Organic food
What is organic production ?
Organic farming is a sustainable, environmentally friendly alternative to intensive food production methods.
Organic farming is back to the old days … right ?
Wrong ! Organic production is not a step back in time, though it does use traditional methods of building and maintaining soil fertility and controlling weeds, pests and diseases.
Organic production is based on a modern scientific understanding of ecology and soil science, and it fully utilises appropriate technological developments and machinery.
What are the main characteristics of organic production ?
- Crop rotations and growing legumes (pea and bean family) to collect nitrogen from the air to feed crops
- Avoidance of chemical weed, pest and disease control
- Recycling of valuable nutrients through compost and managed use of manures
- Maintaining a healthy soil
- Humane treatment of livestock
How are crop nutrients supplied in organic production ?
Crop rotations and recycled farm wastes form the basis of feeding crops.
Such methods have fed the human race for thousands of years up until the last half of the 20th century.
How does a farm become organic ?
Land has to undergo a conversion period of normally two years before the food produced from it can be sold as organic.
During that period the land must be managed according to organic standards.
How are animals treated in organic production ?
Organic livestock receive a very high standard of welfare and are :
- given freedom to move around, socialise and go outdoors
- fed organic food appropriate to their needs
- given comfortable, spacious bedded lying areas
- given medicines only as required
Do organic producers use pesticides in the same way as conventional farmers ?
No !Organic producers occasionally use a tiny number of organically approved pesticides, and some of these also require special permission.
No chemical weedkillers are used in organic production at all.
Is genetic engineering allowed in organic production ?
No genetically engineered products are allowed at all in production of organic food in the EC.
How do I know produce is organic ?
Organic produce is generally marked with a 'symbol' of the organic certification body with which the producer is registered.
Alternatively, packaging will normally give details of the organic certification in words.
The 'symbol' can only be shown on fully organic produce and not on ‘in-conversion’ produce.
What is in-conversion organic produce ?
‘In-conversion’ produce has been produced on land which has not yet completed its full conversion to organic status.
Are all organic standards and symbols the same ?
All organic food sold in the EC is produced to at least a common basic standard.
The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) sets a base standard for organic food produced in he UK, advised by the Advisory Committee on Organic Standards (ACOS).
Some independent certification bodies may set a higher standard still for produce they certify.
What organic symbols might I find in Northern Ireland ?
The following symbols might be commonly found on the labels of organic food in Northern Ireland:
- Soil Association
- Biodynamic / Demeter
- Organic Farmers and Growers
- Irish Organic Farmers and Growers Association
- Organic Trust
- Organic Food Federation
You might also see other EC registered symbols on produce imported from within the EC.
Where can I obtain organic food locally ?
The majority of organic food is sold through major supermarket chains, though very little of this is locally produced at present.
Some organic producers operate box delivery schemes which deliver organic produce to your home on a weekly basis.
There are also a number of farm and health food shops selling organic produce.
How much organic production is there in Northern Ireland ?
Compared with total local food production, organic production is still a tiny fraction. However, it is increasing very rapidly and there are now over 1300 hectares of land converted or in conversion to organic production.
What organic foods are produced locally ?
You can currently obtain vegetables, beef, lamb, milk, chicken, turkey, pork, eggs, potatoes and mushrooms, though supplies can be seasonal.
How does organic production care for the environment ?
- Organic production uses virtually no pesticides
- Diversity on organic farms encourages plentiful wildlife
- Conservation of the environment is an integral part of organic regulations
- Hedgerows, ponds and woodland are carefully managed and enhanced
Where can I obtain further information ?
The following DARD staff can provide further information :
Adrian Saunders Tel: (028) 9442 6765
Manus McHenry Tel: (028) 6442 6642