Economic Viability of Organic Fertilizers to Improve Growth, Yield, and Quality of Pineapples in Africa: A Review

Abstract

Pineapple (Ananas comosus) is an important crop worldwide, due to its nutritional properties. It is well known as a rich source of vitamins (A, C, and D) and various minerals that are vital in human diets. The aim of this review was to explore the economic viability of organic fertilizers that improve growth, yield, and quality during pineapple production in Africa. This study was conducted through a comprehensive analysis of the literature from peer-reviewed journals. It was reviewed that organic fertilization is a general agricultural approach that prioritizes environmental sustainability, biodiversity, and soil health through the avoidance of chemicals, including inorganic fertilizers. It was also found that organic fertilizers can effectively improve growth performance, yield, and the quality of the pineapple fruit to levels comparable to those of the fruit grown using inorganic fertilizers. Subsistence and smallholder farmers have adopted organic fertilization more than commercial farmers. Various challenges, including high certification costs, limited market access, high operating costs, inadequate farmer training, and limited knowledge on producing fruit using organic fertilizers, have been reviewed. The potential for higher market prices for organically produced fruit was noted, together with the challenges. Despite higher market prices and environmental benefits from organic fertilization, the economic viability of organic fertilizers for pineapple production is constrained by other factors, such as pest management difficulties, as the policies of conservation agriculture limit the use of chemical pesticides or the introduction of alien species as biocontrol agents.

1. Introduction

Pineapple (Ananas comosus) is a tropical fruit famously known and valued for its sweet flavor and nutritional composition. It plays an important role in the agricultural economies of many countries [1]. It is known as the third most significant tropical fruit crop after bananas and citrus fruit, as it contributes over 20% of the global subtropical fruit production [2]. Most of the fruit is currently produced conventionally (through the use of inorganic chemicals), with Nigeria, Kenya, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ivory Coast, and South Africa being the leading pineapple-producing countries in Africa [3]. However, there is a growing interest in eco-friendly and sustainable farming practices, as there is a global demand for organic produce. Organic fertilization has emerged as a key component in achieving this goal, offering a viable alternative to conventional chemical inputs [4]. Palit [5] and Roy et al. [6] alluded that by enhancing soil health, promoting beneficial microbial activity, and reducing environmental pollution, organic fertilization supports both crop productivity and environmental balance.

The use of organic fertilizers, such as compost, manure, or any other organic materials, has shown potential to improve the growth, yield, and quality of the fruit, especially in African countries where their use is becoming more popular. Organic fertilization has been utilized for pineapple production in various African countries, as illustrated in Figure 1. Uganda has the highest reported usage at 30%, followed by Togo at 23%, Zimbabwe at 15%, Benin and Tanzania each at 10%, Ghana and Kenya both at 5%, and Nigeria at 2%. Despite having advanced infrastructure capable of supporting the development of organic fertilization technologies, countries like South Africa have limited research documented on organic pineapple cultivation.

As a result, there is a dearth of literature on the application of organic fertilizers and pesticides in South Africa, with limited adoption by both commercial growers and smallholder farmers. This is the situation across Africa. Promoting the use of organic fertilizers in more developed African countries such as South Africa, Egypt, and Morocco is crucial, as this approach supports sustainable agriculture and presents cost-effective opportunities for both smallholder and commercial farmers. According to Gamage et al. [7], organic farming is a general agricultural approach that prioritizes environmental sustainability, biodiversity, and soil health through the avoidance of synthetic (inorganic) fertilizers. The organic soil enhancers improve the soil structure, water-holding capacity, and microbial activity, all of which are essential for long-term productivity and sustainability [8]. Organic fertilizers have very high potential in improving farmer profits because of their low preparation costs, although their market is not considered established or stable yet.

However, the hindrances of organic fertilizers may have contributed to their limited application in countries like South Africa. These include that pineapple producers have limited information on how to effectively use organic material in order to maximize yields and profits, there is a need for certification which is deemed costly, there may be limited organic material available to support large-scale commercial farmers that show continuous growth, and there is limited knowledge on how to control insects, diseases, and weeds during the cultivation of organic fresh produce [9,10]. Therefore, this paper reviewed the literature on the impact of organic fertilization on the growth, yield, and quality of pineapples. The aim was to evaluate the economic viability of the application of organic fertilizers on pineapple production in Africa. A report of the recent research in this field is very important in developing countries, as it will guide the research in the production of high-value fruit using natural resources that are commonly found in those countries.

