OVERVIEW

Organic farming offers an alternative to more widespread, high input farming practices that use synthetic fertilizers, fungicides and pesticides. It is based on the idea that the soil is a living system so these synthetic products are largely excluded from organic farms. Organic agriculture relies on crop rotation, animal manures, crop residues, green manures and the biological control of pests and diseases to maintain soil health and productivity. Organic crops are often of higher value than conventional ones and the volume of organic crops shows a continually increasing production trend. The sale of crops labeled as organic or biological is highly regulated in most advanced markets. The environmental impact of organic farming is low and can be seen as a way of cleaning up and improving degraded agricultural land.