Principles Of Organic Agriculture Research Articles

Building a global platform for organic farming research, innovation and technology transfer

Organic food and farming systems have a great untapped potential to provide the world with healthy, high-quality food that is produced and distributed in an ecologically sound and fair way, but numerous production challenges and barriers slow the adoption of organic practices. Innovations addressing these challenges are not being developed sufficiently because of insufficient capacity in research, development and technology transfer, especially in Africa, Asia and Latin America. Given the limited resources, as well as the specific needs of organic food and farming systems, different pathways are needed to develop new technologies that are compatible with the principles of organic farming. The Technology Innovation Platform of IFOAM—Organics International (TIPI) was established to advance organic farming through research, development, innovation and technology transfer. As a global platform for organic food and farming systems research, innovation and technology transfer, TIPI advocates for three main pathways along which this is expected to happen, each of which comes with a specific set of research objectives and outcomes: (1) empower rural areas, (2) practice eco-functional intensification and (3) produce food for health and well-being. TIPI identified three strategies to build the necessary capacity: (1) develop research methods appropriate for organic food and farming systems; (2) renew partnerships between farmers, farm advisors, scientists and consumers; and (3) integrate technological, social and ecological dimensions of innovation.

Developing and quantifying indicators of organic farming using analytic hierarchy process

Although regulations and criteria relating to organic farming are clearly defined by the relevant agencies, especially by IFOAM, some have been overshadowed by attention to others and have lost their significance over time. The aim of this study was to develop and quantify organic farming indicators to determine the relative importance of each. The desired indicators were collected during a literature review of scientific resources about the principles of organic farming. These indices were classified into four categories and their weights were determined through interviews with experts on organic agriculture, including university professors, agroecology students, Ministry of Agriculture experts, organic farming inspectors and organic farmers. The analytic hierarchy process (AHP) was used for this purpose. The results showed that pest and disease management, yield, soil nutrient management, water consumption rate, chemical fertilizer consumption rate and the use of transgenic materials having weights of 0.16, 0.098, 0.096, 0.08, 0.071 and 0.059, respectively, and are the most important indicators for development and assessment of organic farming. In this as well as similar studies, the weight of indicators associated with consumption of chemical fertilizers and pesticides were relatively high. This indicates the importance of rules related to the use of chemicals in organic farming; however, each index has a certain weight and none can be overlooked. All indicators should be considered as an inseparable set and all should be used in the development of organic farming. The results of this study can be useful for both inspection bodies and organic farmers. Farmers can reduce the risks associated with transitioning to organic farming and minimize the probability of failure by monitoring these indicators in their fields.

Research strategy of the German Agricultural Research Alliance (DAFA) for the development of the organic farming and food sector in Germany

The Federal Government of Germany regards organic farming as particularly resource-efficient and environmentally sustainable economic activity. It therefore supports the expansion of organic farming up to 20% of the agricultural area. Against this background, the German Agricultural Research Alliance (DAFA) together with a broad alliance of representatives from business, science, and public policy developed this research strategy in a theme-finding and prioritization process that ran over more than 2 years. It sets out how German agricultural research can make a substantial contribution to noticeably improving the performance and competitiveness of organic food and farming while at the same time helping the sector meet its own goals and be an example as an especially sustainable type of economic activity in terms of the four international umbrella organization of the organic world (IFOAM) principles of organic farming (health, environment, fairness, and care). The DAFA recommends that three approaches be pursued in parallel: (1) focusing of research on the most important themes, (2) the establishment of efficient structures for research and funding, and (3) more funding for research on organic farming. The following most important research topics in crops were identified: plant breeding tailored to the need of organic agriculture, plant–microbe and plant–plant interactions, autonomous field micro-robots, alternative control of fungal diseases and management of nutrients, and soil fertility. In organic livestock production, the most important topics are to meet competing goals in production systems, to ensure optimum supply of essential amino acids in poultry, and to foster successful animal production by implementing research-practice networks. In addition, progress in the processing of organic foods and the transfer of trustworthiness features as well as reinforcing organic principles in the food chain are needed. It is called for new research and funding structures which are no longer strictly time limited; for research-practice network offering “co-learning” between farmers, advisors, and researchers; for real transdisciplinary funding instruments; for model regions to facilitate transfer of advancement of research and knowledge as well as for federal and state co-funded university chairs. However, these prerequisites for 20% organic agriculture can only be achieved by a parallel increased funding by the governmental authorities.

