Securing Planetary Health and Sustainable Food Systems with Global Organic Agriculture: Best Practice from Austria

Abstract

As outlined by the UN Sustainable Development Goals, the world needs to move toward sustainable production and consumption patterns, also in the agricultural and food sectors. This involves ecologically sound, nonpolluting practices safeguarding ecosystem services, combating climate change, preserving biodiversity, and contributing to a circular economy. Studies suggest that the world population can be fed with food stemming exclusively from organic agriculture, in combination with reduced food wastage and diet changes. However, worldwide only about 1,5% of the agricultural land is organic. With an organic share of 26,1% of the agricultural land in 2019, Austria can be considered a frontrunner. While the European Green Deal of 2019 aims at raising the share of organic agriculture from 8,1 to 25% in the EU by 2030, the EU Commissioner for Agriculture even aspires to make organic farming the norm.

Transgressed planetary boundaries including climate change, biosphere integrity (biodiversity), land system change and biochemical flows plea for an urgent transition to sustainable food systems, agriculture herein appearing to be a key driver. Biodiversity conservation and bee preservation are of crucial importance, as are interconnections with and implications for other policy areas such as health, tourism, development and migration, research and finance.

The chapter provides best practices from Austria, new methods of nature-sound practices, and recommendations for actions aimed at attaining sustainable global food systems.

The chapter was finalized in February 2021.