Farming Part 2

Starter How many of you eat organic food? Why? / Why not?

Farming Learning objectives Success criteria  Describe organic farming methods and their advantages and disadvantages  Describe how pests can be controlled by biological methods Students should be able to:  watch the cane toad video and understand what happens when biological control goes wrong?  Explain the advantages and disadvantages of organic farming

Organic farming is an alternative to conventional farming that relies on strictly sustainable methods, without chemicals. What is organic farming? To keep the soil fertile: A different type of crop is grown each year so that the same nutrients are not depleted from the soil each year. This is called crop rotation. Vegetable waste and manure are composted to recycle the nutrients and improve the soil fertility and structure. However, organic farming produces lower yields and is more expensive to maintain than conventional farming practices.

To control pests, organic farmers use: resistant crop varieties – these are naturally resistant to pests or diseases, minimizing damage and preventing the need to use chemical pesticides. Organic pest control biological pest control – natural predators of a pest are used, which eat the target pest but leave other wildlife unharmed. For example, ladybirds are used to control aphids, mites and small caterpillars.

What happens when biological control goes wrong? Complete worksheet B4f4 Cane Toad Video

Organic farming - task B4 Homework (2) The debate about organic versus intensive farming methods? Read p78 – 79 of the textbook and answer questions in full sentences.

Is organic better? Plenary

Farming Learning objectives Success criteria  Describe organic farming methods and their advantages and disadvantages  Describe how pests can be controlled by biological methods Students should be able to:  watch the cane toad video and understand what happens when biological control goes wrong?  Explain the advantages and disadvantages of organic farming