Organic farming is a form of agriculture which excludes the use of synthetic fertilizers and pesticides, plant growth regulators, livestock feed additives, and genetically modified organisms. As far as possible, organic farmers rely on crop rotation, green manure, compost, biological pest control, and mechanical cultivation to maintain soil productivity and control pests. Organic farming is often contrasted with conventional, or mainstream, farming.
Organic agricultural methods are internationally regulated and legally enforced by many nations, based in large part on the standards set by the International Federation of Organic Agriculture Movements, an international umbrella organization for organic organizations. Approximately 310,000 square kilometres (75 million acres) worldwide are now farmed organically. http://www.organic-world.net/2007-graphs-maps.asp#graphs
Since 1990 the market for organic products has grown at a rapid pace, averaging 20-25% per year, and this has driven a similar increase in organically managed farmland. As of 2001, the estimated total market value of certified organic products was estimated to be $20 billion (Lotter 2003:1).
The overarching goal of organic farming is defined as follows:
