Current trends, challenges and future perspectives of organic agriculture

Abstract

Organic agriculture has emerged as a significant approach for promoting sustainable food production by reducing dependence on synthetic agricultural inputs, improving soil health, conserving biodiversity, and enhancing ecosystem resilience. Growing concerns regarding environmental degradation, climate change, food safety, and the long-term sustainability of conventional farming systems have increased global interest in organic production. This review provides a critical synthesis of the historical development, current trends, challenges, and future perspectives of organic agriculture. The evolution of organic farming from traditional ecological practices to a globally recognized sustainable production system is discussed, along with its increasing market importance and economic potential. The expansion of organic markets has been driven by rising consumer demand for safe and environmentally friendly products, improved awareness of sustainable consumption, and the development of organic value chains. The adoption of organic agriculture depends strongly on farmers’ knowledge, awareness, motivation, and access to supportive resources. This review highlights the importance of farmer education, extension services, technical training, market opportunities, economic incentives, and institutional support in encouraging the transition toward organic farming. Despite its environmental and socio-economic benefits, organic agriculture faces several challenges, including constrained access to organic inputs, elevated production costs, certification hurdles, insufficient technical knowledge, labor requirements, and challenges in accessing reliable markets. Addressing these constraints requires collaborative efforts involving farmers, researchers, policymakers, private organizations, and consumers. The review also emphasizes emerging opportunities for organic agriculture development through technological innovation, sustainable farming practices, improved policy frameworks, climate-smart approaches, and strengthened organic value chains. Future advancements in digital agriculture, biological inputs, ecological management strategies, and participatory research can enhance the productivity, profitability, and resilience of organic farming systems. In conclusion, organic agriculture represents a promising pathway toward sustainable agricultural development by balancing environmental conservation, economic viability, and food security. Continued research, supportive policies, and effective knowledge transfer mechanisms will be essential for expanding organic agriculture and maximizing its contribution to sustainable global food systems. © 2026 The Author(s)