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What does organic actually mean?
Organic farmers aim to produce good food from a balanced healthy soil. Strict regulations (known as standards) define what they can and cannot do, placing a strong emphasis on protecting the environment and animal welfare. Organic farmers use crop rotations to improve the fertility of the soil. They cannot grow GM crops and out of the hundreds of pesticides available to conventional farmers there are only 7 allowed under organic farming (4 under soil association standards – copper, soft soap, rotenone and sulphur) and then only for specified purposes as a last resort and with permission.
Parasite problems on farm animals are controlled by moving the animals regularly to fresh pasture and other preventative methods rather than the routine treatment of drug doses and antibiotics.
