Organic farming, also called organic agriculture or ecological farming, is a way of growing food that uses natural materials instead of man-made ones. Farmers use things like compost made from plants, manure from animals, and bone meal. They also use methods like rotating crops, planting different plants together, and growing many types of crops in the same area. Farmers encourage ways to control pests naturally, such as helping insects that eat harmful bugs. Organic farming is a system that works to keep the environment healthy, improve soil quality, and protect plants and animals. It usually does not use man-made chemicals, antibiotics, or genetically modified organisms. This type of farming started in the early 1900s as a response to changes in how food was grown. In 2019, about 70 million hectares (170 million acres) of land worldwide were used for organic farming, with more than half of this land in Australia.
Rules for organic farming allow the use of natural materials but stop or limit the use of man-made ones. For example, natural pesticides like garlic extract, baking soda, and a chemical from chrysanthemum flowers are allowed. However, man-made fertilizers and pesticides, like glyphosate, are not allowed. Some man-made materials, such as copper sulfate or sulfur, may be used in special cases. Organic farming does not allow genetically modified organisms, tiny materials called nanomaterials, human waste, plant growth chemicals, hormones, or the use of antibiotics in raising animals. Organic farming follows principles like taking care of health, protecting all living things, and being fair. It supports long-term sustainability, independence, and safe food. Organic farming is often seen as a way to help reduce the effects of climate change.
Organic farming is controlled by international groups like the European Union and by countries around the world. These rules are based on guidelines from an organization called IFOAM, which was created in 1972 and has groups in different parts of the world. Since 1990, the market for organic food and products has grown quickly. In 2022, the global value of organic products reached $150 billion, with more than $64 billion from North America and €53 billion from Europe. This increase has led to more land being farmed organically. From 2021 to 2022, the amount of land farmed organically grew by 26.6 percent. In 2022, organic farming was practiced in 188 countries. About 96 million hectares (240 million acres) of land worldwide were farmed organically by 4.5 million farmers, which is about 2 percent of all farmland in the world.
Organic farming can help protect wildlife and the environment in local areas. However, because organic farming sometimes produces less food than other farming methods, it may require using more land that is not currently farmed to grow the same amount of food. This can lead to the loss of natural areas and harm the environment.
History
Agriculture was practiced for thousands of years without using artificial chemicals. Artificial fertilizers were first created in the mid-1800s. These early fertilizers were inexpensive, strong, and easy to move in large amounts. Similar progress happened with chemical pesticides in the 1940s, leading to this time being called the "pesticide era." These new farming methods helped increase food production in the short term but caused serious long-term problems, such as soil compaction, erosion, and reduced soil fertility. Health risks also arose from toxic chemicals entering the food supply. In the late 1800s and early 1900s, soil scientists began looking for ways to fix these problems while keeping high food production.
In 1921, Albert Howard, the founder of the organic movement, and his wife Gabrielle Howard, who were accomplished botanists, started an Institute of Plant Industry in India to improve traditional farming methods. They introduced better tools and animal care techniques from their scientific training and combined these with Indian farming traditions. They developed methods for crop rotation, erosion prevention, and using compost and manure. Inspired by these traditional practices, Albert Howard returned to Britain in the 1930s and began sharing a system of organic agriculture.
In 1924, Rudolf Steiner gave eight lectures on agriculture that focused on the influence of the moon, planets, and other non-physical forces. These lectures were given after farmers noticed poor soil quality and lower crop and livestock health caused by chemical fertilizers. The lectures were published in 1924 and later translated into English in 1928 as The Agriculture Course.
In July 1939, Ehrenfried Pfeiffer, the author of a key book on biodynamic farming (Bio-Dynamic Farming and Gardening), came to the UK at the invitation of Walter James, 4th Baron Northbourne, to speak at the Betteshanger Summer School on Biodynamic Farming. The conference aimed to bring together people with different organic farming ideas to work together. Albert Howard attended and met Pfeiffer. In the next year, Northbourne published his book Look to the Land, where he introduced the term "organic farming." The Betteshanger conference is often called the "missing link" between biodynamic farming and other organic methods.
In 1940, Howard published An Agricultural Testament, where he used Northbourne's term "organic farming." His work spread widely, and he became known as the "father of organic farming" for applying scientific knowledge to traditional and natural farming methods. In the United States, J. I. Rodale, who was interested in Howard's ideas and biodynamic farming, started an organic farm called The Rodale Institute and a company, Rodale, Inc., in Pennsylvania to teach and promote organic methods. These efforts helped spread organic farming globally. Other important work was done by Lady Eve Balfour in the UK and others around the world.