RELATION OF THE FARMERS INOVATIVENESS LEVEL TO THE LEVEL OF ORGANIC PRACTICE SUSTAINABILITY IN SUNGAI RENGAS VILLAGE, SUNGAI KAKAP, KUBU RAYA, WEST KALIMANTAN

The success of agricultural development is strongly related to how far information of innovation reached the farmers. Here lies the importance of agricultural outreach communication by observing the level of farmers innovativeness in practicing organic cropping pattern. This research observes the relation between farmers innovativeness with the organic farming practice level of sustainability. The innovativeness variables being observed are the social-economy, individual and communication activities. Variables being observed in the organic farming practice is the implementation of organic farming principles such as over three years land conversion, usage of local seeds, the use of organic fertilizer, the use of non chemical pesticides and division of land and irrigation from the non-organic farming. This research was carried in the Sungai Rengas Villa, Sungai Kakap Sub-district, Kubu Raya District, West Kalimantan. The research employs explanatory research method, with data collection by survey. This research took samples of 36 respondents. Primary data in the research was collected through questionnaires accompanied by interviews to a number of organic farmer in Sungai Rengas Village, Sungai Kakap Sub-district, Kubu Raya District. Secondary data was taken from the local government institution (village/sub-district), Department of Lands, Agricultural and Plantation Office, or related statistical data accessible in the internet. After the data was collected, it was coded and input into SPSS.

Organic Values-Based Supply Chains as a Tool for Territorial Development: A Comparative Analysis of Three European Organic Regions

Recently established organic regions aim to be model regions of sustainability. In the frame of this article we understand organic regions as territories that aim at the sustainable management of local resources, based on the principles of organic farming and agroecology. The contribution focuses especially on the role and configurations of values-based supply chains for the territorial development of such organic regions. Three different case studies, in Italy, France and Austria, are investigated. Principles of organic farming, according to the International Federation of Organic Agriculture Movement and the concept of neo-endogenous development by Christopher Ray, serve as framework for analyses. Finally, we include values-based supply chains into the model of neo-endogenous development for two reasons: first to link values on a territorial level, and second as a tool to permanently apply those values within a region.

Comparative financial analysis of open-field and greenhouse crop rotation and green manure applications in organic strawberry production

This study investigated the profitability of open field crop rotation and greenhouse green fertilization along with farmland manure applications implemented to ensure sustainability of soil fertility in strawberry cultivation performed in line with the organic farming principles. In the open field experiment (1) Cowpea (Vigna sinensis L.), (2) Bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.), (3) Cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.) were used as the crop rotation plants. In the greenhouse experiment 1) Cowpea (Vigna sinensis L.), (2) Bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.),) were used as green fertilizations. Also this study investigated the impact of certified organic farmland manure as [(1) farmland manured and (2) farmland manure-free] on the parcels. The study compared the profitability in organic strawberry cultivation between crop rotation application in open field and green manure incorporation under soil by conducting a financial analysis. To conclude, result of the financial analysis indicated that both in greenhouse and open field, the application which combined Cowpea and farmland manure was found to be more economical.

