Organic Farming is Not Just a Trend, It's the Future of Agriculture

Sep 12, 2023

In a world where environmental problems are becoming increasingly acute and health concerns are coming to the fore, organic farming is no longer just a trend. It is now the indispensable future of agriculture.

Organic farming is not just a production method, but a philosophy of sustainability that minimizes the use of synthetic fertilizers, pesticides, and growth regulators, relying instead on natural processes. This approach is not only about growing food, but also about actively engaging with nature, focusing on biodiversity conservation and environmental sustainability.

In Kazakhstan, organic farming has enormous development potential that has not yet been fully exploited. So far, the area of fields cultivated according to organic production technologies and certified by European certification organisations amounts to more than 200,000 ha. The development and introduction of more efficient technologies for growing food crops, stimulation of investments in this field, education and capacity building of agricultural workers and other measures can contribute to the development of organic agriculture in Kazakhstan and increase its share in agricultural exports.

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in partnership with the Government of the Republic of Kazakhstan is carrying out systematic work on the development of organic agriculture in Kazakhstan. With UNDP support and in partnership with the Ministry of Agriculture of the Republic of Kazakhstan, the necessary legal and regulatory frameworks have been developed and various financial mechanisms have been adopted to stimulate the development of organic agriculture. In addition, UNDP supported the pilot certification of certain commodities in the agricultural sector.

Certification is an important element for the development of organic agriculture as it strengthens trust between producers and consumers. The label guarantees that the product really meets the high standards of organic farming.

According to the Ministry of Agriculture of the Republic of Kazakhstan, there are 38 farms certified for organic farming in Kazakhstan today.

In 2015, Kazakhstan adopted the Law "On the Production and Turnover of Organic Products", which establishes the legal, economic, social and organisational framework for the production of organic products in order to ensure the rational use of land, promote healthy nutrition and protect the environment. Rules for subsidising certification costs were also adopted and standards for organic products, including a mark of conformity, were put into effect. In addition, the roadmap for the development of organic agriculture for 2022-2023 is being implemented.

The introduction of new regulations, standards and financial support accelerates the transition to more sustainable farming practises. The Government of Kazakhstan continues to move forward with the development of new laws and innovations to ensure that organic farming becomes a truly important part of the national agricultural system.

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Video: From Conventional to Regenerative: Will Groeneveld’s Journey Back to the Land

"You realize you've got a pretty finite number of years to do this. If you ever want to try something new, you better do it."

That mindset helped Will Groeneveld take a bold turn on his Alberta grain farm. A lifelong farmer, Will had never heard of regenerative agriculture until 2018, when he attended a seminar by Kevin Elmy that shifted his worldview. What began as curiosity quickly turned into a deep exploration of how biology—not just chemistry—shapes the health of our soils, crops and ecosystems.

In this video, Will candidly reflects on his family’s farming history, how the operation evolved from a traditional mixed farm to grain-only, and how the desire to improve the land pushed him to invite livestock back into the rotation—without owning a single cow.

Today, through creative partnerships and a commitment to the five principles of regenerative agriculture, Will is reintroducing diversity, building soil health and extending living roots in the ground for as much of the year as possible. Whether it’s through intercropping, zero tillage (which he’s practiced since the 1980s) or managing forage for visiting cattle, Will’s approach is a testament to continuous learning and a willingness to challenge old norms.

Will is a participant in the Regenerative Agriculture Lab (RAL), a social innovation process bringing together producers, researchers, retailers and others to co-create a resilient regenerative agriculture system in Alberta. His story highlights both the potential and humility required to farm with nature, not against it.