The term "eco-agriculture" was created in 1970 by Charles Walters, founder of Acres Magazine, to describe farming that avoids "man-made molecules of toxic rescue chemistry," which is another name for organic farming.
In modern times, growing environmental awareness has changed the organic movement from being driven by supply to being driven by demand. Higher prices and government support attracted more farmers. In developing countries, many farmers use traditional methods similar to organic farming but are not certified and may not use the latest scientific techniques. In other cases, farmers have switched to modern organic methods for economic reasons.
The term "organic," as promoted by Howard and Rodale, refers to using soil organic matter from plant compost and animal manure to improve soil health, based on early soil scientists' research on "humus farming." Since the 1940s, the two main approaches to organic farming have become more similar.
Biodynamic farmers use the term "organic" to describe a farm as a living organism, as shown in the quote:
— Wendell Berry, The Gift of Good Land
Their methods are based on Steiner's biodynamic agriculture, which includes spiritual and esoteric ideas.
Methods
Organic farming combines scientific knowledge of ecology with traditional farming methods that use natural biological processes. These methods are studied in the field of agroecology. Unlike conventional farming, which uses synthetic pesticides and water-soluble fertilizers, organic farming follows rules that require the use of natural pesticides and fertilizers. An example of a natural pesticide is pyrethrin, found in the Chrysanthemum flower. Key organic farming methods include crop rotation, green manures and compost, biological pest control, and mechanical cultivation. These practices use natural processes to improve farming productivity. For example, legumes are planted to add nitrogen to the soil, natural insect predators are encouraged, crops are rotated to confuse pests and renew soil health, and materials like potassium bicarbonate and mulch are used to manage disease and weeds. Genetically modified seeds and animals are not used in organic farming.
Organic farming differs from conventional farming because it uses carbon-based fertilizers instead of synthetic ones and relies on biological pest control rather than synthetic pesticides. However, some methods from organic farming, such as Integrated Pest Management (IPM), are also used in conventional farming. IPM uses organic pest control methods whenever possible and only uses synthetic pesticides as a last option. Ladybugs and lacewings, which eat aphids, are examples of beneficial insects used in organic farming. IPM helps reduce the risk of pests developing resistance to pesticides.
Organic farming supports crop diversity by promoting polyculture, which means growing multiple crops in the same area. Planting a variety of crops helps support beneficial insects, soil microorganisms, and overall farm health. This diversity also helps protect the environment and prevents species from becoming extinct. The science of agroecology has shown that polyculture is often used in organic farming. Agroecology is a scientific field that studies how to create productive, resource-efficient agricultural systems that are also culturally respectful, socially fair, and economically strong.
Including crop diversity in organic farming has several benefits. It can improve soil fertility by encouraging the growth of helpful soil microorganisms. It can also reduce pest and disease problems by creating a more balanced and resilient farming system. Additionally, growing a variety of crops can improve the nutritional value of food by providing more essential nutrients.
Organic farming relies more on natural processes to return nutrients to the soil than conventional farming. Techniques like green manure and composting are used to replace nutrients taken by previous crops. Microorganisms, such as mycorrhiza and earthworms, help break down organic matter, releasing nutrients for plants throughout the growing season. Farmers use methods like crop rotation, cover cropping, reduced tillage, and compost to improve soil health. Reducing tillage helps preserve soil organic matter and reduces greenhouse gas emissions, which can help slow climate change. It may also improve soil structure and reduce erosion.
Plants need many nutrients to grow, and providing enough nitrogen is a challenge for organic farmers. Crop rotation and green manure, such as cover crops, help supply nitrogen through legumes, which work with rhizobial bacteria to pull nitrogen from the air. Intercropping can also improve soil nutrients, but it may require more space between crops. Organic farmers also use animal manure and fertilizers like seed meal, rock phosphate, and green sand. Adjusting soil pH with natural materials like lime or sulfur is sometimes needed.
Farms that raise both crops and livestock can use ley farming, where nitrogen-fixing grasses like white clover or alfalfa are grown to build soil fertility. Farms without livestock may struggle to maintain soil health and rely more on imported manure or grain legumes. Horticultural farms that grow fruits and vegetables in protected areas often need more external inputs. Transporting manure over long distances can be costly, and organic farms may face shortages if many farms switch to organic methods.
