introduction

What is organic food?

Making a commitment to healthy eating is a great start towards a healthier life. Beyond eating
more fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and good fats, however, there is the question of food safety,
nutrition, and sustainability. How foods are grown or raised can impact both your health and the
environment. This brings up the questions: What is the difference between organic foods and
conventionally grown foods? Is organic always best? What about locally grown foods?

The term organic refers to the way agricultural products are grown and processed. Specific
requirements must be met and maintained in order for products to be labeled as "organic."
Organic crops must be grown in safe soil, have no modifications, and must remain separate from
conventional products. Farmers are not allowed to use synthetic pesticides, bioengineered genes
(GMOs), petroleum-based fertilizers, and sewage sludge-based fertilizers.
Organic livestock must have access to the outdoors and be given organic feed. They may not be
given antibiotics, growth hormones, or any animal-by-products.


history

Need for organic


Better Nutrition As compared to a longer time conventionally grown food, organic food
is much richer in nutrients. Nutritional value of a food item is determined by its mineral
and vitamin content. Organic farming enhances the nutrients of the soil which is passed
on to the plants and animals.
Free of poison: Organic farming does not make use of poisonous chemicals, pesticides
and weedicides. Studies reveal that a large section of the population fed on toxic
substances used in conventional agriculture have fallen prey to diseases like cancer. As
organic farming avoids these toxins, it reduces the sickness and diseases due to them.
Enhanced Taste: The quality of food is also determined by its taste. Organic food often
tastes better than other food. The sugar content in organically grown fruits and
vegetables provides them with extra taste. The quality of fruits and vegetables can be
measured using Brix analysis
Four Principles of Organic Farming

Principle of Health: Organic agriculture must contribute to the health and well
being of soil, plants, animals, humans and the earth. It is the sustenance of
mental, physical, ecological and social well being. For instance, it provides
pollution and chemical free, nutritious food items for humans.
Principle of Fairness: Fairness is evident in maintaining equity and justice of the
shared planet both among humans and other living beings. Organic farming
provides good quality of life and helps in reducing poverty. Natural resources
must be judiciously used and preserved for future generations.
Principle of Ecological Balance: Organic farming must be modeled on living
ecological systems. Organic farming methods must fit the ecological balances and
cycles in nature.
Principle of Care: Organic agriculture should be practiced in a careful and
responsible manner to benefit the present and future generations and the
environment
process
Types of organic food
The major types of organic foods are:

Organic Vegetables and Fruits: These are the most common and widely
available organic food products in the market having high quality.

Organic Dairy Products: organic dairy products are very popular and safe
as well as healthy to use. Organic dairy products include all the products
such as milk, cheese, cottage cheese, ice creams, butter, etc.

Organic Fish & Meat: Fishes which are caught from the open seas are not
considered as organic fishes but are the ones which are rared in various
fish farms. In order to get organic meat, special precautions are taken to
ensure that the animals are not provided with any antibiotics or hormone
stimulants and those they are fed 100% organic and natural feed and are
made to graze in organic pastures.
Difference in organic and non organic farming

1. Health / Social Differences

Chemical Farming Organic Farming
Cause pollution to the environment
Chemically managed soils release the residues in soil and water
environment leads to pollution. sometimes it causes toxic effect to
human environment
Pollution free approach
All practices are interrelated and the end product will be decomposable
one. so there is no cause for environmental pollution
Provide chemical mixed /toxic food to the human life
Inorganic fertilizers (nitrogen) and pesticide (synthetic compound)
does not decompose properly and leave residues in plant parts, when
used as feed material for animal and food for human beings may
create a diseases, and malformations
Provide nutritive food to the human life
In organic farming, ideal combination of agronomical, physical and
biological measures bring down the population harmful microbes and
do not release any residues in soil and crop environment. The plant
parts from organically managed soils are intuitively rich and safe
Causes inborn disease to the human beings
Presence of toxic substance in food materials alters the genetic
characteristics of human beings. this genetic mutation cause several
in borne disease to human beings
It provides the immune power to the human beings
Crops are grown under balanced nutritive approach. Crop uptake
nutrients as and when required in entire growing period and convert
the absorbed nutrients properly in to sink. when the food material
from organically managed soils are consumed, natural immunity of the
human beings is developed.
2. Economic Differences

