Evaluation of organic agriculture and good agricultural practices in terms of economic, social and environmental sustainability in Turkey

Abstract

The global farming community has mostly tried to meet the increasing need for agricultural products of the rapidly growing world population with increasing productivity based on intensive chemical inputs. However, the negative effects of inputs overused in agricultural activities are being increasingly felt on human health and environment. As a result, sustainable agricultural systems based not only on the idea of increasing productivity, but also on the protection of human health and the environment, have become important. Organic agriculture has been oriented in developed countries towards meeting domestic demand. However, in Turkey it emerged at the behest of the importing companies in the mid-1980s. Although the model for good agricultural practices in Turkey emerged in 2007, it has showed remarkable progress, particularly since 2013. From 2007 to 2016, the area dedicated to organic agriculture increased 3 times while the area under good agricultural practices within the same period increased by 88 times. In order to ensure economic and social sustainability there is a need for improved local and farm oriented operations. On the other hand, macro-level practices and long-term policies are necessary to ensure environmental sustainability. In this study, economic, social and environmental aspects of organic agriculture and the series of good agricultural practices that contribute to sustainable agriculture in Turkey are examined. © 2019, Centenary University. All rights reserved.