Organic weed management focuses on reducing weeds rather than eliminating them by improving crop competition and using natural substances that harm weeds. Organic farmers use cultural, biological, mechanical, physical, and chemical methods to control weeds without synthetic herbicides.
Organic farming rules require rotating annual crops, meaning the same crop cannot be grown in the same place without a different crop in between. Rotations often include cover crops that suppress weeds and plants with different life cycles to reduce weed growth. Researchers are working to develop organic methods that encourage natural microorganisms to control common weeds.
Other practices to reduce weeds include choosing strong crop varieties, planting densely, spacing rows closely, and planting late in warm soil to help crops grow quickly.
Mechanical and chemical weed control methods used in organic farming include:
- Tillage – Turning the soil to mix crop residues, remove weeds, and prepare the ground for planting.
- Mowing and cutting – Cutting the tops of weeds.
- Flame weeding and thermal weeding – Using heat to kill weeds.
- Mulching – Blocking weeds with materials like compost, plastic, or fabric.
Some natural chemicals are allowed for weed control, such as concentrated vinegar, corn gluten meal, and essential oils. A few bioherbicides made from fungi are also used. However, organic farming does not currently use synthetic herbicides.
Standards
Standards help control how food is made and, in some cases, what products are allowed in organic farming. These rules can be chosen by farmers or required by law. In the 1970s, private groups started certifying farms that used organic methods. In the 1980s, governments created guidelines for organic farming. By the 1990s, many countries began making rules that must be followed. A major example was the EU’s 1991 Eco-regulation, which set standards for 12 European countries, and a similar program in the UK in 1993. Japan later created its own program in 2001, and the United States introduced the National Organic Program (NOP) in 2002. By 2007, more than 60 countries had rules for organic farming. In 2005, IFOAM created the Principles of Organic Agriculture, which provide global guidelines for certification. Usually, agencies approve certification groups, not individual farms.
Materials used to make food labeled as USDA Organic must be approved by a certifier that works with the NOP.
EU rules for labeling "organic" food focus on whether natural or artificial substances were used during production.
Using manure as fertilizer can spread harmful bacteria, such as dangerous strains of E. coli, which can make people sick. To reduce this risk, USDA rules require that manure be sterilized through high-heat composting. If raw manure is used, 120 days must pass before harvesting crops that touch the soil. For crops that do not touch the soil, 90 days must pass before harvesting.
In the United States, the Organic Food Production Act of 1990 (OFPA), as updated, states that a farm cannot be certified as organic if the compost used contains any synthetic materials. The OFPA also bans the use of any fertilizer (compost) that includes materials not allowed by the law.
Economics
The economics of organic farming, a part of agricultural economics, includes the study of how organic farming affects society. This includes costs to people, what is given up for other choices, unexpected results, unequal information between buyers and sellers, and how costs change with the size of production.
Factors like labor, carbon and methane emissions, energy use, soil quality, effects on plants and animals, and how much land is used differ between farms and crops. These differences make it hard to compare the costs and benefits of organic farming with traditional farming methods.
In the European Union, organic farmers get more money from government programs that support environmental and animal welfare practices than traditional farmers do.
Organic product markets are strongest in North America and Europe. In 2001, these regions had $6 billion and $8 billion in sales, respectively, out of a total global market of $20 billion. By 2007, Australasia had 39% of the world’s organic farmland, including Australia’s 11.8 million hectares. However, 97% of this land is used for rangeland. U.S. sales of organic products are 20 times larger than those in other regions. Europe farms 23% of global organic farmland (6.9 million hectares), followed by Latin America and the Caribbean (20%, 6.4 million hectares). Asia has 9.5%, North America has 7.2%, and Africa has 3%.
Besides Australia, the countries with the most organic farmland are Argentina (3.1 million hectares), China (2.3 million hectares), and the United States (1.6 million hectares). Much of Argentina’s organic farmland is used for grazing, like in Australia. Spain, Germany, Brazil (the world’s largest agricultural exporter), Uruguay, and England have large amounts of organic land after the United States.
