Information on voluntary Certification - Foodcert India

2. ENVIRONMENTAL CERTIFICATIONORGANIC AGRICULTUREOrganic agriculture is a production method which manages the farm andits environment as a single system. It utilizes both traditional and scientificknowledge to enhance the health of the agro-ecosystem in which the farmoperates. Organic farms rely on the use of local natural resources and themanagement of the ecosystem rather than external agricultural inputs suchas mineral fertilizers and agrochemicals. Organic agriculture thereforerejects synthetic chemicals and genetically modified inputs. It promotessustainable traditional farming practices that maintain soil fertility suchas fallow.23Main requirements?Ecological balance in an organic farming communityThere are specific requirements for most organically certified crops as well aslivestock, fish farming, bee keeping, forestry and the harvesting of wild products.Organic standards require that there is a conversion period (or time that a farm hasto use organic production methods before it can be certified, usually 2 - 3 years).