Practices and principles of organic dairy farming: KEEP-farm in Yamanashi

Practices and principles of organic dairy farming: KEEP-farm in Yamanashi

Knowledge and Precaution. On Organic Farmers Assessment of New Technology

AbstractOrganic farming is under constant pressure to reinvent itself by adopting new technologies. This article examines the role of precaution in organic farmers’ assessments of new technologies, and asks how their assessments draw on different types of knowledge. The article further explores how knowledge type compares to the role of knowledge and precaution expressed in the principles of organic farming as defined by the organic movement organisation, IFOAM. Results from a study of the introduction of sewage sludge as an alternative source of nutrients in organic agriculture are presented. Empirically, this case‐study builds on the analysis of five focus groups made up of Danish organic farmers. While some farmers called for precaution, supporting this with claims about lacking knowledge, others trusted the authorities and accepted sewage sludge provided it was officially approved for organic use. Our analysis suggests that when assessing new technologies Danish organic farmers rely on scientific knowledge and do not automatically draw on the experiential knowledge they possess and employ in other contexts. It is concluded that if IFOAM wishes include farmers’ experiential knowledge as a basis for decisions about precaution, there is a need to develop instruments making it possible to tap into this knowledge.

Factors influencing crop rotation strategies on organic farms with different time periods since conversion to organic production

Productive crop rotations are central to the success of organic production systems. The selection and sequence of crops are determined by a combination of agronomic and economic factors as well as the principles and standards of organic farming. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with sixteen organic farmers in Central-east Sweden to explore the factors that influence the design of crop rotations and the trade-offs between these factors, taking into account the length of time since conversion to organic production. We discerned three crop rotation strategies: strict, flexible and liberal, based on how crop(s) are repeated over time. A major trade-off for arable farmers was between perennial leys to provide nitrogen and control weeds, and the use of more inputs such as purchased nutrients and mechanical weed control to allow continuous cereal production. Critical considerations for livestock farmers were the length of ley for feed production and weed control, cost of re-seeding leys and decisions about whether to grow crops to feed animals or cereals to sell. Farmers practicing organic for a long time (more than 10 years) often had flexible rotations to adapt to changing conditions, but they generally included leys and a selection of annual crops in line with the principles of crop rotation and organic farming. Recently converted organic farmers usually concentrated on controlling weeds and producing sufficient livestock feed by following strict crop rotations. We conclude that farm type and experience strongly influenced rotation strategies and that weed management and market prices were the most important influences.

AMMI model in the analysis of genotype by environment interaction of conventionally and organically grown onion

This study was aimed to assess the stability of direct yield components (bulb weight and number plot-1) and other yield contributing characteristics (bulb diameter, height and index, neck diameter and length, plant height, emergence and vegetation period) in five commercial onion cultivars grown in conventional and organic environments, by employing additive main effect and multiplicative interaction (AMMI) statistical model in data analysis. The two-year field trial organized in complete randomized blocks included the plots maintained in four regimes: mineral fertilization (conventional), without fertilization, fertilization with farmyard manure and with bacterial fertilizer (organic). Each treatment by year combination was considered as an environment. Analysis of variance of AMMI model calculated for the investigated traits showed that all sources of variation (genotypes, environments, genotype by environment interaction) were highly significant. The largest proportions of the total sum of squares were encompassed by environments, except for emergence and bulb index with the pronounced effect of genotypes (67.26 and 52.54%, respectively) and neck length with the genotype by environment interaction amounting 44.59%. Generally, the effects of the interactions were in the common range. The AMMI model with two axes was concluded as the best model for the investigated traits. Onions grown in conventional system outperformed the organic ones. However, good performance of the genotypes was accompanied with low stability across the environments and vice versa. Therefore breeding programs intended to develop cultivars adapted to alternative production systems should rely on the experiments set in the corresponding environments that include various combinations of genotypes and agro-technical procedures based on the principles of organic agriculture.

