Several national governments and a multitude of private
certification and farmer organizations have defined organic
agriculture. In the past, differences in these definitions were
significant, but the demand for consistency by the trade has led to
greater uniformity. According to the definition of the Codex
Alimentarius, "organic agriculture is a holistic production
management system which promotes and enhances agro-ecosystem
health, including biodiversity, biological cycles and soil
biological activity. It emphasizes the use of management practices
in preference to the use of off-farm inputs, taking into account
that regional conditions require locally adapted systems. This is
accomplished by using, where possible, agronomic, biological and
mechanical methods, as opposed to using synthetic materials, to
fulfil any specific function within the system." Products labelled
as "organic" are those certified as having been produced according
to clearly defined organic production standards, for instance
formulated in regulations. |