In the European Union (EU25), 3.9% of all farmland was used for organic farming in 2005. Austria had the highest share (11%), followed by Italy (8.4%), the Czech Republic and Greece (7.2% each). Malta (0.2%), Poland (0.6%), and Ireland (0.8%) had the lowest shares. By 2009, the share of organic land in the EU increased to 4.7%. Liechtenstein (26.9%), Austria (18.5%), and Sweden (12.6%) had the highest shares in 2009. In 2010, 16% of all farmers in Austria produced organically, and by 2012, 20% of farmland in Austria was organic. In 2005, 168,000 hectares in Poland were used for organic farming. By 2012, 288,261 hectares were organic, with about 15,500 organic farmers. Retail sales of organic products in Poland reached €80 million in 2011. By 2012, organic farming was part of the government’s plan to grow the economy.
After the Soviet Union collapsed in 1991, Cuba stopped buying agricultural supplies from Eastern Bloc countries. Many farms in Cuba had to switch to organic methods because of this. Organic farming is now common in Cuba but remains an alternative in most other countries. Cuba’s organic strategy includes growing genetically modified corn that resists a type of moth called the palomilla moth.
In 2001, the global market for certified organic products was valued at $20 billion. By 2002, it reached $23 billion, and by 2015, it was over $43 billion. In 2014, global retail sales of organic products reached $80 billion. North America and Europe accounted for more than 90% of all organic sales. In 2018, Australia had 54% of the world’s certified organic land, with over 35 million verified organic hectares.
Organic farmland increased nearly four times between 1999 and 2014, growing from 11 million hectares to 43.7 million hectares. Between 2013 and 2014, organic farmland increased by 500,000 hectares worldwide, except in Latin America. During this time, Europe’s organic farmland grew by 260,000 hectares (to 11.6 million hectares), Asia’s by 159,000 hectares (to 3.6 million hectares), Africa’s by 54,000 hectares (to 1.3 million hectares), and North America’s by 35,000 hectares (to 3.1 million hectares). In 2014, Australia had the most organic land (17.2 million hectares), followed by Argentina (3.1 million hectares) and the United States (2.2 million hectares). Australia’s organic land grew by 16.5% each year for 18 years.
In 2013, the number of organic farmers increased by nearly 270,000 (13%). By 2014, there were 2.3 million organic farmers worldwide. Most of the increase happened in the Philippines, Peru, China, and Thailand. In 2013, India had 650,000 organic farmers, Uganda had 190,552, Mexico had 169,703, and the Philippines had 165,974.
In 2016, organic farming produced over 1 million metric tons of bananas, 800,000 metric tons of soybeans, and nearly 500,000 metric tons of coffee.
A 2012 study found that organic farming produces about 25% less than traditional farming on average. Differences in crop yields depend on factors like soil type and farming methods. Organic yields may be 5% lower for certain legumes and perennials grown on specific soils, 13% lower with best organic practices, and up to 34% lower when compared directly to traditional methods.
A 2011 study in the journal Agricultural Systems analyzed 362 datasets and found that organic yields were 80% of traditional yields. Soybeans and rice had higher yields than the 80% average,
Issues
A study published in 2017 found that compared to traditional farming methods, organic farming uses more land to produce the same amount of food. It also has a higher risk of causing water pollution and soil acidification but uses less energy. However, organic farming produces similar levels of greenhouse gas emissions as traditional farming.
A study from 2003 to 2005 by Cranfield University for the UK government found it is hard to compare the environmental impact of organic and traditional farming in some areas. However, organic farming often causes more environmental harm due to nitrogen loss and emissions of nitrous oxide, a powerful greenhouse gas. This was true for most organic products, except for tomatoes. For tomatoes, organic farming caused more environmental harm except for pesticide use. Organic farming used less energy for most products but required 65 to 200% more land than traditional farming. This was especially true for bread wheat and potatoes.
Researchers at Oxford University reviewed 71 studies and found that organic farming can sometimes be worse for the environment. Organic milk, cereals, and pork produced more greenhouse gases per product than traditional farming, but organic beef and olives had lower emissions in most cases. Organic farming used less energy but more land. Organic farming also caused more nitrogen loss, nitrous oxide emissions, ammonia emissions, and water pollution compared to traditional farming. Other differences were not significant. The researchers said people should consider how to use both farming methods based on specific needs, not just compare them directly. They also said solutions should be tailored to each situation.
A 2018 review in the Annual Review of Resource Economics found that organic farming causes more pollution per unit of food produced. If organic farming were expanded widely, it could lead to more loss of natural habitats.
Supporters of organic farming say it focuses on keeping nutrients in the soil, protecting biodiversity, and managing soil health. These practices may help reduce climate change effects and fossil fuel use. Organic farming can store more carbon in the soil in temperate climates, but it requires more land to produce the same amount of food. If organic farming replaced traditional farming in developed countries, more land might be needed, leading to deforestation and less carbon storage.
