Vegan farming eliminates animal fertilizers from crops to eliminate disease-causing bacterial threats. Veganic agriculture uses crop rotation techniques and composted organic matter to support healthy crop growth. Compliance with Soil Association Certification and Certified Naturally Grown guidelines is necessary for certification.
Vegan farming (also known as stock-free farming) is an alternative method of farming that began in the mid-2000s as crop contamination problems became more prevalent in traditional agriculture. While organic farming removes the dangers of most contamination issues, vegan farming also eliminates crop exposure to animal fertilizers.
Vegan farming is more common in England and Europe than in the United States (USA), mainly due to land availability. More animal farms are possible in the United States and therefore more animal fertilizers are available. In Europe, where most of their meat is imported, “green fertilizer” is used as an alternative to their crops.
In particular, in the United States, traditional agricultural techniques use animal fertilizers from confinement farms and by-products of slaughterhouses, such as bone meal and blood meal. Also, using fertilizers from livestock that have consumed non-organic feed laced with hormones and antibiotics, these additives build up in the animal and are present in their manure.
Farmers are taking seriously the outbreaks of salmonella and e-coli that have contaminated crops in many parts of the world. Motivated by the need to protect their crops and the environment, organic farmers have taken extra steps to protect their produce and support their vigilant consumers. Organic farming limits pesticides, herbicides, genetically modified ingredients, chemicals and synthetics.
In addition to the contributions of organic farming, vegan farming eliminates animal fertilizers from their crops in the belief that they will eliminate any disease causing bacterial threats. They go a step further and don’t even use organically approved pesticides. Veganic agriculture uses crop rotation techniques and composted organic matter or “green manure” to support the healthy growth of their crops.
Animal manure has been used successfully in agriculture for centuries. The organic farmer’s argument for using animal fertilizer argues that animals should only consume an organic diet and that chemical additives should not be permitted. They believe problems arise when compost is improperly processed and raw manure is exposed to crops. They also express that products can be contaminated anywhere from the field to transportation to packaging. Animal compost lasts longer in the soil and releases less carbon into the air than green manure.
Compliance with the standards set by the Soil Association Certification Ltd. in England is the appropriate means of certifying farmers for vegan agriculture. In addition, Certified Naturally Grown, based in Stone Ridge, New York, USA, has established guidelines for using veganic farming methods and converting from organic to vegan farming. Communication pathways for vegan agriculture continue to be established so that farmers and consumers can exchange knowledge, provide information and preferences. The desire for a healthier life is allowing the success of this and many new ways for a healthy and aware agriculture of our food.
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