Food Labels 101 Masterguide

GLOSSARY
Aquaculture: Raising fish in a farm-like
setting for human consumption that can
occur indoors or out.
Biosecurity: Strategies put in place to help
protect animals or organisms from disease.
In farming, this refers to the prevention of
disease spread from one animal to another.
Confinement: Being kept in a small area
without space to move around freely or
access the outdoors. This could look like
a small cage or a large building that is
overcrowded.
Crop rotation: Alternating which crops are
grown in a field on a yearly basis in order
to protect the health of the soil and prevent
nutrient decline in agricultural soils.
Dual production: Raising animals under
differing practices on the same farm. This
enables farmers to sell the same product
to multiple markets. For example, a farmer
could raise some cows under organic
practices and others conventionally.
Factory farming: Industrialized,
concentrated mass production of animal
products. Occurs in a low-cost, highefficiency
factory-like setting.
Genetically modified organism/GMO:
Genetically modified organism that has had
its DNA changed or altered through the
process of genetic engineering. This usually
takes place in a laboratory setting.
Independent farmer: Farmer who does not
operate under the control of a corporation.
They own their land, livestock, and seeds
and determine their own growing practices.
Industry standard: The norms of the
agricultural sector for raising animals,
producing crops, or taking care of people
and the land. This generally includes largescale
production, crowded living quarters,
chemical use, antibiotics, environmental
damage, and a focus on quantity over
quality.
Integrated pest management/IPM: Using
chemicals in a controlled manner to control
pests and disease while making as small of
an impact on the environment as possible.
Non-GMO/GMO free: Lacking the presence
of genetically modified organisms.
Organic: This can mean two things. Organic
generally refers to anything that was at some
point alive and can return to the natural
environment. In this instance, think about
sticks, leaves, fecal matter, food products,
and certain types of paper products. Organic
is also used to refer to USDA organic
certification guidelines, and the specific
growing practices behind the label. Many
farms use organic practices but don’t have
the certification. Therefore, this word is used
as a philosophy and a label.
Regenerative agriculture: Practices that
return life to land by bolstering soil health,
creating wildlife habitat, and protecting
waterways.
Ruminant: Mammals that chew food
multiple times as it is regurgitated from its
stomach. Ruminants usually have hooves
and multiple stomachs. This includes cows,
moose, and goats.
5