Plants

Plants and animals suffer almost immediately when their habitat is disrupted. Given the pace at which habitats are being destroyed, it is evident that extinction of species is accelerating.

The Sustainability Flower guidelines require a transparent reporting on

- Strategies, current actions and future plans for managing biodiversity
- Actions taken to prevent plant species loss
-  Steps taken to ensure a wide variety of different plants in and around the farm

It is a general principle of organic farming that every living organism should be held in high regard, from the tiniest microorganism living in the soil to the mightiest tree towering above it. For this reason, every link in the organic food supply chain is geared towards maintaining and, wherever possible, increasing the diversity of plants and animals.  When the term biodiversity is used in the context of organic agriculture, it doesn’t just mean more plants and animals, but also that more of the plants and animals native to a particular area grow in a natural way. Particular emphasis is also given to the preservation of native and endangered species of animals and plants.

Organic farming prohibits the use of genetically modified organisms (GMO’s) in either plant or animal production. This helps maintain populations of native species of plants and animals while encouraging the use of a more diverse range of plants and animals in organic agriculture.