Eco-efficiency Analysis of Organic Agriculture in Korea

Kim, Chang-Gil,Jeong, Hak-Kyun Korean Association of Organic Agriculture 2011 韓國有機農業學會誌 Vol.19 No.S

Eco-efficiency which is calculated by dividing economic productivity by the environmental load was made by synthesizing eco and efficiency from ecology and economy, proposed by World Business Council for Sustainable Development in 2000. Eco-efficiency by connection of resource efficiency with resource intensity is used as an indicator for evaluating green growth for minimizing the impact on the environment and achieving economic development as well by means of efficient use of resources. This research analyzes eco-efficiency with the case of organic agriculture promoted as a key green growth policy. Thirty questionnaires for farmers producing organic rice in Hongseong-gun, Choongcheongnam-do were used for the analysis. Eco-efficiency was measured by means of the amount of used nitrogen with respect to the amount of income, and was represented that organic agriculture was 32.0 higher than conventional agriculture. The analytical result of technical efficiency, using the (Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) model showed that it is 0.765 which has a possibility of 21% in management improvement, and higher eco-efficiency was with higher technical efficiency. The analytical results showed that an organic agriculture contributes to green growth more than conventional agriculture. In addition, higher technical efficiency groups exhibited higher eco-efficiency indices.

Alteration in Phenolic Compounds and Antioxidant Activities of Aronia melanocarpa Ethanol Extracts following Fermentation Using Different Strains of Leuconostoc mesenteroides to Develop Natural Antibiotic Alternative

황주환,강주희,이기환,이재훈,이상무,김남형,김주영,김은중,Hwang, Joo Hwan,Kang, Ju Hui,Lee, Ki Hwan,Lee, Jae Hoon,Lee, Sang Moo,Kim, Nam Hyung,Kim, Joo Young,Kim, Eun Joong Korean Association of Organic Agriculture 2014 韓國有機農業學會誌 Vol.22 No.4

Antioxidant activity is important for reducing oxidative stress that causes various metabolic disorders. Metabolic disorders are highly related to loss of productivity in livestock. Therefore, development of effective antioxidant compounds originating from plants is important for organic agriculture. Phenolic compounds in edible plants are regarded as major components relevant to antioxidant activity. The present study investigated the changes in antioxidant activity and phenolic compound profiles of Aronia (Aronia meloncarpa) by fermentation using different strains of Leuconostoc mesenteroides. A total of 5 strains of L. mesenteroides were used as starter cultures and their ${\beta}$-glucosidase activities were measured. A total of 6 experiment runs were prepared, one for control (uninoculated) and the others (inoculated) for treatments. For biological activity, antioxidant and antibacterial activities were measured. For phenolic compound profiling, TLC and HPLC analysis were performed. The strains of KACC12313 and KACC12315 showed greater enzyme activity than others. Treatment with KCCM35046 showed strong and broad antibacterial activity against to Listeria monocytogenes. Treatments with KCCM35046 and KACC12315 showed the highest total polyphenol content. The highest antioxidant activity was found in KACC12315 treatment. No remarkable alteration was found in thin layer chromatography (TLC) analysis. In phenolic compound profiling analysis, KCCM35046 showed notable alteration in compound area ratio compared to others and also showed the highest caffeic acid content. In chlorogenic acid, treatments with KCCM35046 and KACC12315 showed great content than others. Treatment with KACC12315 showed the greatest content of trans-ferulic acid. As a result of relative performance indexing analysis, L. mesenteroides KCCM35046 and KACC12315 were selected as the best strain for the fermentation of Aronia.

Physico-chemical properties between organic and conventional kiwifruit orchards in Korea

Cho, Y.,Kim, B.,Cho, H.,Jeong, B. Korean Association of Organic Agriculture 2011 韓國有機農業學會誌 Vol.19 No.S

Organic kiwifruit orchard soils were compared with conventional ones in Korea. Soil structure of organic soil had higher gaseous and liquous phase as well as soil porosity in the surface soil. Although the nutritional level of each orchards were quite different among soils, the analysis of both system revealed that organic kiwifruit orchard soil had similar or even higher nutrient level (N and organic matter content in surface soil) compared to conventional ones. The organic matter content of deep soil also had the high tendency in deep soil of organic soil. Higher level of nitrogen in organic surface soil is presumably due to the excessive application of organic compost and liquid fertilizer rather than the contribution by grasses such as green manure. Available phosphorous level of organic system was quite high but similar in surface soil of both system, compared to the recommended level. Potassium, calcium and magnesium levels were also enough in organic kiwifruit orchard soils.

