Developing Organic Farming in the Southeast

Dr. Franklin Quarcoo is an entomologist and pest management specialist of 欧美高清鈥檚 Organic Program. Since 2009, his research has been heavily focused on organic farming and organic food production. In his work, he emphasizes a collaborative, system-based approach to pest management and other barriers to organic farming that many producers encounter. Integrated pest management focuses on preventative approaches so that fewer drastic changes to the farm鈥檚 ecosystem are necessary.

The complete eradication of an insect pest, for example, could not only lead to the proliferation of the pest after its natural enemies starve, but also have adverse effects on soil and plant health. 鈥淚f you have the ability to eliminate a pest from your farm, don鈥檛 do it,鈥� he advises.鈥淵ou cannot deal with organic farming from a one-discipline perspective. You have to have an appreciation of the [entire] environment.鈥�

Dr. Quarcoo works with horticulturists, soil scientists, agribusiness specialists, and other professionals to understand the specifics of organic production in the Southeast鈥檚 ecosystem. 鈥淕enerally, the Southeast鈥檚 organic agriculture is not as developed as in some other parts of the country,鈥� he says. To help Southeastern producers distribute more organic produce with fewer losses, he collaborates with these professionals to provide research- and data-supported preventative measures to address problems before resorting to far-reaching maneuvers, such as inorganic pesticides. He and his cohorts also spread awareness of environmental, health, and other benefits of organic production practices to increase these practices in the Southeast.