2. The Effects of Organic Fertilizers on Pineapple Growth Parameters

Organic fertilizers have an influence on the growth parameters of pineapple fruit. According to Moyin-Jesu [11], poultry manure improved pineapple “D” leaf length, leaf area, plant girth, plant height, and the number of leaf propagules by 31%, 15.4%, 21%, 30%, and 20%, respectively, compared to NPK 15-15-15. Orluchukwu and Adedokum [12] alluded that using poultry manure increased the pineapple plant height from 68.98 cm in inorganic fertilized plants to 81 cm, resulting in a higher number and size of fruits. In contrast, when the application of vermicompost was investigated by Mahmud et al. [13] on the selected growth parameters (plant height, number of leaves, length of leaves, and width of D-leaf) of the MD2 pineapple fruit cultivar, it was found that the plant height (79.6 cm) was not significantly different from plants that were fertilized with chemical fertilizers (82.9 cm).

The number of leaves (44), length of the leaves (69.2 cm), as well as the width of the D-leaves (5.4 cm) were not significantly different from the number of leaves (47), length of the leaves (70.2 cm), and the width of the D-leaves (5.7 cm) of the chemically fertilized plants [13]. The authors clarified that the chlorophyll content of the plants grown with vermicompost (64.6) and that of the chemically fertilized plants (71.1) differed significantly. Lui et al. [14] used pineapple residue compost and found that the plant height (95 cm), number of leaves (36), leaf length (91 cm), and leaf width (6 cm) were all significantly higher than those of chemically fertilized pineapples (71 cm, 28, 29.7 cm, 3.9 cm, respectively).

Hanyabui et al. [15] evaluated the effects of compost (comprising pineapple waste and poultry manure), NPK, biochar, and their 1:1 combination on three pineapple varieties: sugar loaf, Smooth Cayenne, and MD2. Their findings showed no significant differences in plant height among plants treated with compost + NPK, biochar alone, or biochar + compost. However, the combination of biochar and compost resulted in the highest number of leaves (28) in the Smooth Cayenne variety. This suggests that pineapple plants receiving organic fertilizers can attain plant heights comparable to those treated with inorganic fertilizers. Additionally, other growth parameters showed improvement with organic treatments. For instance, according to Irineu et al. [16], poultry manure significantly enhanced plant height (92.5 cm) and D-leaf width (77.5 cm), compared to inorganic fertilizer, which resulted in a height of 79.9 cm and a D-leaf width of 66.1 cm.

3. The Impact of Organic Fertilizers on Pineapple Yield

Yield parameters are influenced by selected fertilizers; for example, the fresh weight and yield of pineapples can differ based on the type of nutrients they receive during their growth. Many authors have reported their findings on the organic cultivation of pineapples and yield parameters. Liu et al. [14] used composted pineapple residue return (CPRR), which showed positive outcomes for organic farming. They found that, on the Shennan pineapple cultivar, the average mass of fruit was 700 g for CPRR, which was greater than the weight of fruit (450 g) fertilized with inorganic fertilizers. Even for the grand yield (which referred to the fresh weight of all the harvested pineapple fruit in each block), the CPPR fertilized fruit had a mass of 50 kg per plot, while the inorganically fertilized fruit was 33 kg/plot.

Isuwan [17] evaluated different application rates of chicken manure on pineapples and found that the fresh weight was higher for the organically fertilized fruit under all the application rates than the inorganically fertilized fruit. The highest fruit mass was observed on the highest application rate of chicken manure, which was 2.58 kg/plant, whilst the control was 1.7 kg/plant. Irineu et al. [16] also found that ‘Perola’ pineapple fertilized with NPK had the lower fruit mass (0.47 g) compared to those fertilized with poultry (0.79 g), cattle (0.51 g), or goat (0.56 g) manure. Nze et al. [18] conducted a similar study to that of Isuwan (17), where the different application rates (10, 20, and 30 t/ha) of poultry manure were investigated on the fruit mass and yield of pineapple fruit. It was observed that the fruit mass of the pineapple increased with the increasing rate of poultry manure to 50 kg/plant, 55.70 kg/plant, and 61.50 kg/plant, respectively. The yield was highest on the treatment with 30 t/ha (2.34 t/ha), whilst 20 t/ha had 2.03 t/ha, and the 10 t/ha treatment had a total yield of 1.98 t/ha [18].

