WHAT MAKES ORGANIC FARMING DIFFERENT?
What Is Organic? An Overview Of The Process, Certification & Benefits Of Eating Organic Food
What Is Organic?
Organic food is grown without the use of synthetic pesticides, herbicides, or fertilizers. It is also not genetically modified or irradiated. To be certified organic, a farm must adhere to strict guidelines set forth by the USDA National Organic Program.
The benefits of eating organic food include improved human health, environmental protection, and animal welfare. Studies have shown that organic food is more nutritious than conventional food and that it has lower levels of harmful chemicals. Eating organic food also supports farmers who use sustainable practices and helps to preserve our environment.
The Process for Organic Food
Organic food is produced using a set of specific guidelines and standards set by the USDA. In order to be certified as organic, farmers and food producers must follow these guidelines throughout the entire production process, from start to finish. Some of the key requirements for organic certification include:
· Using only approved methods and materials for growing, harvesting, and processing food
· Maintaining strict separation between organic and non-organic areas of production
· Regular testing of soil and water to ensure compliance with standards
· Keeping detailed records of all practices and procedures used throughout the production process
Certification process of organic farms
The USDA organic label is backed by a certification system that verifies farmers or handling facilities located anywhere in the world comply with the USDA Organic Regulations.
The organic system plan is the foundation of the organic certification process.they address all practices of the farming or handling systems, such as tilling, grazing, harvesting, storing and transporting.
Every operation that applies for organic certification is first inspected on site by a certifying agent. These comprehensive top-to-bottom inspections differ in scope depending on the farm or facility. crops they include inspection of fields, soil conditions, crop health, approaches to management of weeds and other crop pests, water facility, storage areas and equipment At a handling or processing facility. an inspector evaluates the receiving, processing, and storage areas used for organic ingredients .
The inspector presents findings to the certifying agent following observation of practices on the farm and also presents an assessment of the risk of contamination from prohibited materials and might even take soil, tissue or product samples as needed. The inspector also analyzes potential hazards and critical control points and makes sure procedures to prevent contamination are adequate.
If an operation completed with the rules, The organic farm or facility continues to update its plan as it modifies its practices, and an inspection is done at least once a year to maintain certification.
DIFFRENCE BETWEEN ORGANIC AND NON ORGANIC FOOD
Why Do You Need An Organic Certification?
Organic certification provides a guarantee throughout all of the supply and consumption chain, allowing businesses to highlight their ethical practices. It ensures complete traceability, a transparency that meets consumer expectations, as well as higher wages for farmers and processors.
the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) and Other organisation working in the field have introduced different logos to help customers identify authentic organic products