Reconciling information gaps in organic farm borrowers’ dealings with farm lenders

Purpose – Organic outputs have been increasing at much lower rates than growth in consumer demand. Organic farmers’ debt aversion hinders them from obtaining business funds through borrowing. The purpose of this paper is to clarify that the farmers’ reluctance to use debt as a funding option can be more attributed to gaps in existing borrower-lender relationships, beyond sustainability principles. Design/methodology/approach – Empirical evidence collected from organic farmers and farm lenders establish differing expectations and perceptions that reinforce the organic farmers’ debt aversion. The farm lender survey data set was analyzed using the Heckman approach applied to two lenders’ decisions: their interest in lending to organic farm borrowers and loan amounts approved for successful loan applicants. The econometric results were reconciled with the compiled inputs provided by organic farmers interviewed. Findings – Results validate the farmers’ lower reliance on loans due to suspicions that lenders lack knowledge and consideration of organic farming conditions and principles. Farm lenders must depart from employing a uniform credit risk appraisal model and adopt borrower-specific versions of the model, but not necessarily delineating organic-conventional farming dichotomy that may not substantially affect credit risk measurement. Organic farms, on the other hand, need to better understand the credit risk appraisal principles and use their inherent business strengths to compete for loans with conventional farms without any special consideration. Practical implications – Borrower-lender relationships can improve if information gaps between lenders and borrowers can be minimized with more extensive outreach education efforts. Better relationships would increase organic farms’ credit access to effectively address an impending supply gap in an expanding industry. Originality/value – To the knowledge, a specific focus on organic farms in understanding farm borrower-lender relationships has never been explored in literature.

Use of homeopathy in organic dairy farming in Spain

Organic farming principles promote the use of unconventional therapies as an alternative to chemical substances (which are limited by organic regulations), with homeopathy being the most extensive. Traditionally, Spain has had little faith in homeopathy but its use in organic farming is growing. Fifty-six Spanish organic dairy farmers were interviewed to obtain what we believe to be the first data on the use of homeopathy in organic dairy cattle in Spain. Only 32% of farms use some sort of alternative therapy (16.1% homeopathy, 10.7% phytotherapy and 5.3% using both therapies) and interestingly, a clear geographical pattern showing a higher use towards the East (similar to that in the human population) was observed. The main motivation to use homeopathy was the need to reduce chemical substances promoted by organic regulations, and the treatment of clinical mastitis being the principle reason. The number of total treatments was lower in farms using homeopathy compared with those applying allopathic therapies (0.13 and 0.54 treatments/cow/year respectively) and although the bulk SCC was significantly higher (p<0.001) in these farms (161,826 and 111,218cel/ml, respectively) it did not have any negative economical penalty for the farmer and milk quality was not affected complying with the required standards; on the contrary homeopathic therapies seems to be an alternative for reducing antibiotic treatments, allowing farmers to meet the organic farming principles.

A mobile farmers’ market brings nutrition education to low-income students

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to examine the impact of a nutrition-education intervention delivered at low-income middle schools in Washington, DC in the USA, using a mobile farmers’ market to bring hands-on lessons to schools. The program was a partnership between a local farm and university and was funded by the United States Department for Agriculture (USDA) Team Nutrition grant. Design/methodology/approach – Seven low-income middle schools received the intervention, which included 45-minute lessons focussed on nutrition education and sustainable farming concepts. The farmers’ market was delivered via a converted school bus, allowing for full market setup at each school to provide local fruits and vegetables as teaching tools. The nutrition-education lesson focussed on the USDA MyPlate and healthy meal planning. The farm education component focussed on organic farming principles, sustainability of local food systems, and seasonality. A six question pre- and post-survey was administered to 408 participating middle school students to assess changes in knowledge. Findings – Overall, average scores increased from 51 to 58 percent. Nutrition knowledge questions increased from 58 to 74 percent, while agriculture questions remained constant at 43 percent. Both increases significant using a two-sample t-test (p&lt;0.001). This suggests that students gained more nutrition education concepts in this format as compared to the agricultural concepts. Originality/value – Childhood obesity is a growing epidemic that affects low-income communities disproportionally. Innovative strategies must be implemented to increase healthy food consumption. This case study presents such an approach and its value in increasing student knowledge of healthy behavior.

