Definition of Organic Agriculture
The definition of organic agriculture differs depending on where you sit in the world. The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations offers a distilled explanation that organic agriculture is "a system that relies on ecosystem management rather than external agricultural inputs." The more detailed explanation is that nations, regions within nations, and private certification bodies set their own definitions with guidance from two global organizations -- the FAO/WHO Codex Alimentarius Commission and the International Federation of Organic Agriculture Movements (IFOAM).
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Why Two Different Organizations?
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The two organizations, under the aegis of the United Nations, provide global guidance about organic agriculture and food production. The Codex Alimentarius Commission sets international guidelines for member states who use the guidelines as a starting point to make laws and set their own government's standards for organic food production, processing, labelling and marketing. IFOAM serves essentially the same purpose but provides international guidance for the private sector.
The FAO/WHO Codex Alimentarius Commission Definition
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The Codex Alimentarius Commission defines organic agriculture this way: "Organic agriculture is a holistic production management system which promotes and enhances agro-ecosystem health, including biodiversity, biological cycles, and soil biological activity. It emphasizes the use of management practices in preference to the use of off-farm inputs, taking into account that regional conditions require locally adapted systems. This is accomplished by using, where possible, agronomic, biological, and mechanical methods, as opposed to using synthetic materials, to fulfil any specific function within the system."
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The IFOAM Definition
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IFOAM, a non-governmental organization with consultancy status to the FAO, defines organic agriculture this way: "Organic agriculture is a production system that sustains the health of soils, ecosystems and people. It relies on ecological processes, biodiversity and cycles adapted to local conditions, rather than the use of inputs with adverse effects. Organic agriculture combines tradition, innovation and science to benefit the shared environment and promote fair relationships and a good quality of life for all involved."
Organic Agriculture in the United States
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In the United States, the National Organic Program in the Department of Agriculture defines organic production as "a system that is managed in accordance with the Organic Foods Production Act of 1990 (OFPA) and regulations in Title 7, Part 205 of the Code of Federal Regulations to respond to site-specific conditions by integrating cultural, biological, and mechanical practices that foster cycling of resources, promote ecological balance, and conserve biodiversity."
The Difference between 'Organic' and 'Natural'
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The term "organic" is backed by a systematic approach to agricultural practices and has legal definition and standards in many countries. The term "natural" has none of those qualities and requires no proof about how food producers grow or produce food. In the United States, farmers and manufacturers can label their food as "organic" only after passing certification. The United States Department of Agriculture defines "natural" for meat and poultry producers; however, all other food producers can define and use the term at will.
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