Comparison of evolutionary organic farming policies reflected on the first and second Wales and England organic action plans (OAPs) for Korean context - As a tool ensuring the sustainable development of Korean organic farming

Cho, Y.,Nicholas, P. Korean Association of Organic Agriculture 2011 韓國有機農業學會誌 Vol.19 No.S

This study compares and contrasts the Wales and England Organic Action Plans (WOAP and EOAP) and a Korean regional Life-Food Development Plan (KLFDP) in order to facilitate the development of the organic sector in Korea. Early action plans, for example, the first WOAP (1999) focused support on developing the supply of organic products whereas later action plans focused on marketing and consumer. OAPs may not only provide specific issue-solving roles by proposing new policy measures but also perform a regulatory role as a controller for organic sector development as a whole. The current KLFDP seems to stick to the former role but hardly has the latter role such as setting priorities, harmonizing various conflicting policy measures and factors and performing evaluation process for further progress. To secure better harmonized and sustainable development of Korean organic farming sector, constructing comprehensive national-level organic action plan, which has policy developing, implementing, regulating, evaluating and evolving functions, might be the most efficient choice.

Environmental Impact and Safe Vegetable Production of Korean Organic Farming only Appling Organic Fertilizer to Maintain/Increase Soil Fertility

Sohn, Sang-Mok,Kim, Young-Ho Korean Association of Organic Agriculture 1999 韓國有機農業學會誌 Vol.8 No.1

In order to get some basic data to check the environmental sound function against soil and water pollution and the safe vegetable production by korean organic farming where an internationally recognized basic concepts of soil fertility management for organic farming is not practiced and only applying the organic fertilizer to maintain the soil fertility, the chemical characteristics of soils and $NO_{3}^{-}$ content of chinese cabbage and lettuce cultivated by the conventional farming, greenhouse cultivation and organic farming were investigated. The highest value of $NO_{3}^{-}$-N in 0~30cm subsoil among the three different farming systems was found in the subsoil of organic farming and it was 3.6 and 6.6 times higher than those of conventional farming in chinese cabbage and lettuce respectively. $P_2O_5$ accumulation in the rhizosphere by organic farming also showed the highest value. The accumulation of $NO_{3}^{-}$-N and $P_2O_5$ in organic farming soil were similar or even more higher to those of greenhouse cultivation. The $NO_{3}^{-}$ accumulation in the vegetable by organic farming reached 3224ppm for chinese cabbage and 2543ppm for lettuce, and it were 4.7 and 6.4 times higher than those by conventional farming. It was concluded that there is urgently necessary to introduce the main concepts of soil fertility management of the Basic Standard of IFOAM, EU regulation and FAO/WHO Codex Alimentarius on organic agriculture(draft) into korean organic agriculture for the operation of environmental sound system and the production of sate vegetable in terms of $NO_{3}^{-}$ content.

Studies of Organic Forage Production System for Animal Production in Korea

김종덕,김종관,권찬호,Kim, Jong-Duk,Kim, Jong-Kwan,Kwon, Chan-Ho Korean Association of Organic Agriculture 2014 韓國有機農業學會誌 Vol.22 No.1

Organic forage production system is one of the most important aspects in organic livestock production. Animals in the organic farming system are also essential for manure to be used for organic forage production. Both organic forage and animals are essential to maintain the cycle of organic agriculture system. In this paper we introduce the organic forage production system in Korea. Summer and winter crops are getting popular in Korea because of their high forage yield and cultivation in double cropping systems. Common cropping system for forage production in Korea is the double cropping system with legume and grass mixture. Forage sorghum and sudangrass are the most popular ones of annual summer forage corps because of their high production with low cost in the double cropping systems. In the mixture of forage crops, inter cropping is more suitable in the corn and sorghum cropping system because of high lodging resistance and forage yield, and low weed population. Forage sorghum and sudangrass are difficult to preserve as direct-cut silage due to the fact that its high moisture content causes excessive fermentation during ensiling. Corn grain addition to sorghum silage could be recommended as the most effective treatment for increasing quality and reducing production cost. It is recommended that corn grain could be added up to 10% of total amount of silage. And agriculture by-products also can be added at the time of ensiling to minimize losses of effluent and have the additional advantage of increasing quality. Agriculture by-products as silage supplements increased DM content and quality, and decreased the production cost of sorghum silage. Field pre-wilting treatment of forage crops also increased DM content and quality of the silage. Wilting sorghum${\times}$sudangrass hybrid before ensiling was the effective method for reducing effluent and increasing pH and forage quality more than direct cut silage. Optimum prewilting period of sudangrass silage was 1 or 2 days. In organic forage, the most important factor is the enhancement of organic forage sufficiency in relation to the environmental-friendly and organic livestock. Consequently, there are many possibilities for animal production and organic forage production in Korea. No forages no cattle concept should be emphasized in organic farming system.