Knowledge Asymmetries Between Research and Practice: A Social Systems Approach to Implementation Barriers in Organic Arable Farming

AbstractThis article discusses the problem of implementing scientific knowledge in practice. The discussion is based on a case study of barriers to implementing research‐based principles of sustainable organic arable farming. The current literature tends to see this problem either as a dissemination issue (the linear approach) or as a failure of science to address real‐world problems (the co‐constructive approach). We argue that Luhmann's theory of social systems offers a way to understand the shortcomings of existing approaches and enables us to identify knowledge gaps that have often been overlooked so far. This theoretical claim is substantiated by an empirical analysis based on 10 in‐depth interviews with owners of organic arable farms. The farmers were interviewed about barriers to the implementation of research‐based knowledge in practice. The analysis points to the operational closure and the observational blindness of both research systems and farming systems as the keys to understanding knowledge gaps and suggests new ways of dealing with the problems of implementing research knowledge in practice.

Improving Human Capacity–One of the Ways to Overcome the Decrease in Organic Farming

Aim: This paper tends to put a different perspective for the reasons that had contributed to the drop in interest for further development of organic farming in Macedonia. Anno Domini 2001 is the year considered as official beginning of organic farming in the Republic of Macedonia. Trainings were conducted, farmers associations were established and an umbrella National Association was established too. In 2005, organic farming got under the national subsidy program, but the very next 2006 was abandoned. But since then without interruptions organic farming enjoys steady and increasing governmental support. Since 2007, two National Programs were developed while the area under organic and number of organic growers recorded steady growth. Up to 2012, when first signs of losing the pace is recorded by having a drop in number of ha under organic was recorded and the number of organic growers too. The next year, 2013 was another disappointment for the sector, since the government had reduced the volume of support from € 2113000 in 2012 to € 1089430 in 2013. Reasons for the drop in interest are naturally various but one of the most significant is insufficient competent support farmers were receiving. Unfortunately, the national advisory service has very limited human capacity on this matter, and private advisors are much too small in number to cover the demand for advice. Methodology: In order to obtain real-case data number of farms were interviewed for the practice they apply in their daily operations, in order to check their understanding of what organic farming is all about. The area of intervention was the East Planning Region in Macedonia. Then, subject of analysis were the advisors at the National Extension Agency who were asked to express their opinions on answers listed in a carefully designed questionnaire, which needed to provide answers on the level of knowledge advisors possess on organic farming. Results: the results analysis on both of the surveys are driving to a conclusion that Ministry’s opinion for the drop in interest has little value, since the amount of subsidies is quite high, yet farmers are giving up. Conclusion: Specially designed program for introducing the principles of organic farming to the farmers is imperative before they would be invited to join this kind of agricultural production. Furthermore, in order to provide best possible competent support, advisors need to go through a carefully designed training procedure in order to increase their knowledge in the principles of organic farming.

Organic farm does not improve neither soil, or water quality in rural watersheds from southeastern Brazil

This study was conducted in a rural region where there are conventional and organic farms, the agricultural production includes more than 20 million people, and the effect on environmental quality is still poorly known in terms of indicators. Our objectives were: (1) compare soils attributes to reference areas, (2) verifying if cultivated areas under different farm systems presented differences in the soils attributes, (3) evaluate the attributes of quality water of watersheds and comparing the results with limiting values established by environmental legislation, and (4) analyze the values considering three criterion: watersheds, climatic season, and region of the landscapes. The study was conducted in two rural watersheds that have similar biophysical features and located in the Ibiúna municipality, São Paulo State, Brazil. However, one watershed encompasses farms where landowners largely use conventional agricultural systems. In the other watershed approximately 25% of the farms there are using an organic farm system. In the two watersheds soil samples were collected in sites covered with natural forest and in sites with agriculture (one watershed being organic and other being conventional). The attributes analyzed were soil bulk density (BD), concentrations of Carbon (C) and Nitrogen (N), C:N ratio, C Management Index, and the abundance of 13C and 15N in the soil organic matter. Water attributes were analyzed onsite or in laboratory after analysis of samples. Analyses included: air and water temperature, pH, dissolved oxygen, salinity, total of dissolved solids, total solids, electric conductivity, turbidity, total chloride, nitrate, total phosphorus and potassium. Regarding the soil attributes our database revealed that (1) the soils from cultivated sites of both watersheds presented significant differences from their respective forested areas, (2) Soil attributes are of equal quality in both farm systems. Concerning water attributes: (1) almost all attributes presented values better than the limiting values stipulated by Brazilian legislation; (2) the watersheds did not present significant differences of most of the attributes; (3) in the criteria climatic season data showed some significant differences. The data showed that the soils from the areas used for agricultural ends present belief that significantly worse soil quality in comparison to soils from sites still covered with natural forest. Neither the land cover nor farming system are altering the superficial water quality of the studied watershed and this appears to be related to the extensive percentage of natural remaining vegetation that still exists in both watersheds. The seasonality is an important force that drives the quality characteristics of the water. We highlight that the principles of organic agriculture should be practiced more efficiently and influences such as deforestation should be rigorously avoided.

