Organic farming has been on the increase in recent years as consumers demand better quality food and drink and are becoming more wary of the intensive use of artificial fertilisers and pesticides. The UK government sets minimum requirements for organic farming with farmers having to meet these stringent procedures to be eligible for organic status. Food and drink can then be labelled as organic by associations such as the Soil Association www.soilassociation.org which is the UK’s largest and most recognisable trademark for organic produce.
The main requirements for organic farming are as follows:
- The guidelines strictly restrict the use of artificial chemical fertilisers and pesticides with organic farming relying instead on developing healthy, fertile sold and growing a variety of crops.
- Animals reared organically must not routinely use drugs, antibiotics or wormers and are kept in a free range environment with a more natural diet.
It is generally agreed that there are a number of benefits of organic farming including a more positive environmental impact, better animal welfare, higher levels of food safety as chemicals banned include those linked to asthma and heart disease, and better levels of nutrition.
Organic products are now widely available from major supermarkets as well as smaller shops and many organic farmers also deliver their produce direct to consumers in their area. Riverford Farm in Devon, for example, is a cooperative of organic farmers which delivers boxes of homes in the south of England.
For more information on organic farming visit the DEFRA website.
Visit the following pages for more information on organic products:
