THE BASICS OF ECOLOGY AT FIRST HAND
Our organic winegrower and winemaker Krešimir explained what exactly means organic winemaking, what are its disadvantages and advantages and whether it is worth to persist with organic agriculture.
We summarized what Krešo said in the text, and you can watch some of it in two short videos.
What is exactly organic production?
Organic or ecological production consists of discovering the former way of working on the land before the expansion of the chemical and phytopharmaceutical industry (at the end of the sixties and the beginning of the seventies of the last century).
Today, organic production is a regular part of agronomy. It represents ancient ways of growing plants without the use of pesticides, artificial fertilizers and the greatest evil – the herbicides.
The main goal is to preserve soils that are dying out due to modern agricultural practices that are no longer sustainable.
What are the arguments of opponents of organic production?
The main argument of opponents of organic production is that the world cannot be fed with this method of production.
That is not correct. It is true that with an ecological approach, crops are reduced, but in the long term, the soil is preserved.
We enrich the soil with regular fertilization and analyses. We increase the amount of humus and vitality in the soil.
On the other hand, modern agricultural practice, by using different means for feeding plants, sterilizes and devastates the soil in the long term. According to recent data, 70% of the land in the world has already been sterilized and is dying, or turning into a desert.
https://www.youtube.com/shorts/xyoVl1Lrsik
What is particularity about your vineyard in the Perjak location?
It is always windy on Perjak hill, even when the weather is calm around. There are constant air currents here. It is a specific position. This is the first hill right next to the Međimurje plain where the air currents constantly mix.
This is very good for vines, unlike some other agricultural crops. The wind creates a positive situation for vines. It dries out the environment faster and we have fewer problems with plant diseases, which are mainly related to an excessive amount of moisture.
In this way, ecological production has been made easier for us.
I hate wind!
In our vineyard it’s always windy🌬️ – YouTube
Are there any disadvantages of organic viticulture and winemaking?
The only disadvantage of organic production is that it is somewhat more expensive than conventional production. But that should definitely change in the future. Especially because ecological means against plant diseases are based exclusively on natural elements (ores, natural substances).
We know that phytopharmacy is based on the chemical industry, whose resources are very expensive and will become even more expensive.
The only reason for the increase in the price of environmental products can be commercial greed. For now, our suppliers are organic producers themselves and are independent of large retail chains, so we don’t feel that problem.
In organic viticulture and winemaking, more working hours need to be done, there is a lot of manual work, but in the long run it is a better option than destroying the soil.
Does the ecological and truly green turn have a future?
Changes are inevitable, that is clear to everyone. The question is whether we will introduce them soon enough. We are witnessing climate changes, high temperatures in January this year, temperature extremes in general.
All this is a consequence of human action. Much of the pollution on Earth is the act of modern agricultural practices.
Something has to change and ecology should become mainstream.
In the near future, modern agricultural practices will be considered as an act of barbarism and savagery, and organic production will become the standard if we want to sustain and survive.