However, there were contradictory findings where the pineapple fruit grown with conventional fertilization had a fruit mass of 951.36 g compared to organically fertilized fruit that had 709.94 g [19]. Also, the yield of the fruit was higher (61.24 tons/ha) for conventionally fertilized fruit than the organically fertilized fruit (47.25 tons/ha). Mahmud et al. [13] found the highest yield on chemically fertilized fruit (137.97 tons/ha) compared to the pineapples fertilized with vermicompost, which had a fruit yield of 121.36 tons/ha. Similarly, for the findings of Grajo et al. [20], where Amina P organic fertilizer was used, it was found that the fruit mass (2.22 kg), the fruit diameter (43.70 cm), and the fruit length (18.47 cm) of Smooth Cayenne pineapple fruit were not significantly different from the fruit mass (2.01 kg), fruit diameter (42.93 cm), as well as the fruit length (18.03 cm) of the pineapple fruit which was grown using inorganic fertilizers. These findings suggest that the yield of pineapples may not necessarily be increased using organic fertilization. However, there is a potential research gap in the improvement of yield since organic fertilizers have been found to improve the growth and quality of pineapple plants.

4. Postharvest Quality of Pineapples as Influenced by Organic Fertilizers

Table 1. Contents of flavor parameters of pineapple fruit grown under inorganic or organic fertilizers (data presented as maximum inorganic vs. organic values reported by the authors).

	Inorganic Fertilizer	Cattle Manure	Goat Manure	Poultry Litter	Vermicompost	Palm Oil Meal Effluent (P)	Other Organic Fertilizer	Reference
Total soluble solids (°Brix)	11.55 c	12.36 bc	14.33 ab	14.65 a				[16]
	9.93 ± 0.48 b				9.92 ± 0.56 b			[13]
	17.19 ± 1.01 b						18.91 ± 0.91 a	[19]
	16.2 ± 0.00					14.70 ± 0.23		[21]
	15.3 ± 0.12					16.20 ± 0.00		[21]
Titratable acids (%)	0.59 b	0.66 ab	0.69 ab	0.78 a				[16]
	0.43 ± 0.04 a				0.43 ± 0.02 a			[13]
	16.32 ± 2.79 a						12.95 ± 1.58 b	[19]
	0.59 ± 0.12 a					0.64 ± 0.01 a		[21]
	0.51 ± 0.03 c					0.66 ± 0.33 a		[21]
TSS:TA ratio	20.18 ab	18.65 b	20.71 a	18.69 b				[16]
	23.09 a				21.67 b			[13]
	1.08 ± 0.23 c						1.48 ± 0.19	[19]
Ascorbic acid (mg/100 mL)	32.81 ± 6.09 a						22.03 ± 2.46 b	[19]
	49.98 ± 0.01 ab					45.34 ± 0.02 b		[21]
	52.02 ± 0.02 a					47.33 ± 0.01 b		[21]

Mean ± standard deviation within each row followed by a different letter indicates significant differences at p > 0.05.

shows the effect of organic fertilizers on flavor quality; total soluble solids (TSSs), titratable acids (TAs), the TSS and TA ratio, and the ascorbic acid of pineapple fruit. As presented in the table, the potential of organic fertilization is clear because the internal quality of the resultant fruit is not significantly different from that fertilized with inorganic fertilizers. For example, the TSSs of pineapple fertilized with cattle manure (12.36 °Brix), goat manure (14.33 °Brix), poultry manure (14.65 °Brix), and palm oil meal effluent (16.20 °Brix) were found to be higher than the TSSs of the fruit fertilized with inorganic fertilizer [21]. A study conducted by Vianna et al. [22], where the different application rates of bokashi compost were used, revealed that the TSSs and ascorbic acid of Perola pineapple cultivar increased with the rising application rates of Bokashi, reaching 15.51 °Brix and 30.33 mg/100 mL, respectively. Liu [23] used three treatments, viz, 200 mL of peanut press pulp liquid fertilizer combined with 20 g of compound fertilizer, 100 mL of peanut press pulp liquid fertilizer combined with 20 g of compound fertilizer, and NPK (15-15-15), to investigate their effects on the fruit quality of the Smooth Cayenne pineapple cultivar. The results showed that the treatment with 200 mL of peanut press pulp liquid fertilizer mixed with 20 g of compound fertilizer produced higher total soluble solids (TSSs, 19 °Brix), lower titratable acidity (TA, 0.67%), a better TSS:TA ratio (24.7), and higher ascorbic acid content (12.8 mg/100 mL) compared to the NPK (15-15-15) treatment, which had a TSS of 14.2 °Brix, a TA of 1.01%, a TSS:TA ratio of 10.7, and an ascorbic acid content of 15 mg/100 mL.

