Organic Matter Management

Organic Matter

Organic matter consists of organic residues and manure from agriculture and animal production systems, as well as from forestry and related industries. Organic matter contains nutrients as well as carbon that are often inefficiently utilized.  Carbon, nitrogen and phosphorus are present in the world’s organic residues and manures in large enough quantities for improved resource-use efficiency to be transformational. Re-designing agrifood systems to enhance recycling is central to a circular economy, which encompasses not only the farm scale but also the flow of matter and energy at territorial and regional scales. Recycling should deliver multiple benefits by closing nutrient and energy cycles and reducing waste that translates into lower dependency on external inputs, increasing the autonomy of producers and regions, and reducing their vulnerability to market and climate shocks.

Organic Matter Management

Agricultural and agro-processing activities produce massive quantities of organic matter in the form of crop residues, manures, by-products, and waste materials every year. Organic matter management refers to the strategic handling, utilization and recycling of organic materials to enhance soil and ecosystem health. This involves using organic mulches to protect the soil surface from erosion and incorporating plant residues, animal manure and wastes, compost, and other biological materials into the soil to improve biological activity, nutrient cycling, and soil structure. If not properly managed, these materials can cause non-point pollution imposing significant environmental, economic, and health burdens. Optimizing the use and management of organic matter contributes to local, national, and global efforts toward agroecological transitions that make food systems more sustainable, equitable, and healthy -- which contribute to achieving greater efficiency and a circular economy.