The Principal Aims of Organic Agriculture and Processing

(The following notes are derived from the UK Soil Assoication web site. Users are encouraged to go direct to that site for further and up-to-date information).

Organic agriculture and processing is based on a number of principles and ideas. They are all equally important:

- To produce food of high nutritional quality in sufficient quantity.
- To interact in a constructive and life-enhancing way with natural systems and cycles.
- To encourage and enhance biological cycles within the farming system, involving micro organisms, soil flora and fauna, plants and animals.
- To maintain and increase long-term fertility of soils.
- To promote the healthy use and proper care of water, water resources and all life therein.
- To help in the conservation of soil and water.
- To use, as far as possible, renewable resources in locally organised agricultural systems.
- To work, as far as possible, within a closed system with regard to organic matter and nutrient elements.
- To work, as far as possible, with materials and substances that can be reused or recycled, either on the farm or elsewhere.
- To give all livestock conditions of life which allow them to perform basic aspects of their innate behaviour.
- To minimise all forms of pollution that may result from agricultural practise.
- To maintain the genetic diversity of the agricultural system and its surroundings, including the protection of plant and wildlife habitats.
- To allow everyone involved in organic production and processing a quality of life conforming to the UN Human Rights Charter, to cover their basic needs and obtain an adequate return and satisfaction from their work, including a safe working environment.
- To consider the wider social and ecological impact of the farming system.
- To produce non-food products out of renewable resources, which are fully biodegradable.
- To encourage organic farming associations to function along democratic lines and the principle of division of powers.
- To progress towards an entire organic production chain, which is both socially just and ecologically responsible.

The Principle Requirements of Organic Agriculture and Processing

In order to achieve its principal aims, the organic agricultural movement has adopted certain techniques that respect natural ecological balances. These make it possible to avoid such products and methods which are contrary to the principal aims.

The basis for crop production in gardening, farming and forestry is the consideration for the structure and fertility of the soil and surrounding ecosystem, as well as providing a diversity of species. This is achieved by a combination of :

- a versatile crop rotation the recycling of organic material, and includes a wide range of methods for the control of pests, diseases and weeds which avoid the use of synthetic fertilisers, pesticides and herbicides.

The basis for animal husbandry is the respect for the physiological and ethiological needs of the animals. This is achieved by a combination of:

- providing sufficient amounts of good quality organic fodder providing husbandry systems appropriate to behavioural needs
- proper veterinary treatment

Animals are an important part of an organic farming system because:

- they contribute to closing the nutrient cycles
- animals convert organic matter and are thus major contributors to soil fertility
- some animal species can utilise agricultural areas which cannot otherwise be used
- growing forage crops improves the crop rotation, the diversification and balance of the farming system
- they may be for draught purposes
- they can utilise by-products from agricultural production
- they contribute to higher yields

The basis for natural ecological balances in livestock production is a harmonious relationship between the crop production and animal husbandry. This is achieved by a combination of :

- establishing as much self-sufficiency of manure and animal feed on the farm unit as possible through specifying maximum stocking rates
- Converting plant protein and energy into animal protein and energy brings about losses during the metabolic process. For this reason, crop production for human nutrition and that for animal nutrition should generally be balanced.

The basis of processing organic products is that its vital qualities are maintained throughout each step of the process. This is achieved by a combination of:

- Choosing and developing methods which are adequate to the specifics of the ingredients
- developing standards which emphasise careful processing methods, limited refining, energy saving technologies, minimal use of additives and processing aids etc.

The production and handling of organic products should seek to minimise the environmental degradation. This is achieved by:

- developing standards which encompass waste management, packaging systems and energy saving systems in processing and transport
- products produced and processed in a traditional way by indigenous and/or traditional groups can be certified as organic provided that the sites are subject to a normal annual inspection and production and / or processing are in accordance with the principles in the Basic Standards

See Also:

UK Register of Organic Food Standards (UKROFS)

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