What is Organic Agriculture?
“Organic agriculture is a holistic production management system which promotes and enhances agro-ecosystem health, including biodiversity, biological cycles and soil biological activity. It emphasizes the use of management practices in preference to the use of off-farm inputs (…) This is accomplished by using, where possible, agronomic, biological, and mechanical methods, as opposed to using synthetic materials, to fulfill any specific function within the system.”- definition proposed for adoption by FAO/WHO Codex Alimentarius Commission. Organic agriculture is more than growing food and fibers without synthetic fertilizers and chemical biocides. Organic farmers use growing practices that include: • Nourishing and protecting the soil by adding organic matter and other natural fertilizers to prevent depletion from repeated harvests. • Rotational grazing to disperse animal manures. • Green manure plough downs and prevention of water and wind erosion by grassing waterways and using cove
A- The USDA National Organic Standards Board (NOSB) defines organic agriculture as “an ecological production management system that promotes and enhances biodiversity, biological cycles, and soil biological activity. It is based on minimal use of off-farm inputs and on management practices that restore, maintain, or enhance ecological harmony. The primary goal of organic agriculture is to optimize the health and productivity of interdependent communities of soil life, plants, animals and people.” (NOSB, 1997). “Organic agriculture, as defined by IFOAM, includes all agricultural systems that promote environmentally, socially and economically sound production of food and fibers. Recycling nutrients and strengthening natural processes helps to maintain soil fertility and ensure successful production. By respecting the natural capacity of plants, animals and the landscape, it aims to optimize quality in all aspects of agriculture and the environment. OA dramatically reduces external inputs
There are many explanations and definitions for organic agriculture but all converge to state that it is a system that relies on ecosystem management rather than external agricultural inputs. It is a system that begins to consider potential environmental and social impacts by eliminating the use of synthetic inputs, such as synthetic fertilizers and pesticides, veterinary drugs, genetically modified seeds and breeds, preservatives, additives and irradiation. These are replaced with site-specific management practices that maintain and increase long-term soil fertility and prevent pest and diseases. “Organic agriculture is a holistic production management system which promotes and enhances agro-ecosystem health, including biodiversity, biological cycles, and soil biological activity. It emphasises the use of management practices in preference to the use of off-farm inputs, taking into account that regional conditions require locally adapted systems. This is accomplished by using, where p
“Organic agriculture is a holistic production management system which promotes and enhances agro-ecosystem health, including biodiversity, biological cycles and soil biological activity. It emphasizes the use of management practices in preference to the use of off-farm inputs (…) This is accomplished by using, where possible, agronomic, biological, and mechanical methods, as opposed to using synthetic materials, to fulfill any specific function within the system.”- definition proposed for adoption by FAO/WHO Codex Alimentarius Commission. Organic agriculture is more than growing food and fibers without synthetic fertilizers and chemical biocides. Organic farmers use growing practices that include: -Nourishing and protecting the soil by adding organic matter and other natural fertilizers to prevent depletion from repeated harvests. -Rotational grazing to disperse animal manures. -Green manure plough downs and prevention of water and wind erosion by grassing waterways and using covercr
According to the USDA National Organic Standards Board (NOSB), organic agriculture is defined as “an ecological production management system that promotes and enhances biodiversity, biological cycles, and soil biological activity. It is based on minimal use of off-farm inputs and on management practices that restore, maintain, or enhance ecological harmony. The primary goal of organic agriculture is to optimize the health and productivity of interdependent communities of soil life, plants, animals and people.” (NOSB, 1997) The term “organic” is defined by law (see “Legal” section below), as opposed to the labels “natural” and “eco-friendly,” which may imply that some organic methods were used in the production of the foodstuff, but this label does not guarantee complete adherence to organic practices as defined by a law. Most “natural” products do not contain synthetic products, but may have been provided conventional (synthetic chemicals used in production) food or feed (as in “natura