5. Challenges in Organic Pineapple Farming

Organic fertilization may be a good option, especially for resource-poor farmers who are unable to afford various inputs such as synthetic chemical fertilizers. Organic fertilizers are readily available and easily accessible to those farmers. However, challenges associated with their use can result in poor pineapple yields and quality. According to Nyamwaro et al. [24], the use of organic fertilizers for pineapple production is faced with many constraints, although it is popular in subsistence and smallholder farming in Africa. The constraints include a lack of national policy that enforces organic farming, the poor availability or trading of organic fertilizers, especially to farmers who do not keep livestock, as well as the high certification costs (estimated at ZAR 14,400 (USD 786.29) for both application and certification fees for producers in South Africa) of using or packaging organic fertilizers [25].

Chatzistathis et al. [9] explained that organically fertilized orchards have a higher production cost that sometimes cannot be counterbalanced by the achievement of a higher fruit quality, maximum yield, and better market price. As a result, organic fertilization is not financially sustainable. Also, it does not provide a direct effect on the enhancement of soil fertility and the satisfaction of the nutritional needs, especially the optimal nitrogen required for the production of many fruits [9,26]. In European countries, Weibel et al. [27] alluded that organic fruits still have a low market share of less than 1–5% compared with organic vegetables. This is due to the limited availability of effective management products for controlling pests, disease, and weeds, especially for use in large orchards [26,27]. The distress of farmers losing their income is another issue that faces a shift to organic farming in established farms [28].

Herbicides, insecticides, and fungicides are the major limiting factors in organic production due to pineapple fruit susceptibility to various pests (scale, termites, mealybugs, banana bud moth) and diseases (viral wilt and fusaria), tied with the restriction of chemical use [29,30]. As such, if there is a high infestation of certain insects and diseases, they have the potential to drastically reduce the yields and affect the quality of the produce at harvest. Hence, Nalubwana et al. [31] reported that producing pineapples organically is challenged by a lack of methods to control insects and diseases. Badu-Gyan [32] emphasized that using synthetic pesticides, fungicides, and herbicides is incompatible with organic systems, highlighting that the “organic production system has health and safety benefits attributable to its reduction in agrochemicals usage in farming activities and also reduces the health risk faced by consumers from contamination by agricultural commodities from chemical residue”. However, Darnaudery et al. [19] reported that organic fertilization can reduce leathery pocket disease on pineapples. A sawdust mulch was found to result in a smaller number of weeds, whilst intercropping with crops such as chili pepper, ginger, basil, legumes, and some onion varieties reduced pest infestation and can buffer disease outbreaks [18]. This is proof that the organic farming of pineapple is possible if more research is invested in the cultural methods of controlling insects and diseases without the use of pesticides.

According to Ram and Kumar [33], most producers have limited knowledge on the use of organic fertilizers, and they usually lack specific data reported from the research. Also, there are no organized markets for selling organic produce because, in some instances, farmers need to be a member of a council or find an organic produce selling agent to be able to sell their produce. Moreover, due to lower yields, dispersed farms, long-term investments, limited capital, and the absence of national organic farming policies, farmers are discouraged from shifting entirely to organic production, especially for fruit production [30,31].

6. Economic Viability of Pineapple Organic Production

Table 2 explains the economic viability of producing fruits using organic fertilization by reviewing key financial and operational aspects. Although growing fruits organically, especially pineapples, can be profitable in markets, it would still be considered a high-investment endeavor because its viability mostly depends on farmers’ capacity to be able to successfully handle certification procedures, manage their expenses, as well as access premium markets to make up for the high production costs [34]. Profitability is most likely if producers have access to an appropriate market, technical assistance, training, and a continuous dedication to sustainable practices.

