The observations made at the beginning of the century by British botanist and agronomist Howard regarding the kind of agriculture practiced by the Indian peasants gave birth to these two currents which, in spite of such different names are very similar and may be jointly analyzed. The French researcher Claude Albert also contributed to these currents, studying the accumulation of the agrochemical DDT in nursing milk and the accumulation of nitrate (cancerous substance that is present in the highly soluble fertilizers) in underground waters.

Principles:

According to Albert, soil fertility should be built up from an ample supply of organic matter and especially from the maintenance of high levels of humus (decomposed and stabilized organic matter) in the soil. The scientific principle of this current is based on the following practices: culture rotation, soil handling and fertilization. Like the natural and bio-dynamic currents, the principle that generates stability and health for plants is the handling of organic matter as the practice that guarantees good soil fertility and structure. Also like other agroecological currents, the soil is considered as a "complex organism", full of living beings (worms, bacteria, fungi, ants, termites, etc) and mineral substances which are interdependent and constantly interacting, which means that in handling one aspect – fertilization, for instance – it is important to jointly consider all others (biological diversity, quality of underground waters, susceptibility to erosion, etc.). This is the principle of "systemic view" of agriculture (also called "holism"), which prescribes that the agricultural property should be considered in all its dimensions (productive, ecological, social, economic, etc).

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