Organic Farming Notes

Organic Farming Principles (NASAA & IFOAM)

The National Association for Sustainable Agriculture Australia (NASAA) defines organic farming based on four principles set out by IFOAM Organics International:

• Principle of Health: Organic agriculture aims to maintain and improve the health of:

  • Soil
  • Plants
  • Animals
  • Humans
  • The Planet

• Principle of Ecology: Organic agriculture should:

  • Be grounded in living ecological systems and cycles.
  • Work harmoniously with these systems.
  • Mimic natural ecological processes.
  • Support the sustainability of ecological systems.

• Principle of Fairness: Organic agriculture should:

  • Foster relationships that ensure fairness.
  • Consider the environment.
  • Consider life opportunities for all stakeholders.

• Principle of Care: Organic agriculture should:

  • Be conducted with precaution.
  • Emphasize responsibility.
  • Safeguard the health and well-being of:
    • Current generations
    • Future generations
    • The environment.

Definition of Organic Agriculture

Organic agriculture is defined as:

• An ecological production management system.
• A system that promotes and enhances:
  • Biodiversity
  • Biological cycles
  • Soil biological activity

Organic agriculture is based on:

• Minimal use of off-farm inputs.
• Management practices that:
  • Restore ecological harmony.
  • Maintain ecological harmony.
  • Enhance ecological harmony.

Aims of Organic Agriculture

The principal aims of organic agriculture include:

• Production of food with high nutritional value.
• Enhancement of biological cycles within farming systems.
• Maintaining and increasing soil fertility.
• Working as far as practicable within a closed system to minimize external inputs and waste.
• Avoiding pollution resulting from agricultural practices.
• Minimizing the use of non-renewable resources.
• Coexistence with the environment.
• Production of the environment, suggesting agricultural practices that benefit and enhance the surrounding ecosystem.