Conventional production is deemed viable when compared to conservational farming, as it remains the prevalent method for fruit production. It does not require any certification, and the yield per hectare is already known and estimated at 12,500 kg/ha for pineapples [35]. Although the price per unit is lower than that of organically produced fruits, the yields have the potential to influence farmers’ profits by keeping them constant because they are known, compared to those of organically fertilized fruit, which are not known. There is wide use of mechanization for large-scale farms in conventional production, which assists with spraying certain chemicals (fertilizers, herbicides, pesticides), thus reducing the need for human labor. There is limited machinery for organic fertilization. Furthermore, the demand for inorganic pineapple fruit is certain since all customers can afford fruits at low prices.

Table 2. Summary of the literature reporting on factors determining the economic viability of producing pineapple fruit organically.

Factor	Factor Amount	Comments	References
Operating costs (labor costs, inputs, pests, disease, weed control, etc.)	Moderate to high	There are very high costs and lower returns, which make it unviable.	[36]
		Costs for pineapple production increase with the age of plants, where they end up needing more inputs with age, resulting in it being expensive.	[37]
		Organically fertilized orchards have a higher production cost	[9]
		Expenditure towards the payment of wages for human labor appears to be the second highest component, claiming 34.24% of the total cost annually.	[37]
Initial investment costs (training, certification, inputs)	High	Certification is a prerequisite for any producer producing their fruits organically with plans to export, especially to the European market. It ensures that producers comply with the standards required for organic farming. Also, it allows produce to make it to the market.	[24,38]
Yield per hectare	Low to moderate	Falling yields are experienced, which demand less manpower during harvesting.	[36]
Market price	High	For example, the cost per kilogram of pineapple under the organic system is averaged at USD 1.53, which is 40% higher than the average price.	[39]
		Organically grown certified pineapples are expensive; as a result, low yields are compensated for with a high income.	[37]
Market demand	Low but growing	Increasing demand in the international market for organically produced fruits.	[38]
		Low market share for organic fruit.	[27]
Profit margins	Moderate to high	Due to the high cost of organically grown produce.	[27]
Environmental impact	Low	No synthetic inputs; soil and biodiversity friendly.	[12,19]
Risk (diseases and pests)	High	Limited availability of effective management products for controlling pests, disease, and weeds, especially for use in large orchards.	[26,27]

Table 2. Summary of the literature reporting on factors determining the economic viability of producing pineapple fruit organically.

Factor	Factor Amount	Comments	References
Operating costs (labor costs, inputs, pests, disease, weed control, etc.)	Moderate to high	There are very high costs and lower returns, which make it unviable.	[36]
		Costs for pineapple production increase with the age of plants, where they end up needing more inputs with age, resulting in it being expensive.	[37]
		Organically fertilized orchards have a higher production cost	[9]
		Expenditure towards the payment of wages for human labor appears to be the second highest component, claiming 34.24% of the total cost annually.	[37]
Initial investment costs (training, certification, inputs)	High	Certification is a prerequisite for any producer producing their fruits organically with plans to export, especially to the European market. It ensures that producers comply with the standards required for organic farming. Also, it allows produce to make it to the market.	[24,38]
Yield per hectare	Low to moderate	Falling yields are experienced, which demand less manpower during harvesting.	[36]
Market price	High	For example, the cost per kilogram of pineapple under the organic system is averaged at USD 1.53, which is 40% higher than the average price.	[39]
		Organically grown certified pineapples are expensive; as a result, low yields are compensated for with a high income.	[37]
Market demand	Low but growing	Increasing demand in the international market for organically produced fruits.	[38]
		Low market share for organic fruit.	[27]
Profit margins	Moderate to high	Due to the high cost of organically grown produce.	[27]
Environmental impact	Low	No synthetic inputs; soil and biodiversity friendly.	[12,19]
Risk (diseases and pests)	High	Limited availability of effective management products for controlling pests, disease, and weeds, especially for use in large orchards.	[26,27]

7. Environmental and Sustainability Considerations

Conventional cultivation and soil erosion are considered major concerns related to the sustainability of agriculture because they cause a decline in the organic matter content of the soil [40]. A decline in organic matter is a drawback due to its importance in relation to soil fertility, a sustainable agricultural system, and crop or fruit productivity [41]. For fruit production, it may result in lower fruit yields, poor fruit quality, and increased production costs, where farmers may need to apply more chemical fertilizers. However, the addition of organic amendments may be a cost-effective method that farmers can adopt by incorporating manure, composts, or cover crops to improve the soil organic matter. Li et al. [42] alluded that the application of organic fertilizers can significantly increase the soil organic matter and soil quality. The authors stated that with the continuous application of organic fertilizers on the soil, the content of organic carbon and humus soil increases.

