Organic Agriculture
History, Principles and Essence
History and Essence
Organic agriculture is rooted in a return to the natural origins of farming - times when people cultivated the land in harmony with the laws of nature, without chemical interventions or synthetic inputs. For centuries, agriculture itself was inherently "organic," based on maintaining soil fertility, using natural fertilizers and preserving biodiversity.
In the first half of the 20th century, following the Industrial Revolution, agriculture underwent rapid transformation. The use of synthetic fertilizers, pesticides and intensive production methods led to increased yields, but at the same time caused serious problems, including soil fertility degradation, water and environmental pollution, loss of biodiversity and health risks for people.
In response to these challenges, the ideological foundations of organic agriculture began to take shape between the 1920s and 1940s. In Europe and the United States, scientists and farmers started to emphasize that soil is a living system and that its health must be the cornerstone of agriculture. During this period, the organic agriculture movement emerged as a counterbalance to chemically intensive farming.
In the 1970s and 1980s, organic agriculture became more structured and organized. International and national organizations were established, and standards and certification systems were developed to define what can be considered organic production. Founded in 1972, IFOAM (the International Federation of Organic Agriculture Movements) played a key role in shaping and promoting organic principles worldwide.
Today, organic agriculture is recognized as one of the key pillars of sustainable development. It integrates environmental, social, and economic approaches, aiming to provide healthy food, protect natural resources, and support the development of rural communities. Organic agriculture is not limited to simply "avoiding chemicals"; it is a holistic system that views soil, plants, animals and humans as one interconnected whole.
In many countries, organic agriculture has become part of public policy, while consumer trust in and demand for organic products continue to grow. This trend is driven not only by the spread of healthy lifestyles, but also by the urgent challenges of climate change, food security, and environmental protection. Today, organic agriculture is seen not as a return to the past, but as a future-oriented solution based on knowledge, experience, and cooperation with nature.
Principles of Organic Agriculture
Organic agriculture is based on four core principles that shape the overall philosophy and practice of the system. These principles aim to ensure the long-term harmonious development of soil, the environment, human health, and agricultural activity.
The Principle of Care
Organic agriculture should be managed in a precautionary and responsible manner to protect the health and well-being of current and future generations and the environment.
Organic agriculture is a living and dynamic system that shall serve to the benefit and well-being of human societies and natural environments. Consequently, new technologies need to be assessed and existing methods reviewed. Given the incomplete understanding of ecosystems and agriculture, care must be taken. This principle states that precaution and responsibility are the key concerns in management, development and technology choices in organic agriculture.
To ensure that organic agriculture is healthy, safe and ecologically sound it has to be built on science, practical experience, accumulated wisdom and traditional and indigenous knowledge offer valid solutions, tested by time.
Organic agriculture should prevent significant risks by adopting appropriate technologies and rejecting unpredictable ones, such as genetic engineering. Decisions should reflect the values and needs of all who might be affected, through transparent and participatory processes.
The Principle of Health
Organic agriculture should sustain and enhance the health of soil, plant, animal, human and planet as one and indivisible.
This principle points out that the health of individuals and communities cannot be separated from the health of ecosystems – healthy soils produce healthy crops that foster the health of animals and people. Health is the wholeness and integrity of living systems. It is not simply the absence of illness, but the maintenance of physical, mental, social and ecological well-being. Immunity, resilience and regeneration are key characteristics of health. The role of organic agriculture, whether in farming, processing, distribution, or consumption, is to sustain and enhance the health of ecosystems and organisms from the smallest in the soil to human beings.
The Principle of Ecology
Organic agriculture should be based on living ecological systems and cycles, work with them, emulate them and help sustain them.
This implies that organic production is to be based on ecological processes, and recycling. Nourishment and well-being are achieved through the ecology of the specific production environment. Organic farming, pastoral and wild harvest systems should fit the cycles and ecological balances in nature. These cycles are universal but their operation is site-specific. Organic management must be adapted to local conditions, ecology, culture and scale. Inputs should be reduced by reuse, recycling and efficient management of materials and energy in order to maintain and improve environmental quality and conserve resources. The utmost goal is to attain ecological balance through the design of farming systems, establishment of habitats and maintenance of genetic and agricultural diversity. Those who produce, process, trade, or consume organic products should protect and benefit the common environment including landscapes, climate, habitats, biodiversity, air and water.
The Principle of Fairness
Organic agriculture should build on relationships that ensure fairness with regard to the common environment and life opportunities.
Fairness is characterized by equity, respect, justice and stewardship of the shared world, both among people and in their relations to other living beings.
This principle emphasizes that those involved in organic agriculture should conduct human relationships in a manner that ensures fairness at all levels and to all parties – farmers, workers, processors, distributors, traders, and consumers. Organic agriculture should provide everyone involved with a good quality of life, and contribute to food sovereignty and reduction of poverty. It aims to produce a sufficient supply of good quality food and other products. This principle insists that animals should be provided with the conditions and opportunities of life that are in accord with their physiology, natural behavior and well-being.
Natural and environmental resources that are used for production and consumption should be managed in a way that is socially and ecologically just and should be held in trust for future generations. Fairness requires systems of production, distribution and trade that are open and equitable and account for real environmental and social costs.