Chemical Farming Organic Farming
High investments in inputs
Inorganic input materials are costly and require much technical knowledge and
investment to produce and handle
Low investments in inputs material
Organic input materials are less costly source, readily available at the door step &
very easy to apply.
Highly fluctuation in yield
Fertilizer managed soil does not provide nutrient properly during the entire crop
duration. The deficiency of one essential nutrient directly effects the growth and
metabolism and act antagonistic to other nutrient absorption by crop resulting
in fluctuation and loss in yield
Satisfactory and reliable yield
The nutrients are available in entire crop period in balanced way. It provides
optimal environment to the crop growth and taps the full genetic potential of
crops to provide satisfactory level yield and quality
No strands to break competitiveness
There is no difference in harvested product among the chemically managed
farming. it reduces the offer in a competitive market Products sold in low rate
Chemical farming products are less keeping quality as well as low nutrient
status. There fore it offers only low rates in market.
High efficiency to improve the competitiveness
The end product is superior in nutritive quality than chemical farming and gets
higher offer in the competitive market Offered premium price. Where as in organic
farming products presence of potassium improves the keeping quality and also it
have more nutritive value in balanced way. it offers much premium price in market
Economics of organic farming
Costs of production,
Yield, and
Price



Advantages and disadvantages
Advantages of Organic Farming

Lower Growing Cost: The economics of organic farming is characterized by increasing profits via reduced water use, lower expenditure on fertilizer
and energy, and increased retention of topsoil. To add to this the increased demand for organic produce makes organic farming a profitable option for
farmers.

Enhances Soil Nourishment: Organic farming effectively addresses soil management. Even damaged soil, subject to erosion and salinity, are able to
feed on micro-nutrients via crop rotation, inter-cropping techniques and the extensive use of green manure. The absence of chemicals in organic
farming does not kill microbes which increase nourishment of the soil.

Resistance to Disease and Pest: Farming the organic way enables farmers to get rid of irksome weeds without the use of any mechanical and chemical
applications. Practices such as hand-weeding and soil enhancement with mulch, corn gluten meal, garlic and clove oil, table salt and borax not only
get rid of weeds and insects, but also guarantee crop quality.

Increased Drought Tolerance: Organically grown plants are more drought tolerant. The soluble salts in cells of fertilizers-fed plants are unable to
osmotically draw sufficient water to maintain safe dilution, thereby increasing the salt content. This salt level reaches toxic levels and result in the
death of plants.

Environment-friendly Practices: The use of green pesticides such as neem, compost tea and spinosad is environment-friendly and non-toxic. These
pesticides help in identifying and removing diseased and dying plants in time and subsequently, increasing crop defense systems.



disadvantages
Disadvantages of Organic Farming

Lower Productivity: An organic farm cannot produce as much yield as a conventional or
industrialized farm. A 2008 survey and study conducted by the UN Environmental Program
concluded that organic methods of farming result in small yields even in developing areas,
compared to conventional farming techniques. Though this point is debatable as the productivity
and soil quality of an industrialized farm decreases rapidly over the years.

Requires Skill: An organic farmer requires greater understanding of his crop and needs to keep a
close watch on his crops as there are no quick fixes involved, like pesticides or chemical fertilizers.
Sometimes it can be hard to meet all the strenuous requirements and the experience to carry out
organic farming.

Time-consuming: Significant amounts of time and energy are required to execute the detailed
methods and techniques that are required for a farm to be called an organic farm. Failure to
comply with any of these requirements could result in loss of certification, which the farmer will
not be able to regain in up to three years.


Certification 1

NPOP India Organic
Indian National Programme for Organic Production & India Organic Logo is
governed by APEDA, which provides national standards for organic products
through a National Accreditation Policy and Programme.
The aims of the National Programme for organic production include: (1) To
provide the means of evaluation of certification programmes for organic
agriculture & products as per internationally approved criteria.
(2) To accredit certification programmes.
(3) To facilitate certification of organic products in conformity to the
National Standards for Organic Products. (4) To encourage the development
of organic farming and organic processing.

Certification 2
This new standard reflects a sustainable business commitment which
inspires, promotes and supports well-being and respect for all beings and
for Mother Nature. Earth Seer stands for the following criteria:
Ethical
Accountable
Reliable
Trustworthy
Holistic
Socially, Environmentally and Economically Responsible


Organic food is healthy
strongly disagree
somewhat disagree
neither
somewhat agree
strongly agree
13%
18%
12%
22%
35%
Preference of taste of organic food
strongly disagree
somewhat disagree
neither
somewhat agree
strongly agree
10%
25%
15%
30%
20%
Organic food is waste of money
20%
25%
23%
18%
14%
strongly disagree somewhat disagree neither somewhat agree strongly agree
Difference between organic and non
organic food
23%
20%
20%
13%
14%
strongly disagree somewhat disagree neither somewhat agree strongly agree
FACTORS AFFECTING ORGANIC BUYING
DECISION

1. Lower Price For Organic Food

not important
slightly
important
quite
important
extremly
important
19%
34%
33%
14%
lower price for organic food
lower price for organic food
Scientific evidence organic food is
healthier

9%
33%
29%
29%
not important
slightly important
quite important
extremly important
conclusion
Example of organic food companies in india