IS ONE HUNDRED PERCENT ORGANIC AGRICULTURE POSSIBLE?

IS ONE HUNDRED PERCENT ORGANIC AGRICULTURE POSSIBLE?

I intended that question to be a trick question. Because if our answer is yes, then we must also accept the consequence: we have to stop using one hundred percent chemical fertilizers and pesticides.

So is it possible?

The honest answer is this: theoretically yes, but practically difficult—especially if we are talking about a national or global scale. Still, there are real-world examples that prove it can be done, at least in smaller areas.

One often-cited success story is Sikkim, which became the world’s first fully organic state in 2016. But even there, the transition took 13 long years, with heavy government support. And despite its success, Sikkim still relies on imports from other regions to meet total food demand.

Closer to home, we have a more inspiring and perhaps more relevant example: Central Philippines State University. With about 4,600 hectares spread across multiple campuses, CPSU has reportedly achieved 100% organic farming—no chemical fertilizers, no synthetic pesticides.

That is not theory. That is reality.

The success of CPSU did not happen by accident. It was the result of a three-way partnership: the university led by Dr. Aladino Moraca, the local government of Kabankalan City, and the private sector represented by Ramon Uy Sr. of RU Foundry.

Their approach was simple and practical. Organic waste is shredded, turned into compost, and then fed to African Night Crawlers to produce vermicast. No high-tech magic—just common sense, discipline, and cooperation.

So yes, 100% organic agriculture is possible.

But here is the problem: scaling it up.

Globally, studies suggest that organic farms yield about 20% less than conventional farms. That creates what experts call a “yield gap.” To produce the same amount of food, we would need more land. And that could lead to deforestation—ironically damaging the very environment that organic farming seeks to protect.

Then there is the “nitrogen problem.” Conventional agriculture depends on synthetic fertilizers produced through the Haber-Bosch process. Organic farming, on the other hand, relies on compost, manure, and nitrogen-fixing plants. The uncomfortable truth is that there may not be enough organic inputs available to fertilize all farms at scale.

There is also the human factor. About 30% to 40% of global food production is wasted. If we reduce waste and shift toward more plant-based diets, the pressure on agricultural systems would ease, making organic farming more viable.

We should also learn from cautionary tales. Sri Lanka tried to go 100% organic almost overnight in 2021. The result was disastrous—crop yields fell, food prices soared, and the policy had to be reversed. The lesson is clear: transition must be gradual, not abrupt.

So where does that leave us?

In my view, the answer is not “all or nothing.” The more realistic path is what many now call regenerative or integrated agriculture—a hybrid approach that combines organic practices with minimal, targeted use of chemicals when necessary.

But here is my main point: even if 100% organic agriculture is difficult at the national level, we can create pockets of success everywhere.

If CPSU can do it in Negros Occidental, why not in other provinces? If local universities, LGUs, and private companies can work together, why can’t we replicate that model nationwide?

Perhaps the role of government is not to impose a sudden nationwide mandate, but to support and scale what is already working. Provide funding. Create markets for organic fertilizers. Encourage CSR participation. Let success grow organically—literally.

In the end, the question is not just whether 100% organic agriculture is possible.

The real question is this: are we willing to take the long, disciplined, and cooperative path to make it happen—even if it means changing how we farm, how we eat, and how we think?

RAMON IKE V. SENERES

www.facebook.com/ike.seneres iseneres@yahoo.com senseneres.blogspot.com 09088877282/06-08-2027

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