional farming. (see circa 1943 below referencing her book “The Living Soil”)

Sir Albert Howard's book, “An Agricultural Testament”, is influential in promoting organic techniques, and his 1947 book "The Soil and Health, A Study of Organic Agriculture" adopted Northbourne's terminology and is the first book to include "organic" agriculture or farming in its title.

In Japan, Masanobu Fukuoka, a microbiologist working in soil science and plant pathology, begins to doubt the modern agricultural movement.

In the early 1940s, he quits his job as a research scientist, returns to his family's farm, and devotes the next 30 years to developing a radical no-till organic method for growing grain, now known as “Fukuoka farming”. (Return to Top)

Lady Eve Balfour published “The Living Soil”, based on the initial findings of the Haughley Experiment.

Widely read, it led to the formation of a key international organic advocacy group, the Soil Association.

Creation of the The Soil Association of the United Kingdom. Founded in 1946 by a group of farmers, scientists and nutritionists who observed a direct connection between farming practice and plant, animal, human and environmental health.

Today the Soil Association is the UK's leading organic organization, with over 180 staff based in our Bristol headquarters, in regional centers and working as certification inspectors across the country.

The Soil Association exists to research, develop and promote sustainable relationships between the soil, plants, animals, people and the biosphere, in order to produce healthy food and other products while protecting and enhancing the environment. You might expect something so vital to be organized and supported by the government. But in fact the Soil Association is a charity, reliant on donations and on the support of its members and the public to carry out its work. (Return to Top)

In France, there is the introduction of the principals of organic farming because doctors and consumers blame agricultural chemicals for causing the development of cancer and mental disorders. (Return to Top)

During the 1950s, sustainable agriculture is a topic of scientific interest, but research seems to concentrate on developing the new chemical approaches.

In the United States, J.I. Rodale begins to popularize the term and methods of organic growing, particularly to consumers through promotion of organic gardening.

Creation of Groupement d'agriculteurs biologiques de l'Ouest in France. (Association of organic farmers from the west)

Rachel Louise Carson, (1907 - 1964) a prominent scientist and naturalist, publishes "Silent Spring", chronicling the effects of DDT and other pesticides on the environment. The book is a bestseller in many countries throughout the world. (Many people believe that the book, “Silent Spring” was a key factor for the federal government of the United States to ban the use of DDT in 1972.) In addition, the book and its author are often given credit for launching the worldwide environmental movement.

Global movements have concerns with pollution and the health of the Earth’s environment. There is an increase in focus toward organic farming. As the distinction between organic and conventional food became clearer, one goal of the organic movement is to encourage consumption of locally grown food. There is the promotion of this concept with slogans such as "Know Your Farmer, Know Your Food”. (Return to Top)

In Versailles, France, there is the creation of The International Federation of Organic Agriculture Movements (IFOAM). Its goal is to communicate and exchange throughout the world information relating to the principles and practices of organic agriculture of all schools and across national and linguistic boundaries.

Fukuoka releases his first book, “One Straw Revolution”, with a strong impact in certain areas of the agricultural world.

His approach to small-scale grain production emphasizes a meticulous balance of the local farming ecosystem, and a minimum of human interference and labor.

Throughout the world various farming and consumer groups seriously begin to pressure for government regulation of organic production. This leads to legislation and certification standards being enacted through the 1990s and to date. Currently, most aspects of organic food production are government-regulated in the United States and the European Union.

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There is the collapse of the Soviet Union, causing a loss of economic support, results in a unique situation to develop in Havana, Cuba – organic food production a necessity. Cuba needs to produce food in creative ways like instituting the world’s only state-supported infrastructure to support urban food production. It is called organopónicos.

The retail market for organic farming in developed economies is growing by about by about 20% annually due to increasing demand by consumers. Concern for the quality and safety of food, and the potential for environmental damage from conventional agriculture, are apparently responsible for this trend. (Return to Top)

The European Union provides a legal framework for the organic agriculture designation.

The United States of America adopts the National Organic Program (NOP), providing a development framework for organic agriculture.

In March 2008, IFOAM - International Federation of Organic Agriculture Movements World Board the following definition for Organic Agriculture:

"Organic agriculture is a production system that sustains the health of soils, ecosystems and people. It relies on ecological processes, biodiversity and cycles adapted to local conditions, rather than the use of inputs with adverse effects. Organic agriculture combines tradition, innovation and science to benefit the shared environment and promote fair relationships and a good quality of life for all involved."

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References:

• Photograph - Farming History - Introduction - A short history of farming. Retrieved July 11, 2009 from the Farm Direct UK website: http://www.farm-direct.co.uk/farming/history/shorthist.html
• Rachel Louise Carson. Environmental Encyclopedia, 3rd ed. 2 vols. Gale, 2003. Reproduced in Biography Resource Center. Farmington Hills, Mich.: Gale, 2009. http://galenet.galegroup.com/servlet/BioRC
• Rachel Louise Carson. Contemporary Authors Online, Gale, 2009. Reproduced in Biography Resource Center. Farmington Hills, Mich.: Gale, 2009. http://galenet.galegroup.com/servlet/BioRC
• Rachal Carson - Biography. Retrieved July 17, 2009 from the RachelCarson.org website: http://www.rachelcarson.org/Biography.aspx
• Retrieved July 12, 2009 from Google.com. Search criteria "history + of + organic + agriculture" and then accessed the "Timeline"
• Sustainable Agriculture: Definitions and Terms - Terms commonly associated with sustainable agricultural systems. Retrieved August 17, 2009 from the United States Department of Agriculture National Library website http://www.nal.usda.gov/afsic/pubs/terms/srb9902terms.shtml

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