The word “organic” refers to the way farmers grow and process all agricultural products like fruits, vegetables, grains, dairy products and meat. Organic farming encourages soil and water conservation and helps in reducing pollution. Animals on organic farms are not given growth hormones or antibiotics. Since they are raised on organic farms they do not receive chemicals from the soil or in food they eat. This kind of farming is ecologically balanced. Organic foods are grown without the use of synthetic pesticides, insecticides and herbicides and no genetically modified products are used. Show In simpler terms organic food is
Many people prefer to grow organic food in their own gardens, because organic foods are about 20% more expensive than conventional food. Conventional food is that food which uses synthetic fertilizers, pesticides or herbicides. Those who grow food in their own kitchen gardens use organic seeds, organic fertilizers and compost, organic root simulators and pest control. Organic food production has become popular since the 1990s in both developed and developing nations and worldwide organic food sales stand at around 2 % percent. Processed organic food This class of organic foods contains only organic ingredients. If non-organic ingredients are included then they must not be more than 5% which means that 95% of the ingredients must be organic. Organic foods must be
Advantages of organic foods Organic foods have a number of advantages over conventional foods
Environmental impact of organic farming Most surveys carried out have come to the conclusion that this kind of farming does not damage the environment because it
Some factors that can be used to compare conventional farming to organic farming are as described
Organic farms may have lesser yield than conventional farms as they use less fertilizer and almost no pesticides. However, the soil content on organic farms is superior and it has better water retention ability. This could mean that in drought years organic farms will have better yields. Developing countries have better yields from organic farms because they do not have access to synthetic farming materials and so use organic methods, unlike developed countries where there is easy availability of synthetic fertilizers or pesticides.
Organic farming is considered to be more energy efficient as there is no use of chemically synthesized nitrogen for crop production. They also rely on harnessing and using other sources of energy like solar energy. However, they could use more petroleum when using machinery as there is no other option for weed control and soil management. Since they use fertilizers that are less nutritious it results in the use of more fuel.
Organic farming standards do not allow use of synthetic pesticides. However, some standards do allow restricted use of organic pesticides like BT, pyrethrum, and rotenone.
In a few studies that have been carried out organic foods showed better nutritional value as
Organic Certification Process The certification process for defining a farm as organic is rather long. Good management and record keeping are one of the key requirements of the process. Farmers look for guidelines to find out what practices and products are allowed for certification. For land to be certified as organic there should be
There is a strict inspection process where inspectors come to take soil samples to evaluate the soil fertility. The soil will also be tested to check the presence of any unacceptable pesticides in it. The inspectors will visit the farm annually or as directed in the standards to see that the organic farm is in compliance. Inspectors also check the records of the farm to see that the operations are being conducted according to the original plan given. Indian certification organizations In India, National Programme on Organic Production (NPOP) defines the regulatory mechanism and is regulated under two different acts for export and domestic markets. NPOP notified under Foreign Trade Development and Regulation Act (FTDR) looks after the export requirement. The NPOP notified under this act has already been granted equivalence by European Union and Sweden. USDA has also accepted the conformity assessment system of NPOP. Due to this, the product certified by any Indian accredited certification agency under NPOP can be exported to Europe, Sweden and USA without the requirement of re-certification. To look after the requirement of import and domestic market the same NPOP has been notified under Agriculture Produce Grading, Marking and Certification Act (APGMC). Regulatory body of NPOP under FTDR act is Agricultural and Processed. Foods Export Development Authority (APEDA) under Ministry of Commerce and of NPOP under APGMC act is Agricultural Marketing Advisor (AMA) under Ministry of Agriculture. Accreditation of Certification and Inspection Agencies is being granted by a common National Accreditation Body (NAB). Almost 20 accredited certification agencies are looking after the requirement of certification process. Out of these, 4 agencies are under public sector while remaining 16 are under private management. Organic labelling In legal terms to be certified or labelled 100% organic, products must be grown and manufactured in a way that is in compliance with the standards of the country they are sold in. Foods that are organically grown can state this fact on the labels. Those consumers who want to buy organic foods can look at the labels to see if the foods are 100% organic
Popular organic food items are organic tea, organic coffee, organic wine, organic meat, organic beef, eggs, organic milk, organic honey, organic vegetables, organic fruits, organic rice, organic corn, organic herbs, organic essential oils, organic coconut oil and organic olive oil. The food safety guidelines for Organic Food products including Licensing & Registration, Labelling, Contaminants, Toxins & Residues, as per Indian Regulations (FSS Act, Rules & Regulations) would imply same as have been defined for other normal food products. Important – The information contained in this article can be used as a reference guideline on the subject, however the actual guidelines (Regulatory & others) may differ from the content discussed here. What are food grown without synthetic pesticides?The word "organic" means the way farmers grow and process farming (agricultural) products. These products include fruits, vegetables, grains, dairy products such as milk and cheese, and meat.
What does organically Grown mean?Produce can be called organic if it's certified to have grown on soil that had no prohibited substances applied for three years prior to harvest. Prohibited substances include most synthetic fertilizers and pesticides.
What is inorganic food?Inorganic foods are that food which has utilized synthetic products, such as chemical fertilizers and pesticides, in their production. Genetically modified food is also considered inorganic.
What is the meaning of organic products?Organic food is grown without the use of synthetic chemicals, such as human-made pesticides and fertilizers, and does not contain genetically modified organisms (GMOs). Organic foods include fresh produce, meats, and dairy products as well as processed foods such as crackers, drinks, and frozen meals.
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