Each of us has wondered at least once: what farm products can be considered truly natural? Well, the workers do organic farming to create them. They practically do not use chemical fertilizers, pesticides, growth stimulants, feed additives and other dangerous substances. They replace them with natural fertilizers: manure, green manure, crop residues, ash, peat, eggshells and others.
How does a farmer grow natural products?
Farmers can increase the yield without the use of harmful substances through crop rotation, organic fertilizers and special methods of soil treatment. For example, active plowing, mulching, weed killing by fire, manual and mechanical weeding. Special plants are bred to combat pests, traps and obstacles are set, and synthetic plant protection products are abandoned.
Some farmers attract bees and other plant pollinators. Bees’ contribution to the world economy is estimated at $160 billion annually.
Ecological Principles
There are 4 principles of organic agriculture that were developed by the International Federation of Organic Agriculture (IFOAM). It was founded in 1972.
- Health Principle
A healthy society is associated with a healthy ecosystem. Organic agriculture improves the health of animals, plants, and the entire planet as a whole. Farmers must produce high quality products, but not use chemical fertilizers, pesticides, and food additives.
- The Principle of Ecology
Production should be based on ecology and processing. The principles of farming and animal husbandry are important to maintain the balance of nature. Farmers need to be able to adapt to habitat, local conditions, culture, and scale of production.
- Principle of Justice
Humans must treat the environment and the animal world fairly. It is important to produce quality products, keep animals in comfortable conditions, think about the interests of future generations, consider environmental and social costs, and more.
- The Principle of Caring.
Agriculture has an obligation to protect the health of current and future generations as well as the environment. It is important to test new technologies and constantly review and update existing farming practices.