High quality Safe working conditions Sustainable & renewable · neering includes recombinant DNA, cell fusion, micro and macro-encapsulation, gene deletion and doubling, introducing

High quality

Sufficient quantity

Safe working conditions

Living, healthy soil

Biological diversity

Ecological harmony

Sustainable & renewableresources

Healthy animals

Natural livestock socialization

Integrated, diverse farms

Adequate farmer returns

...guaranteed.

What is Organic Farming?

Certified Organic Associations of British Columbia Page 1

WWhhaatt iiss OOrrggaanniicc FFaarrmmiinngg??

Organic farming is an agriculturalproduction system that promotes and

enhances biological diversity. It isbased on minimal use of off-farm

inputs and on management practicesthat restore, maintain and enhance

ecological harmony.

COABC

Vernon BC

ph: (250) 260-4429

fax: (250) 260-4436

email: [email protected]

www.CertifiedOrganic.bc.ca


Page 2 Certified Organic Associations of British Columbia

IItt’’ss AAbboouutt tthhee SSooiillThe concept that soil is a living sys-tem is fundamental to understand-ing the principles of organic farm-ing. Organic farmers believe there isan essential link between the healthof the soil, the health of plants, thehealth of animals and ultimately, thehealth of human populations. Thusthe restoration, maintenance andenhancement of soil life is the cor-nerstone of the organic method. Allconcerns about organic practices canbe answered by posing the question,“Is it good for the soil?”



TThheerree AArree MMoorree DDoo’’ss TThhaann DDoonn’’ttssThough often characterized by what can’t be used, such as syn-thetic fertilizers and pesticides, organic farming is actuallymore dependent on active improvements in the farm structure,such as crop rotations and green manure crops. Simply remov-ing agrochemical inputs is not enough to turn a conventionalfarm into an organic farm. Dynamic organic practices whichimprove the biological activity of the soil and the environmentmust be undertaken.

Most organicfarmers paycareful atten-tion to com-posting.Quality com-post is teemingwith soil life. Itis the essentialsoil organismswhich areimportant to

organic farms, rather than just the commonly used crop nutri-ents. Organic farmers believe that soil which has been inoculat-ed with quality compost is itself healthier soil for growingcrops. Plants grown in healthy soil will be better able to feedand protect themselves, thus not requiring heavy applicationsof fertilizers and pesticides. Green manure crops – growing acrop (clover, buckwheat or rye, for example) in order to ploughit into the soil before it seeds – provide organic matter andnutrients to following crops. Every organic farm must have a‘Crop Rotation Plan’ to ensure that steps are being taken toimprove the overall quality of the soil. The expression, "Feedthe soil, not the plant," is a familiar refrain among organicfarmers.



AAnniimmaallWWeellffaarree IIssIImmppoorrttaannttSimilarly, the key toorganic livestock man-agement is the healthand living environ-ment of the animals.Rather than relying on antibiotics to reduce disease, organicfarms prevent disease by ensuring that animals have a healthylifestyle, with lots of pasture, comfortable and spacious shelter,and opportunity for natural socialization. Many new organicdairy farmers have found their herds have fewer health prob-lems when grazing organic pastures and eating organic feedthan when confined and fed heavily concentrated feed. Simplyreplacing conventional concentrates with organic ones wouldnot be adequate.

Chickens, ducks and turkeys must have access to pasture and(in the winter) covered outside runs. Battery cages are notallowed and poultry must be fed an all-vegetative diet, consist-ing only of certified organic grains, oilseeds, hay, grass andvegetable matter. Stocking rates inside barns and corralsrequire animals to be able stand-up, lie down, stretch andmove comfortably and engage in normal social behaviour foran animal of their species. All livestock must have access tofood, water, fresh air, daylight, veterinary care and shelter frominclement weather.



OOrrggaanniicc FFaarrmmssCCaarree FFoorr tthheeEEnnvviirroonnmmeennttEnvironmental protection isthe primary reason mostorganic farmers becomeinvolved in organic agricul-ture. Concern for the environ-ment is portrayed in manyaspects of organic farming:

• care in the handling ofall animal wastes

• protection and fostering of wildlife including wildbird populations

•avoiding the use of agricultural toxins - pesticides,herbicides, fungicides, chemical fertilizers

• protection of stream banks and watersheds

• researching new ways to recycle agri-cultural nutrients - closed-loop systems

• promoting local production for local consumption to reduce the environmentaleffect of global transportation of food - reducing food air-miles



PPrriinncciipplleess ooff OOrrggaanniicc FFaarrmmiinnggHere are the Principles of Organic Farming and Processing asdetermined by the International Federation of OrganicAgricultural Movements (IFOAM):

Maintain and increase long term fertilityof soils.

Develop a valuable and sustainable aquat-ic ecosystem.

