Organic agriculture involves more than replacing a bag of fertilizer or stopping a practice. It requires consideration of soil management, organisms, inputs and responsibility throughout the production system.
IFOAM's definition
IFOAM describes organic agriculture as a production system that sustains the health of soils, ecosystems and people, relying on ecological processes, biodiversity and cycles adapted to local conditions. This provides direction for a system, rather than a quality label for an individual input.
Four principles
IFOAM identifies four principles: health, ecology, fairness and care. These principles help frame questions about the effects of production methods, rather than only immediate yields.
When planning, they can be used to review soil management, resource use, working conditions and decision-making when information is incomplete. This is a practical interpretation, rather than a checklist that automatically suffices for certification.
Practices and certification are two different questions
An establishment can change its management toward organic practices, but declaring a product certified requires a defined standard, documentation and scope. Using vermicompost should not lead to the conclusion that all resulting produce has attained organic status.
Start with records of the production system
- Record the land's history and the inputs used.
- List the seeds or planting stock, fertilizers and management measures currently used.
- Identify the objectives and standards you want to pursue.
- Record activities, results and issues requiring adjustment.
This article introduces concepts and ways to frame questions; it does not confirm the certification of any establishment or provide a general conversion roadmap for every farm.
Read more: Improving soil through organic management: measure the problem first, monitor afterward; Organic food: understanding certification labels and the limits of health promises.