- "Organic farming, also known as ecological farming or biological farming, is an agricultural system that uses fertilizers of organic origin such as compost manure, green manure, and bone meal and places emphasis on techniques such as crop rotation and companion planting."
Agricultural production system that relies on natural inputs and avoids the use of synthetic fertilizers and pesticides.
Soil management: The study of managing and maintaining soil fertility, structure, and health for organic farming.
Agroecology: The study of ecological processes applied in agricultural systems and the design, development, and management of sustainable agroecosystems.
Crop rotation: The practice of alternating the type of crops grown in a field over a period of years to promote soil health and control pests and diseases.
Composting: The process of breaking down organic matter, such as food scraps and plant material, into nutrient-rich soil amendments.
Integrated Pest Management (IPM): An approach to managing pests that combines various strategies, such as biological controls and cultural practices, to minimize the use of pesticides.
Cover crops: Crops grown primarily to protect and enrich the soil, usually planted between cash crops.
Water management: The study of managing water resources for crop irrigation and preservation of soil moisture.
Livestock management: The study of managing livestock for meat or dairy production in a sustainable and ethical manner.
Sustainable agriculture: The practice of using methods that maintain or improve the health of the soil, water, and air, and reduce negative environmental impacts associated with farming.
Organic certification: The process of obtaining an organic certification that ensures that a farm meets specific standards for organic production.
Marketing and sales: The study of promoting and selling organic farm products, including market research and market access for organic products.
Soil microbiology: The study of microorganisms that live in soil and their impact on plant health and growth.
Organic food systems: The study of the complex chain of distribution and sale of organic products from the farm to the consumer, including regulations and organic labeling.
Organic farming history: The study of the development of organic farming practices from ancient times to the present day.
Farm business management: The study of managing farm finances, marketing strategies, and personnel management for a successful organic farming business.
Biodynamic farming: This type of farming involves the use of spiritual and philosophical approaches to farming that are based on a connection with nature and the cosmos. Biodynamic farms are typically self-sustaining and rely on composting, crop rotation, and the use of natural fertilizers and pest control methods.
Community-supported agriculture (CSA): CSA is a system that connects consumers to local farmers through a subscription-based program. Members of a CSA pay farmers in advance for a season’s worth of produce, which is then delivered on a regular basis. This system promotes local agriculture and helps to reduce the environmental impact of long-distance transportation.
Conservation farming: Conservation farming is a type of sustainable agriculture that focuses on reducing soil erosion and promoting soil health. Practices include no-till farming, cover cropping, and crop rotation, which reduce soil disturbance and improve water retention.
Integrated pest management (IPM): IPM is an approach to pest control that uses a combination of natural and chemical methods to control pests while minimizing the environmental impact. The goal is to promote the use of natural predators, cultural practices, and biological controls rather than relying on chemical pesticides.
Organic farming: This is a sustainable agriculture system that does not use synthetic inputs, such as pesticides and fertilizers, that could harm the environment or human health. Organic farming relies on natural inputs like compost, crop rotation, and natural predators to maintain healthy crops and soil.
Permaculture: Permaculture is a sustainable agriculture system that mimics natural ecosystems to create regenerative farming systems. It is a holistic approach to farming that emphasizes diversity, symbiosis, and the use of natural cycles and patterns.
Regenerative agriculture: Regenerative agriculture is a sustainable agriculture system that emphasizes the restoration of soil health, soil biodiversity, and carbon sequestration. It is a holistic approach to farming that aims to provide multiple benefits to the environment, farmers, and society.
Urban agriculture: Urban agriculture is the practice of cultivating crops, raising animals, and growing food in urban areas. Urban agriculture includes rooftop gardens, community gardens, and urban farms that help to increase food security and reduce the environmental impact of long-distance transportation.
- "It originated early in the 20th century in reaction to rapidly changing farming practices."
- "Certified organic agriculture accounts for 70 million hectares (170 million acres) globally."
- "Over half of that total [70 million hectares] is in Australia."
- "Biological pest control, mixed cropping, and the fostering of insect predators are encouraged."
- "Organic standards are designed to allow the use of naturally-occurring substances while prohibiting or strictly limiting synthetic substances."
- "For instance, naturally-occurring pesticides such as pyrethrin are permitted."
- "Synthetic substances that are allowed include, for example, copper sulfate, elemental sulfur, and ivermectin."
- "Genetically modified organisms, nanomaterials, human sewage sludge, plant growth regulators, hormones, and antibiotic use in livestock husbandry are prohibited."
- "Organic farming advocates claim advantages in sustainability, openness, self-sufficiency, autonomy and independence, health, food security, and food safety."
- "Organic agricultural methods are internationally regulated and legally enforced by transnational organizations and many nations, based in large part on the standards set by the International Federation of Organic Agriculture Movements (IFOAM)."
- "reaching $63 billion worldwide in 2012."
- "As of 2020, approximately 75,000,000 hectares (190,000,000 acres) worldwide were farmed organically."
- "Organic farming can be beneficial on biodiversity and environmental protection at the local level."
- "Because organic farming has sometimes lower yields compared to intensive farming, additional agricultural land is needed elsewhere in the world, which means that natural and forest land has to be converted into agricultural land."
- "This can cause loss of biodiversity and negative climate effects that sometimes outweigh the local environmental gains achieved."
- "This lower yield does not include dry lands."
- "Food waste of industrial agriculture must be taken into account."
- "Organic agriculture can be defined as 'an integrated farming system that strives for sustainability, the enhancement of soil fertility and biological diversity while, with rare exceptions, prohibiting synthetic pesticides, antibiotics, synthetic fertilizers, genetically modified organisms, and growth hormones'."
- "Organically managed farmland that grew from 2001 to 2011 at a compounding rate of 8.9% per year."