FOOD QUALITY AND SAFETY EVALUATION OF ORGANICALLY GROWN CROPS versusCONVENTIONALLY GROWN CROPS IN TWO TYPES OF SOILTWO TYPES OF SOILLorele C. Trinidad, Ph.D.

University Researcher III / Project LeaderNational Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology (BIOTECH), U.P. Los Banos

IntroductionOrganic agriculture vs Conventional Farming System• Both hope to increase agricultural productivity to feed a growing population

Chemical Farming has drawn substantiallyhas drawn substantiallyfrom Toxicological sciences & has waged a war on weeds

Organic Agriculture:• hopes to increase farm productivity, reduceenvironmental degradation, prevent thedepletion of natural resources and help cutexpenses on imported farm inputs.expenses on imported farm inputs.• no quality assessment and safety evaluationof the organically and conventionally-grownproduce (e.g. vegetables) based onchemical and microbiological hazard hasbeen conducted yet

To assess the food safety ofconventionally-grown vs organically-grown crops in terms of chemical

Objectives

grown crops in terms of chemicalcontaminants and incidence ofmicrobial pathogens

Objectives ….Specific:• To determine the presence/level ofchemical contaminants in conventionalvs. organically grown crops (nitrates,heavy metals, pesticides);heavy metals, pesticides);• To determine the presence of microbialpathogens in the edible portions oforganically grown crops;

To determine the soil quality after two years of growing crops in conventional

Objectives ….

of growing crops in conventional compared to organic agriculture practices.

Methodology• Establishment of farm sites at San Fernando,Pampanga (lowland, lahar-laden soil) andMajayjay, Laguna (upland, acidic, clay type soil)• lettuce (Lactuca sativa cv. Orija de mulo) • tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) Majayjay, • tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) • cucumber (Cucumis sativus)• bell pepper (Capsicum annuum)

Majayjay, Laguna

• ampalaya (Momordica charantia) • eggplant (Solanum melongena)• okra (Abelmoschus esculentus) • string beans (Vigna sesquipedalis)

Bacolor, Pampanga

MethodologySampling Procedures

Sampling Procedures: Soil

Farm Cooperator (Majayjay, Laguna)Mr. Ronald C. CostalesCostales Nature Farm Brgy. Gagalot, Majayjay, Laguna

Costales Nature Farm(Organic Farm Site)

(Conventional farm site)Brgy. Bitaoy, Majayjay, Laguna

Farm Cooperator (Bacolor, Pampanga)

Mr. Enriquito VillanuevaKits Farm, Brgy. San Fernando, Bacolor, Pampanga

Site 1 (Conventional)

Before AfterBefore

Site 2 (Organic)

Before AfterBefore

Highlights of Accomplishments• Determination of physico-chemical quality ofsoil from organic and conventional farm sitesbefore and after application of compost andfertilizer

improvement in moisture content (%) improvement in moisture content (%) increased the level of Nitrogen (N), Phosphorus (P), and Potassium (K)

Highlights….

Highlights….• Determination of levels of heavy metals in soil

Majayjay, Laguna

Highlights….

Bacolor, Pampanga

• Monitoring of chemical contaminants(pesticides) in crops

Highlights….

only ampalaya and talong grown in conventional farmswere analyzed for pesticide residues such asorganochlorines, pyrethroids and organophosphates Pesticide residue is <LOQ due possibly to heavy rains Pesticide residue is <LOQ due possibly to heavy rainsand extreme high temperature

Highlights….

• Determination of microbiological quality ofsoil from organic and conventional farm sitesbefore and after application of compost andfertilizer high microbial population of actinomycetes,fungi, lactic acid bacteria and coliform

Highlights….

Highlights….• Detection of the presence of pathogens inedible portion of grown crops in presumptivetests, however, they are negative in theconfirmatory tests.

Salmonella E. coli O157:H7

Problems encountered• Pest infestation from organic farm site in Pampanga

aphids

Insect/bug

Problems….

• Pest infestation at organic farm site in Pampanga

Problems….

• Pest infestation at organic farm site in Pampanga

Problems….

• Sudden occurrence of plant diseases

Wilting (bacteria / fungi)

Problems….

• Sudden occurrence of plant diseases

Yellowing of leaves

Problems….

• Drastic changes of climate• extremely high temperature duringsummer and flooding during heavy rain•Strong typhoons (e.g. Glenda)•Strong typhoons (e.g. Glenda)