Organic production of vegetables: State of the art and challenges

In light of the growing concern of Canadians about animal waste, environmental pollution from fertilizers, water quality and greenhouse gas effects, as well as their growing interest in organically grown foods (20% annual growth in North America), the development of sustainable organic production systems for vegetable crops is essential for consumer satisfaction and Canadian grower competitiveness. The target of this paper is to review recent research results on the importance of appropriate soil properties, fertilizers and irrigation management on soil activity, plant growth and environmental health as well as product quality in term of nutritional value and safety issue. Species and cultivar selection, the use of grafting and plant growth promoters will also be discussed. This review will identify new challenges that organic growers have to fulfill in the face of a global market and public awareness of health attributes of food, and then conclude by identifying several prospects for future research with emphasis on the Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada research program.