A 2019 study by Smith et al. estimated that converting all farming in England and Wales to organic methods would reduce food production by 40% compared to traditional farming. This would lower domestic greenhouse gas emissions by 6%, but more food would need to be imported, causing land-use changes in other countries. In one scenario, this could increase global greenhouse gas emissions by 21%.
A 2012 study of 71 studies found that organic farming causes more nitrogen loss, nitrous oxide emissions, ammonia emissions, and water pollution per unit of food produced. However, emissions per area of land are lower because organic farming uses less land per unit of food. Lower crop yields in organic farming lead to more nutrients entering waterways, causing algal blooms, water pollution, and dead zones. Nitrates in water can harm aquatic life.
The same 2012 Oxford study found that organic farming needs 84% more land to produce the same amount of food. This is mainly due to lower nutrient levels but can also be caused by weeds, pests, lower animal productivity, or the need for crops to improve soil fertility. While organic farming does not always save land for wildlife or forests, new organic methods are helping address these issues.
Professor Wolfgang Branscheid said organic animal farming uses more land than traditional methods. For example, organic chicken needs twice as much land as traditional chicken, and organic pork needs 25% more land. Organic beef needs three times as much land. However, some organic farming methods have restored dry or poor-quality land for farming and wildlife. Using both forage and cash crops on the same fields can reduce land use.
SRI methods for rice farming, which avoid outside resources, have produced high yields on some farms but not others.
In organic farming, synthetic pesticides and some natural compounds made using chemicals are not allowed. Restrictions depend on both the chemical’s properties and how it is made.
Some approved organic pesticides and their toxicity levels include:
– Boric acid (insecticide): 2660 mg/kg.
– Copper(II) sulfate (fungicide): 300 mg/kg. Conventional farming can use Mancozeb, which is less toxic (4500–11,200 mg/kg).
– Lime sulfur and sulfur (allowed): 820 mg/kg.
– Neem oil (insect repellant): restricted in the UK and Europe due to azadirachtin.
– Pyrethrin (insecticide from flowers): 370 mg/kg.
Comparing organic and traditional food, differences in nutrients and harmful substances are possible, but food production and handling vary so much that it is hard to say one is safer or healthier.
Supporters say organic soil has better quality and holds more water, which may help during droughts. Organic farming can improve soil organic matter more than traditional no-till farming, which may benefit long-term yields. However, an 18-year study on poor soil found traditional farming was better for soil fertility and crop yields in cold climates. The benefits of organic farming may depend on materials brought in from outside, which are not self-sustaining.
In Dirt: The Erosion of Civilizations, David Montgomery, a geologist, warned that soil erosion is a growing problem. Farm
Government policies by region
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The following is a selected list of support given in some regions.
The EU-organic production regulation is a part of the European Union regulation that sets rules about the production of organic agricultural and livestock products and how to label them. In the EU, organic farming and organic food are more commonly known as ecological or biological.
The regulation is based on the guidelines of the International Federation of Organic Agriculture Movements (IFOAM), which is an association of about 800 member organizations in 119 countries.
As in the rest of the world, the organic market in Europe continues to grow and more land is farmed organically each year. "More farmers cultivate organically, more land is certified organic, and more countries report organic farming activities" as per the 2016 edition of the study "The World of Organic Agriculture Archived 11 November 2017 at the Wayback Machine" according to data from the end of 2014 published by FiBL and IFOAM in 2016.
Denmark has a long ongoing support for converting conventional farming into organic farming, which has been taught in academic classes in universities since 1986. The state began substitutes and has promoted a special national label for products that qualify as organic since 1989. Denmark is thus the first country in the world to substitute organic farming, promoting the concept and organizing the distribution of organic products. Today the government accept applicants for financial support during conversion years, as in Danish regulations farms must not have utilized conventional farming methods such as the usage of pesticides for several years before products can be assessed for qualification as organic. This financial support has in recent years been cut due to organic farming increasing in profitability, and some goods surpassing the profitability of conventional farming in domestic markets. In general, the financial situation of organic farmers in Denmark boomed between 2010 and 2018, while in 2018 serious nationwide long-lasting droughts stagnated the economic results of organic farmers; however, the average farmer still achieved a net positive result that year. In 2021 Denmark's (and Europe's) largest slaughterhouse, Danish Crown, publicized its expectations of stagnating sales of conventional pork domestically, however it expected increasing sales of organic pork and especially free range organic pork. Besides the conversion support, there are still base subsidies for organic farming paid per area of qualified farm land.
