What does “organic” mean?

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.

Advantage:

In nature, decomposition of organic matter creates a natural fertilizer. Applying organic compost or well-aged herbivore manure adds nutrient-rich organic material to the soil, improving quality and texture. Adding organic material to the soil increases its ability to hold water; reduces erosion from water and wind; decreases compaction and crusting of the soil; and raises soi l pH. A study at Virginia Tech comparing organic or inorganic fertilizers determined that organic fertilizer is the better choice. Creating your own organic fertilizer from leaves, grass clippings, kitchen scraps and yard debris recycles waste into valuable, no-cost fertilizer. Natural fertilizers are less likely to burn tender, young plants as they are less concentrated than chemical formulas. You may also want the peace of mind of knowing the food you cultivate is free of noxious chemicals. Natural fertilizers are chemical-free and can save you money. Until early in the twentieth century, composted manure, kitchen scraps, and other organic wastes represented the only means of improving soil fertility. Organic farming and gardening were not moral or environmental choices, but simply the way of life. The advantages of such a system are many, including the following points.

Improved Soil Health

Virtually every aspect of organic gardening revolves around the health of the soil. Organic fertilizer contributes to soil health in the following ways:

Increased Organic Matter: Natural soil is rich in organic matter. Increasing organic matter in agricultural soil improves the soil structure, creating more air space and water retention within the soil.

Reduced Soil Erosion: A higher proportion of organic material in the soil will also prevent soil erosion, helping to avoid the dust bowl effect seen in the 1930s.

Healthy Ecosystem: Organic Fertilizer is gentler on microorganisms and earthworms living in the soil, creating a healthy ecosystem that is sustainable and conducive to long-term use.

Steady Release of Nutrients

The slow and gradual release of nutrients is listed among both the advantages and disadvantages of organic fertilizer. As an advantage, the natural release of elements means that there is a reduced risk of nutrient burn from over-fertilization. This approach also means that fertilizer application is required less frequently, reducing operating cost and manual labor. With organic fertilizer, nutrient availability and uptake by plants occur at roughly an equal rate, meaning nutrients are preserved in soil and plant matter rather than leaching away with rainwater. The resulting plant growth occurs at a natural, healthy pace. This tends to produce stronger, more stable plants than those grown at an artificially accelerated rate, theoretically producing improved taste and nutritional value at the same time.

More Economical

Organic fertilizer is potentially a cheaper option than chemical alternatives. If you have compost or live in a rural area, the only cost is time. Many farmers will sell manure by the truckload or even give it away if you are willing to pick it up. In urban and suburban neighborhoods, a composting unit can be cheap, effective, and unobtrusive. For a nominal upfront investment, even apartment dwellers can have their own organic worm bin composting system to feed a balcony garden.

Better for the Environment

The combined influence of increased organic matter and reduced nutrient leaching means that elements such as nitrogen and phosphorus will end up in your plants' roots instead of the local waterways. Nutrient leaching from agriculture is a major culprit in the development of algae blooms on lakes and ponds. This process, known as eutrophication, disrupts ecosystems and renders water unfit for human use.

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Organic foods provide a variety of benefits. Some studies show that organic foods have more beneficial nutrients, such as antioxidants, than their conventionally grown counterparts. In addition, people with allergies to foods, chemicals, or preservatives often find their symptoms lessen or go away when they eat only organic foods. In addition:

Organic produce contains fewer pesticides. Pesticides are chemicals such as fungicides, herbicides, and insecticides. These chemicals are widely used in conventional agriculture and residues remain on (and in) the food we eat.

Organic food is often fresher. Fresh food tastes better. Organic food is usually fresher because it doesn’t contain preservatives that make it last longer. Organic produce is often (but not always, so watch where it is from) produced on smaller farms near where it is sold.

Organic farming is better for the environment. Organic farming practices reduce pollution (air, water, soil), conserve water, reduce soil erosion, increase soil fertility, and use less energy. Farming without pesticides is also better for nearby birds and small animals as well as people who live close to or work on farms.

Organically raised animals are NOT given antibiotics, growth hormones, or fed animal byproducts. The use of antibiotics in conventional meat production helps create antibiotic-resistant strains of bacteria. This means that when someone gets sick from these strains they

will be less responsive to antibiotic treatment. Not feeding animal byproducts to other animals reduces the risk of mad cow disease (BSE). In addition, the animals are given more space to move around and access to the outdoors, both of which help to keep the animals healthy.

Organic food is GMO-free. Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs) or genetically engineered (GE) foods are plants or animals whose DNA has been altered in ways that cannot occur i n nature or in traditional crossbreeding, most commonly in order to be resistant to pesticides or produce an insecticide. In most countries, organic crops contain no GMOs and organic meat comes from animals raised on organic, GMO-free feed.

Disadvantage:

Natural fertilizers are slow to break down into the nutrients the growing garden requires. Many natural fertilizers, such as manure, seaweed or fish oil, are quite smelly and are too offensive to use on indoor plants. Gathering natural materials, such as seaweed, grass clippings and leaves; to add to the compost pile is labor-intensive and time-consuming. Distribution of nutrients in organic fertilizer varies. Organic materials break down at different rates, so the composition and content of organic fert ilizer is never consistent. It is a misconception to believe that just because a fertilizer is organic, it is automatically safer. Organic fertilizer, if you apply it incorrectly, can contribute to surface and groundwater contamination, create a nutritional imbalance in the soil and cause salt burns. Organic fertilizer holds many advantages over chemical alternatives, but it may not be best in every situation. Some potential disadvantages include:

Limited Nutrient Availability: The slow-and-steady approach that makes organic fertilizer perfect for most applications can pose a problem in certain situations. The release of nutrients from organic fertilizers can be dependent on both ambient temperatures and the presence of microorganisms in the soil. Damaged soils may lack the necessary biological conditions for effective composting. Severely nutrient-deprived plants needing a boost might do better initially with a readily available nutrient mixture in a liquid form.

Labor-Intensive: Organic fertilizers can be bulky, messy materials. Some would argue that working with organic fertilizer is a labor of love, but turning compost piles, moving manure, and spreading solid fertilizer are not for everyone. This also means that applying fertilizer on a large scale can be more difficult, as heavy manure or blood meal granules are less suitable for mechanical spreaders.

Potentially Pathogenic: Incomplete composting can leave certain pathogens in the organic matter. These pathogens can enter the water system or the food crops, causing human health and environmental problems.

Expensive: Commercial organic fertilizers are often more expensive per unit than comparable chemical products.