The information on this page has been adopted from the excellent UK Soil Association website. While not Australian, it is a highly recommended source for its ability to communicate about organic agriculture and consumption. 

[ The word 'organic' as used by the Soil Association, is the equivalent of 'certified organic' is in Australia. This is because presently in Australia anyone can call anything 'organic', without it providing any of the attributes consumers normally expect should be associated with that word. This occurs at shops and stalls where sellers claim to be selling 'organic' meat, vegetable and fruit but have no proof of that except they say it is.  Regrettably, too often these assertions are bogus.  Here in Australia, only the words and symbol 'certified organic' refer to products that consumers can rely on to meet the expectations and criteria mentioned below and throughout this website. ]

 What is Organic?

Organic systems recognise that our health is reliant on the health of the soil – through the food we eat. Any food product labeled as [certified] organic meet a strict set of regulations or ‘standards’ that cover how that product was produced.

In organic farming:

• the use of artificial the chemical fertilisers is prohibited – instead, organic farmers develop a healthy, fertile soil by growing and rotating a mixture of crops using clover to fix naturally available nitrogen from the atmosphere
• the use of pesticide is severely restricted – instead they encourage natural predators like the lady bird and develop nutrient-rich soil to grow healthy crops that have a natural resistance to pests and diseases
• animal cruelty is prohibited and a truly free-range life for farm animals is guaranteed
• the routine use of drugs, antibiotics and wormers is disallowed -  instead the farmer will use preventative methods, like moving animals to fresh pasture and keeping smaller herd sizes
• the production and use of GM in animal feed is banned

How is Organic Farming Different?

Love Your Planet and Yourself With Our Five Reasons to Choose Organic

Organic is healthier choice, better for the planet, is kinder to animals and wildlife and allows us make a big difference - simply through the way we shop. With all these benefits, it’s easy to see why organic delivers such good value for money.

1. Better for your planet

Over 20% of (the UK’s) greenhouse gas emissions come from food and farming today. Nitrogen fertiliser manufacturing is the worst offender. To produce just one tonne takes one tonne of oil, seven tonnes of greenhouse gasses and one hundred tonnes of water. Organic farmers work with nature to feed the soil and control pests. By choosing organic, local and seasonal - we can significantly reduce our carbon footprint.

2. Better for your health

No food has higher amounts of beneficial minerals, essential amino acids and vitamins than organic food. Organic food contains higher levels of vitamin C and minerals like calcium, magnesium, iron and chromium as well as cancer-fighting antioxidants and Omega 3. Organic milk is on average 68% higher in Omega 3 essential fatty acids. Controversial additives including aspartame, tartrazine, MSG and hydrogenated fats are banned under organic standards.

311 pesticides are used routinely in non-organic farming and in 2005, over 40% of all non-organic fruit, vegetables and bread tested positive for pesticides by the government. Chemicals were found in all oranges tested, 90% of bread, 72% of grapes and 95% of pears.

3. Kinder to animals

Animal welfare is at the heart of organic systems. Soil Association standards rigorously protect all aspects of animal wellbeing, from rearing, feeding, shelter, transportation and slaughter. In fact, no farming system has higher levels welfare than those working to Soil Association organic standards.

Organic animals are not routinely drugged with antibiotics and are free to pursue natural behaviour because they have plenty of outside space to thrive and grow. Organic standards prohibit cruelty and guarantee truly free-range lives for farm animals.

Yes, that’s right. Many shoppers don’t realise that organic products are also free range. Eggs and meat with the Soil Association symbol have been reared to the highest level of free-range standards. Birds are looked after in smaller flocks, spend more of their lives roaming outside on fresh grass and have more space in their houses.

4. Better for wildlife

Organic farmers rely on natural methods to manage the land and control pests. They encourage natural predators and develop nutrient-rich soil and healthy crops with a natural resistance to pests and diseases. Wide field edges and hedgerows are left as natural habitats for bugs and birds to thrive.

Unsurprisingly, the UK Government’s own advisors found that diversity and quantity of plant, insect and bird life is up to 30% greater on organic than non-organic farms.

5. GM free 

Shoppers wanting to avoid GM products may be surprised to know that over a million tonnes of GM crops are imported each year to feed non-organic livestock, which in turn supply our supermarkets with pork, bacon, milk, cheese and other dairy products. Genetically modified (GM) crops and ingredients are banned under organic standards.

Other good links from the UK Soil Association: 

Is It Realy Organic - Click Here         Bogas Traders - Click Here     Supporting Real Growers - Click Here

Setting up an Organic Buying Group - Click Here