The first Danish private development organisation, SamsØkologisk, was established in 2013, by veteran organic farmers from the existing organisation Økologisk Samsø. The development organisation has intentions to buy and invest in farmland and then lend the land to young and aspiring farmers seeking to get into farming, especially organic farming. This organisation reports 300 economical active members as of 2021, but does not publish the amount of acquired land or active lenders.
However, the organic farming concept in Denmark is often not limited to organic farming as the definition is globally. Instead, the majority of organic farming is instead "ecological farming". The development of this concept has been parallel with the general organic farming movement, and is most often used interchangeable with organic farming. Thus, there is a much stronger focus on the environmental and especially the ecological impact of ecological farming than organic farming. E.g. besides the base substitute for organic farming, farmers can qualify for an extra substitute equal to 2/3 of the base for realizing a specific reduction in the usage of added nitrogen to the farmland (also by organic means). There are also parallels to the extended organic movements of regenerative agriculture, although far from all concepts in regenerative agriculture are included in the national strategy at this time, but exist as voluntary options for each farmer. For these reasons, international organic products do not fulfill the requirements of ecological farming and thus do not receive the domestic label for ecological products, rather they receive the standard European Union organic label.
The Ministry of Agrarian Policy and Food of Ukraine is the central executive body that develops the regulatory framework for the organic sector in Ukraine, maintains the state registers of certification bodies, operators and organic seeds and planting material, and provides training and professional development for organic inspectors.
Thanks to the hard work on organic legislation by the Ministry of Agrarian Policy and Food of Ukraine and the organic working group that includes the main players of the Ukraine's organic sector, on 10 July 2018, the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine (the Ukrainian Parliament) adopted the Law of Ukraine "On Basic Principles and Requirements for Organic Production, Circulation and Labelling of Organic Products" No. 2496, which was enacted on 2 August 2019. As of April 2024, organic production, circulation and labelling of organic products in Ukraine is regulated by this law as well as relevant by-laws.
One more important governmental institution of the organic sector of Ukraine is the State Service of Ukraine on Food Safety and Consumer Protection. It is the central executive body authorised to conduct state supervision (control) in the field of organic production, circulation and labelling of organic products in accordance with the organic legislation of Ukraine. This includes state supervision (control) over compliance with the legislation in the field of organic production, circulation and labelling of organic products: inspection of certification bodies; random inspection of operators; monitoring of organic products on the market to prevent the entry of non-organic products labelled as organic.
The State Institution "Entrepreneurship and Export Promotion Office" (EEPO, Ukraine) contributes to the development of the Ukrainian organic exporters' potential, promotion of the organic sector and formation of a positive image of Ukraine as a reliable supplier of organic products abroad. EEPO actively supports and organises various events for organic exporters, including national pavilions at key international trade fairs, such as BIOFACH (Nuremberg, Germany), Anuga (Cologne, Germany), SIAL (Paris, France), and Middle East Organic & Natural Products Expo (Dubai, UAE). EEPO also created the Catalogue of Ukrainian Exporters of Organic Products in partnership with Organic Standard certification body.
Organic farming in Ukraine is also supported by international technical assistance projects and programmes implementation of which is funded and supported by Switzerland, Germany, and other countries. These projects/programmes are the Swiss-Ukrainian program "Higher Value Added Trade from the Organic and Dairy Sector in Ukraine" (QFTP), financed by Switzerland and implemented by the Research Institute of Organic Agriculture (FiBL, Switzerland) in partnership with SAFOSO AG (Switzerland); the Swiss-Ukrainian program "Organic Trade for Development in Eastern Europe" (OT4D), financed by Switzerland through the Swiss State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO) and implemented by IFOAM – Organics International in partnership HELVETAS Swiss Intercooperation and the Research Institute of Organic Agriculture (FiBL, Switzerland); Project "German-Ukrainian Cooperation in Organic Agriculture" (COA).
The project/programme representatives provide their expertise during development of the organic legislative framework and implementation of the legislation in the field of organic production, circulation and labelling of organic products and support various activities related to organic farming and production.
The Chinese government, especially the local government, has provided various supports for the development of organic agriculture since the 1990s. Organic farming has been rethought.