Some examples of ‘contested areas’ within organic agriculture, which may be addressed in WP 2 Task 2. The conflicts are internal conflicts within organic agriculture, but they also determine differences to conventional agriculture.

100% Organic feed

This issue is being addressed in WP 4, see the two reports under Current publications at http://www.organic-revision.org/pub/index.html. Organic-biodynamic differences?

Import of nutrients to organic production

The closed circles versus keeping the balances conflict - plus more. How close is close? Or, what circles are we looking at? Surplus of nutrients in conventional which we better spread out? Import of nutrients by way of minerals that are needed by livestock. Organic-biodynamic differences.

Local versus global trade

Related to the previous, but includes much broader issues. Options for low-income countries versus environmental costs and issues of transparency. Substitutability of products (e.g soya beans or wheat from close by or from the other side of the earth). Un-accounted environmental and social costs. Benefits of free trade versus de facto monopolies by big companies.

Anaerobic versus aerobic

A very old issue, puts the idea of living soil etc. against environmental and resource considerations. Organic-biodynamic differences.

Mutilation of livestock

Welfare versus integrity. Production concerns versus welfare and integrity. Considerations for human workers versus animal welfare. Organic-biodynamic differences.

Enter other examples of contested areas here.

In the description of task 2.2, the following examples are mentioned

• non-use of antibiotics
• use of copper for spraying
• free-ranging of animals
• ringing of sows
• dehorning of cows
• use of conventional and synthetic feeds
• use of conventional manure
• use of human faeces as soil fertilizer
• use of conventional breeds and seeds
• use of hybrid varieties

Other ideas:

• GMOs

Why organic agriculture is against GMOs. Different views within the organic movement about coexistence, or about a potatoe plant made resistant against Phythophtora with genetic engineering. (Verhoog: Reasons to be against genetic engineering)

• ‘Soil based’

Growing in unorganic growth media, or containers with compost, in green houses. Hydroponics.

• Social justice

In some but not all standards. Distrbution of wealth type social justice versus acces to environmental goods and resources type ecological justice.