Table of Contents
Definitions and Interpretations of Organic Farming
FOAM's Perspective
- According to the International Federation of Organic Agriculture Movements (IFOAM), organic farming is a production approach that nurtures the well-being of soils, ecosystems, and people.
- It emphasizes ecological processes, biodiversity, and locally adapted cycles, avoiding inputs that may adversely impact the environment.
- This holistic approach combines traditional wisdom, innovation, and scientific knowledge to promote a sustainable environment and equitable relationships for all stakeholders involved. (Reference: IFOAM, 2022)
U.S. National Organic Standards Board's View
- The National Organic Standards Board of the United States defines organic farming as an ecological production management system that fosters biodiversity, biological cycles, and soil biological activity. (Reference: USDA, 2020)
USDA Study Team's Interpretation
- According to a USDA study team, organic farming largely avoids or excludes the use of synthetic inputs like fertilizers, pesticides, hormones, and feed additives.
- Instead, it relies on crop rotations, crop residues, animal manures, off-farm organic waste, mineral-grade rock additives, and biological systems for nutrient mobilization and plant protection to the maximum extent possible. (Reference: USDA, 2015)
FAO's Perspective
- The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) considers organic agriculture a unique production management system that promotes and enhances agro-ecosystem health, including biodiversity, biological cycles, and soil biological activity.
- This is accomplished by employing on-farm agronomic, biological, and mechanical methods, while excluding all synthetic off-farm inputs. (Reference: FAO, 2018)
Concept of Organic Farming
- Nature as the Best Role Model: Organic farming is based on the concept that nature is the best role model for farming, as it does not use any inputs or demand unreasonable quantities of water.
- Understanding Nature’s Ways: The entire system is based on an intimate understanding of nature’s ways and does not believe in mining the soil of its nutrients or degrading it in any way for today’s needs.
- Soil as a Living Entity: The soil in this system is considered a living entity, and its living population of microbes and other organisms are significant contributors to its fertility on a sustained basis and must be protected and nurtured at all costs.
- Building Biological Soil Fertility: Organic farming concentrates on building up the biological fertility of the soil so that crops can take the nutrients they need from the steady turnover within the soil, and these nutrients are released in harmony with the needs of the plants.
- Importance of Soil Environment: The total environment of the soil, from soil structure to soil cover, is more important than individual components.
- Pest, Disease, and Weed Control: Control of pests, diseases, and weeds is achieved largely by developing an ecological balance within the system and by using bio-pesticides and various cultural techniques such as crop rotation, mixed cropping, and cultivation.
- Recycling of Wastes and Manures: Organic farmers recycle all wastes and manures within the farm, but the export of products from the farm results in a steady drain of nutrients.
- Enhancing the Environment: Organic farming aims to enhance the environment in such a way that wildlife flourishes.
Objectives of Organic Farming
- Production of High-Quality Products: To produce high-quality food, fiber, and other products in sufficient quantity in harmony with natural systems and cycles
- Enhancing Biological/Natural Cycles: To optimize the biological and natural cycles within the farming system, it is important to promote the interactions and processes involving microorganisms, soil flora and fauna, plants, and animals throughout the entire production system.
- Recognizing Social and Ecological Impact: To recognize the wider social and ecological impact of, and within, the organic production and processing system.
- Maintaining and Encouraging Biodiversity: To maintain and encourage agricultural and natural biodiversity on the farm and surroundings through the use of sustainable production systems and the protection of plant and wildlife habitats.
- Maintaining and Increasing Soil Fertility: To maintain and increase long-term fertility and biological activity of soils using locally adopted cultural, biological, and mechanical methods, as opposed to reliance on external inputs.
- Maintaining Genetic Diversity: To maintain and conserve genetic diversity through attention to on-farm management of genetic resources.
- Using Renewable Resources and Avoiding Pollution: To use, as far as possible, renewable resources in production and processing systems and avoid pollution and waste.
- Promoting Healthy Use of Water Resources: To promote healthy use with proper care of water resources and all life therein.
- Utilizing Biodegradable Packaging: To utilize biodegradable, recyclable, and recycled packaging materials.
- Balancing Crop Production and Animal Husbandry: To create a harmonious balance between crop production and animal husbandry.
- Minimizing Pollution: To minimize all forms of pollution.
- Providing Quality of Life: To provide everyone involved in organic farming and processing with a quality of life that satisfies their basic needs, within a safe, secure, and healthy working environment.
- Supporting Responsible Production and Distribution Chain: To support the establishment of an entire production, processing, and distribution chain that is both socially and ecologically responsible.
- Recognizing Indigenous Knowledge: To recognize the importance of, and protect and learn from, indigenous knowledge and traditional farming systems.
Objectives of Organic Farming
Principle of Health
- Organic agriculture should sustain and enhance the health of soil, plants, animals, humans, and the planet as one and indivisible.
- The health of individuals and communities cannot be separated from the health of ecosystems – healthy soils produce healthy crops that foster the health of animals and people.
- Health is the wholeness and integrity of living systems, not simply the absence of illness, but the maintenance of physical, mental, social, and ecological well-being.
Principle of Ecology
- Organic agriculture should be based on living ecological systems and cycles, work with them, emulate them, and help sustain them.
- Production is to be based on ecological processes and recycling, nourishment, and well-being achieved through the ecology of the specific production environment (e.g., living soil for crops, farm ecosystem for animals, aquatic environment for fish and marine organisms).
Principle of Fairness
- Organic agriculture should build on relationships that ensure fairness with regard to the common environment and life opportunities.
- Fairness is characterized by equity, respect, justice, and stewardship of the shared world, both among people and in their relations to other living beings.
- Those involved in organic agriculture should conduct human relationships in a manner that ensures fairness at all levels and to all parties – farmers, workers, processors, distributors, traders, and consumers.
Principle of Care
- Organic agriculture should be managed in a precautionary and responsible manner to protect the health and well-being of current and future generations and the environment.
- Organic agriculture is a living and dynamic system that responds to internal and external demands and conditions.
- Practitioners can enhance efficiency and increase productivity, but not at the risk of jeopardizing health and well-being.