Policy measures and necessities for small scale organic farming in the EU

Cho, Y.,Nicholas, P. Korean Association of Organic Agriculture 2011 韓國有機農業學會誌 Vol.19 No.S

Most of European countries have certain support measures of small holder organic producers in their policy system but they need to be more positive with this issue. Recent EU regulations and any other governmental organic farming measures are hardly emphasising on small holders' issues except a few measures. In order to secure small producer organic farming, the extensive efforts are needed. Developing new logos and differential support system for small producer organic at every aspects from production, marketing and public procurement level will become more positive actions to take, for example.

Current practices and economic performances of organic kiwifruit production in comparison with conventional one in Korea

Cho, Y.,Cho, H.,Park, M.,Ma, K. Korean Association of Organic Agriculture 2011 韓國有機農業學會誌 Vol.19 No.S

Organic production practices varied among producers. Generally, organic producers were relying on imported input materials such as organic compost and liquid fertilizer even more than conventional producers. Very few organic farmers had composting facilities or sites for the own supply of compost in need. The productivity of organic kiwifruit orchard (92%) was not as low as that of conventional while the net income (243%) was more than double that of conventional. This was mainly attributed to high farm gate price of organic fruits, low paid labour use and electricity. As a consequence, organic kiwifruit production seems to become a feasible option in Korea. However, high dependence on imported farming material, fuel and labour for too frequent liquid fertilizer spray should be addressed to achieve long term sustainability of organic kiwifruit production.

Forecasting of plant disease and insect for an agricultural complex and farm in environment-friendly cultivation of Rice (Oryza sativa L.)

Cha, K.H.,Oh, H.J.,Park, R.D.,Jung, W.J. Korean Association of Organic Agriculture 2011 韓國有機農業學會誌 Vol.19 No.S

To investigate the forecasting of plant disease and insect for an agricultural complex and farm in environment-friendly cultivation of Rice, environment-friendly agricultural five complexs and five farms were selected in Youngam and Naju area, Jonnam, Korea. Preventation objects of plant disease and insect were leaf blast, neck blast, sheath blight, bacterial leaf blight, and hopper. Factors of sheath blight occurrence in environment-friendly agricultural complex were a fast transplanting time and a narrow planting density. Bacterial leaf blight in rice occurred severely in the area under water. Rice growth in environment-friendly agricultural complex was decreased heavy drying by hopper appearance.

Cultivar Evaluation for Red Pepper under Organic Crop Management in Korea

Won, J.G.,Jang, K.S.,Hwang, J.E.,Kwon, O.H.,Jeon, S.G.,Park, S.G. Korean Association of Organic Agriculture 2011 韓國有機農業學會誌 Vol.19 No.S

To screen several promising red pepper cultivars, may be adaptable to organic cultivation conditions, seventy six F1 hybrids commercial and eight local purebred red pepper cultivars were tested. Comparing the infection rate of phytophthora blight between commercial (F1 hybrid) and local (Purebred) cultivars, average infection rate of commercial cultivars was 9.8% and that of local cultivars was 17.8%. But the infected fruits rate of anthracnose in field were similar as 3.3% in commercial (F1 hybrid) and 3.1% in local (Purebred) cultivars. In yield characteristics, average yield of commercial cultivars was 2.89 t $ha^{-1}$ and that of local cultivars was 2.22 t $ha^{-1}$. For organic pepper farmers it is more favourable to cultivation purebred cultivars because they can save to the same quality plant next year's crop. In this study among the local purebred cultivars, two cultivars are promising that their yield near to 3 t $ha^{-1}$ and have disease field resistance.