"Organic" refers to the way fruit, vegetables, herbs, grains and other agricultural products are grown. It is the most traditional method of farming, relying on pro-active principles used for many generations all over the world. Maintaining a healthy soil and a wide variety of different plants and animals (biological diversity) is at the heart of organic farming.

Certified Assurance

Organic food is well regulated in the Western world with many governments having passed organic laws to define what growers may or may not do.  Governments also oversea the activities of national certification agencies which make sure that organic food is grown according to these laws.  Voluntary grower associations (such Demeter, Soil Association, Bioland, etc.) have developed stricter standards for their members, which exceed the requirements by law. 

Healthy Soils

Soil is the most valued capital of and for organic agriculture. Organic soil is a living conglomerate of millions of organisms, which sustain life on earth. Organic farming builds soils through a number of materials, including the use of fermented humus-rich compost, green manures and homeopathic sprays.   Crop rotation, companion planting and cover crops are also widely employed. 

Clean Water

Water makes up to two-thirds of our body mass and covers three-quarters of the planet. Local water companies have been faced with the ever-growing challenge of cleaning rivers of chemicals from conventional agriculture. From the farm to the supermarket, organic growers and processors use practices that eliminate pollution and thus protect and conserve precious water resources.

Fresh Air

Organic farming contributes to improve the air quality.  To start with, organic agriculture does not make use of chemical fertilizers, pesticides or fungicides, which are based on fossil fuel.  To the contrary, humus and organic matter help to bind CO2 in the soil, which would otherwise be released in the atmosphere. 

Biological Diversity

The loss of species on a global basis, whether plant, animal or insect, is one of our most pressing environmental concerns. Organic practices encourage biodiversity by working with nature. While many species have been lost or have become extinct, many organic growers have been collecting and using traditional seed varieties for decades. This helps preserve the diversity of food crops for future generations.

Strong Communities

The health of communities is dwindling everywhere, particularly in rural areas.  To compensate for this loss many organic farmers make a conscious effort to restore social relations with their neighbors, customers or other members of society.  Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) and World Wide Opportunities on Organic Farms (WWOOF) are some such initiatives.  Individual farms provide meaningful work for the mentally and physically challenged.  During ‘Open Days’, town folk can experience the life on a farm and see for themselves how their food is grown. 

Liveable Environment

Organic agriculture respects the ecosystem as a living organism.  It provides a healthy environment for all living creatures —beginning with farm workers, farm animals and cultivated plants and ending with the surrounding communities and natural wildlife.  In addition to which organic farms contribute to healthy soils, clean water and fresh air.  Many organic growers demonstrate their commitment to a livable environment by their choice of renewable energy.  

No GMO

The safety of GMO-crops has not yet been universally proven.  Wind- and insect-borne pollen from GMO plants can cause the development of new weeds and may seriously disrupt the ecosystem.  Cross-pollination with organic crops poses a serious risk to the livelihood of organic growers worldwide.  It is for this reason that certifiers do not allow genetically manipulated organism to be used in organic farming.