In a study conducted by Chang et al. [43] investigating the different application rates of organic fertilization on soil enzyme activity and the microbial population compared to inorganic fertilizers, it was shown that soil microbial biomass and soil enzyme activities increased significantly in the soils that were treated with organic compost. Also, high concentrations of total nitrogen and organic matter were observed on the compost-treated soils [43]. Meng et al. [44] indicated that organic management increases soil biological properties, enzyme activities, and microbial biomass.

Inorganic fertilizers have become an essential part of the global food supply chain. However, they can also contribute to greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, along with other potential nutrient losses in the environment. The use of organic fertilizers presents a promising strategy to control greenhouse gas emissions and reduce the leaching of nitrogen [45]. The soil structure, physical soil quality characteristics, porosity, and water-holding capacity can be improved using organic manure such as cattle and poultry manure [40]. Fan et al. [46] investigated the effects of organic fertilizers on soil properties, tomato yield, and fruit quality and found that, particularly on soil properties, the application of organic fertilizers compared with chemical fertilizers was able to increase acidic soil by (pH < 6) 7.98%, neutral soil by (pH = 6.8) 3.35%, soil organic matter by 24.43%, total nitrogen by 32.79%, total phosphorus by 23.97%, total potassium by 44.91%, available phosphorus by 14.46%, available potassium by 16.21%, soil bacteria by 5.94%, urease by 22.32%, and catalase by 17.68%. The application of organic fertilizers supports the slow release of nutrients synchronously with plant intake, which ensures the minimal loss of nitrogen through leaching and volatilization [47]. The enhanced organic management of the soil is considered an ideal combination of economic viability, environmental sustainability, and human health. Therefore, enhancing soil health and biodiversity is a cornerstone of sustainable agriculture, contributing to ecosystem resilience, improved fruit productivity, and long-term food security.

Overall, producing pineapple fruit organically aligns with Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 1, 2, 3, 8, 12, 13, and 15, as shown in Figure 2 below. According to Pogge and Sengupta [48], the SDGs are a global call to action for the eradication of poverty, the protection of the earth’s environment and climate, as well as the assurance that people everywhere can enjoy peace and prosperity. Organic pineapple production offers the opportunity of creating jobs for farmers in various communities whilst also increasing subsistence and smallholder farmers’ income (SDG 1) because they can use resources that are easily accessible to them, such that farming becomes cost-effective, less stressful, and manageable to most farmers. As a result, this contributes to eradicating hunger while promoting sustainable agricultural practices (SDG 2). Subsequently, pineapple fruit has important vitamins and minerals that support healthy human diets. As a result, when produced organically, it ensures that there is a reduction in harmful chemicals, which could be dangerous to human health (SDG 3). Additionally, organically produced pineapples may motivate farmers to diversify their produce, which, in the end, creates more employment opportunities across the value chain as well as supports rural economies (SDG 8). The use of organic fertilizers on pineapples is also relevant to SDG 12 because it states that organic fertilization reduces the environmental impact and promotes the efficient use of natural resources. Furthermore, according to the Food Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) [49], SDGs 13 and 15 align with organically produced pineapples, stating they “support biodiversity conservation and sustainable efforts by promoting the protection of ecosystem and vital natural resources like soil, water, the forest, minimize land degradation and soil erosion”.

8. Conclusions

The use of organic fertilizers in pineapple production has potential as an alternative to inorganic fertilizers, offering an eco-friendly way to improve growth, yield, and fruit quality. However, economic viability remains limited due to high certification costs, variable yields, limited market access, and a lack of knowledge on effective use. In the Eastern Cape province of South Africa, organic fertilization shows promise due to government support for cost-effective certification and the promotion of quality organic pineapple cultivation. Pest, disease, and weed control can be managed through intercropping, biological agents, and cultural methods following organic certification policies. Ensuring long-term economic viability will require coordinated efforts in research, training, certification, and market access to encourage more farmers to adopt organic pineapple production.