3 - Organic Farming: Concepts and Principles

Summary

International Federation of Organic Agriculture Movement (IFOAM-Principles)

The International Federation of Organic Agriculture Movement, which is the worldwide umbrella organization for organic agriculture, was founded in 1972 in Versailles, near Paris, by five organisations from three continents, Europe, the USA and Africa. The membership has now grown to over 750 from more than 100 countries. IFOAM's principles for organic agriculture take into account all agriculture systems that promote environmentally, socially and economically sound production of food and fibres. It aims to optimise quality in all aspects of agriculture and environment, with soil fertility as the key to successful agricultural production.

The broad principles and practices that are expected to be followed in organic farming as per IFOAM Standards are as follows:

• to encourage and enhance biological cycles within the farming system

• to increase, enhance and maintain long term soil fertility

• to mobilise organic matter and nutrient elements locally within closed systems

• to use, as far as possible, renewable resources in locally organized agricultural systems

• to avoid all forms of pollution

• to maintain genetic diversity

• to allow livestock to express their innate behaviour

• to allow adequate returns to the producer, and

• to produce qualitative food in sufficient quantity which is acceptable socially and economically.