Encourage and enhance biological cycleswithin the farming system, involving

micro-organisms, soil flora and fauna, plantsand animals.

Consider the wider social and ecologi-cal impact of the organic production and

processing system.

Interact in a constructive and life-enhancing way with natural systems

and cycles.

Produce food of high quality insufficient quantity.



Produce fully biodegrad-able organic products.

Process organic products usingrenewable resources.

Minimise all forms of pollution.

Give all livestock conditions of life withdue consideration for the basic aspects of

their innate behaviour.

To create a harmonious balancebetween crop production and

animal husbandry.

Use, as far as possible, renewableresources in locally organised

production systems.

Promote the healthy use and proper careof water, water resources and

all life therein.



Progress toward an entire produc-tion, processing and distribution chain

which is both socially just and ecologicallyresponsible.

Allow everyone involved in organic pro-duction and processing a quality of life which

meets their basic needs and allows an adequatereturn and satisfaction from their work, includinga safe working environment.

Produce textiles which arelong-lasting and of good quality.

Maintain the genetic diversity of theproduction system and its surroundings,

including the protection of plant and wildlife habitats.



SSttaannddaarrddss aarree BBaassiiss ooff CCeerrttiiffiiccaattiioonnThe COABC publishes its Organic Management Standards in the“British Columbia Certified Organic Production OperationPolicies and Management Standards” along with the list of mate-rials which are allowed under the British Columbia CertifiedOrganic program. The Organic Management Standards is a livingdocument and is amended yearly as new information about prod-ucts and practices becomes recognised. The Organic ManagementStandards are meant to be used as a guide to the minimum stan-dard only and should be accompanied by organic productionguides for relevant crops or livestock.

CCeerrttiiffiiccaattiioonn:: tthhee CCoonnttrraacctt BBeettwweeeennOOrrggaanniicc FFaarrmmeerrss aanndd CCoonnssuummeerrssOrganic certification is the only guarantee to consumers thatorganic farmers are doing what they say they are doing. OrganicCertification can take many forms, but it is basically a system ofsite inspection by an independent third party, reviewing of inspec-tion reports and assignment of organic status. It is the process offarming which is inspected and certified, rather than the finalproduct. Thus, many product labels will indicate a food has been“Produced in Accordance”, with certain standards. In BritishColumbia, this process is undertaken by a variety of independentsocieties based in the different regions and is overseen by theCertified Organic Associations of B.C. (COABC)



GGoovveerrnnmmeenntt LLeeggiissllaattiioonn && CCoonnttrrooll EExxttrraa AAssssuurraannccee ffoorr tthhee CCoonnssuummeerrOrganic certification in B.C. is governed by the Regulations ofthe Agri-Food Choice and Quality Act of B.C. There is a pro-gram of Provincial Organic Standards, government controlledaudit of the certification process, and a province-wide organicdesignation. The phrase, British Columbia Certified Organicand the accompanying program symbol can be used only byfarmers or processors who are certified under the B.C. CertifiedOrganic program - there are large penalties under law for theirmisuse.

PPrroocceessssoorrss,, HHaannddlleerrss aanndd RReettaaiilleerrssOOrrggaanniicc CCeerrttiiffiiccaattiioonn AApppplliieessAs organic Certification seeks to provide a discernible audittrail for all organic food, from the farm to the retailer, compa-nies which manufacture or distribute food beyond the farmgate must also be involved in the organic certification process.Organic Certification Standards specify which processes, clean-ing materials and ingredients may be used in organic process-ing. These Standards are constantly changing as more organicfoods become available and more environmentally friendlyprocessing products are discovered.

CheeseMilk

WineBeer

Feeds

YogurtJamOilsJuicePreserves

This process must be completed annually to retainorganic status.

The farm’s organic status (1st, 2nd, 3rd year transitionor Certified Organic) is determined by the CertificationBody and the farmer receives a Certificate whichallows them to use the phrase B.C. Certified Organic tomarket their products.

The farm must be inspected by a Verification Officerwho is a member in good standing of the InternationalOrganic Inspectors Association.

Farm maps, production records, herd health recordsand material application records are examples of documents which may be required.

Farmer must complete Certification Application andprovide documentation as requested.

Farmer applies for certification to Certification Body.



SStteeppss ttoo OOrrggaanniicc CCeerrttiiffiiccaattiioonn iinn BB..CC..

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FAQ

DDooeessnn’’tt tthheesspprraayy ffrroommnneeiigghhbboouurriinnggffaarrmmss ppoolllluutteeoorrggaanniicc ffaarrmmeerrss’’ ccrrooppss??

Organic farms must plant buffer stripsalongside neighbouring fence lines. Organiccrops cannot be harvested from these bufferstrips.

WWhhyy ddooeessoorrggaanniicc ffooooddccoosstt ssoommuucchh??

Organic farms are often smaller and requiremore labour to replace agro-chemicals.Chemical-intensive agriculture can producemore product faster while animals allowedto live more naturally may not grow as fastor produce as many eggs as those who areconfined and fed drugs. As organic pro-duction increases and new organic farmingmethods are discovered, price premiums fororganic food will decrease.

IIssnn’’tt eevveerryy--tthhiinngg rreeaallllyyoorrggaanniicc??

The term “organic” refers to a specific farm-ing system as described in the COABCFarm Management Standards. Ecologique,or Biologique is used in other parts of theworld to describe the same process. Thewords “organic” “spray-free” or “natural”,without certification, have no generallyrecognised meaning.

WWhhaatt aabboouuttGGeenneettiiccaallllyyMMooddiiffiieeddOOrrggaanniissmmss??



IIff II ccoonnvveerrttmmyy ffaarrmm ttoooorrggaanniicc,, wwiillll IIhhaavvee ttoorreeppllaaccee aallll mmyyffeennccee ppoossttss??

IIss oorrggaanniiccffooooddssaanniittaarryy??

The use of fence posts is determined bywhat they are made of, as detailed in theCOABC Materials List. As disposing of pro-hibited posts would cause more environ-mental harm than leaving them in place,organic farmers do not have to replaceexisting fence posts but must use onlyapproved posts on new fencing.

In addition to the regulations for organiccertification, organic farmers must abide bythe Government Food Safety Standards justlike other farmers. Organic farms are alsoinspected annually by independent inspec-tors. Organic farmers are the most heavilyregulated farmers in Canada.

The use of genetically modified organismsis prohibited by all Standards for organiccertification around the world. The U.S.National Organic Standards Board defines aGMO as “made with techniques that alterthe molecular or cell biology of an organismby means that are not possible under natu-ral conditions or processes. Genetic engi-neering includes recombinant DNA, cellfusion, micro and macro-encapsulation,gene deletion and doubling, introducing aforeign gene, and changing position ofgenes. It shall not include breeding, conju-gation, fermentation, hybridization, in-vitrofertilization or tissue culture.” The COABChas taken the position that the possiblethreats from genetic engineering have notbeen properly researched and has proposedthat British Columbia be declared a ‘GMOFree Zone’.



DDoo II hhaavvee ttoouussee cceerrttiiffiieeddoorrggaanniicc ffeeeeddffoorr mmyy lliivvee--ssttoocckk??

FFeeeedd tthhee ssooiill,, nnoott tthhee ppllaanntt..

AArree oorrggaanniiccffaarrmmeerrssaalllloowweedd ttoobbrriinngg mmaannuurreeffrroomm tthheeiirrnneeiigghhbboouurrssffaarrmm??

WWiillll II nnoott bbeeaalllloowweedd ttoottrreeaatt mmyyaanniimmaallss wwiitthhaannttiibbiioottiiccss??

Yes. Certified organic feed is becomingreadily available throughout the province.The COABC website can furnish informa-tion about feed suppliers. Farmers areallowed to use conventional minerals intheir feed mixes, provided they do not con-tain prohibited substances.

COABC standards require treatment of sick animals. However, slaughter animalstreated with prohibited products (such as antibiotics) may never be sold as certifiedorganic.

Manure brought from off-site must be fullycomposted before it can be used. All inputsbrought from off-farm must be documentedin farm records.

OOrrggaanniicc FFaarrmmiinngg SSuuppppoorrttssRRuurraall EEccoonnoommiieess

The intensive nature of organic farming provides for increasedemployment in rural communities. Organic farmers play avital role in bringing producers and consumers togetherthrough farmers' markets and organic farmers have been theleaders in the proliferation of community supportedagriculture systems and box delivery businesses.

Local agricultural production and local consumption helpssmaller population centres thrive and helps protect theenvironment by reducing food transportation.





Farming cannot take place except inNature; therefore if Nature does not

thrive, farming cannot thrive. But we know that. Nature includes us. It is not a place into which we reach from some safe standpoint outside it.

We are in it and are a part of it while we use it. If it does not thrive,

we cannot thrive. The appropriate measure of farming

then is the world’s health and our health,and this is inescapably one measure.

–Wendell Berry

Our website contains informationabout organic farming, farmers

and organic products from BC, aswell as links to other Certification

Bodies worldwide.

Published by:

COABC

Vernon BC

ph: (250) 260-4429

fax: (250) 260-4436

email: [email protected]

www.CertifiedOrganic.bc.ca

Cover design: Whitney Design Kathy Whitney

email: [email protected]. (604) 434-2398

Layout and design:Rebecca Kneen

[email protected]. (250) 675-4122

Printed in Quesnel by SpartanThird Printing, January 2007

High quality Safe working conditions Sustainable & renewable · neering includes recombinant DNA, cell fusion, micro and macro-encapsulation, gene deletion and doubling, introducing

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