Potential of legume-cereal intercropping for increasing yields and yield stability for self-sufficiency with animal fodder in organic farming

Intercropping of grain legumes and cereals is a promising theme in organic farming for its potential for increasing and stabilizing yields, reducing weed pressure and sustaining plant health. On animal husbandry farms, pea-cereal mixtures may be an interesting crop harvested for green fodder as well as for feed concentrates. Increasing self-sufficiency with fodder is in agreement with the principles of organic agriculture, and it reduces the risks related to the import of soy protein that may be admixed with GM soya. In 2008&amp;ndash;2011, plot trials (PT) with intercropped peas and spring cereals (wheat, barley) were conducted. Varieties and pea-cereal combinations were examined to find suitable varieties for intercropping, and the best pea to cereal ratio in the seed intercrop (pea to cereal ratios 80:20, 60:40, 40:60, 20:80). Results show that intercropping peas and spring cereals may be advantageous compared to monocultures. Pea-cereal intercrops produce high yields of green matter and concentrates especially when intercropped at the pea to cereal ratio of 60:40 and 40:60. In 2009, on five certified organic farms, controlled field trials (FT) were conducted with field pea (leaf type), spring barley and spring wheat in monocultures and intercrops (pea to cereal ratio 60:40). Forage yields were evaluated at pea growth phases BBCH-scale 79 and 83. Fresh yields of monocultures and intercrops were evaluated at grain harvest.

A Social Approach for the Assessment of Transition Farms: Taking Steps toward Whole-System Organic Certification in Mexico

This paper integrates a methodology for an assessment previous to organic certification of transition farms. The methodology was designed and applied to a farm in the municipality of Villaflores, Chiapas. Research consisted of grouping certification standards from different certification agencies into an integrated methodology for evaluating the farm prior to it being submitted to the certification process. The norms proposed by the International Federation of Organic Agriculture Movements and the Mexican certifier of ecological products were utilized—both of these accredited by the German certification program—as well as the Japanese Ministry of Agriculture's principles of organic agriculture. The methodology was based on a systemic approach and applied using agricultural anthropology. Field research was conducted from January-May 2012, through interviews, field observations and triangulation of information. Results indicated that within the agricultural sub-system of the farm, 77% of indicators meet the norms of organic certification and within the animal subsystem only 74%. This study permits the pre-assessment of farms and the progress quantification toward organic certification. Given the cost of taking on the certification process, this pre-assessment represents an important tool to help small farmers develop their capacity to identify farm components and interactions, keep records on all farm activities and plan organic transitions.

Growth Opportunities and Employment Creation Potential of Zambia's Coffee Value Chain

The main objective of this study was to identify the actors in the coffee value chain in Zambia as well as to identify and assess the opportunities and employment creation potential of the value chain. The study found that the potential for the growth of the coffee sector lies in Zambia’s production of the globally competitive Arabica coffee variety; the increasing global demand for specialty coffee in premium niche markets (mainly based on fair trade and organic farming principles); and the existence of institutional arrangements such as the Zambia Coffee Growers Association that promote, regulate and coordinate the development of coffee in Zambia. However, despite this potential, the coffee sector has been experiencing a downward trend in production and export of coffee beans. While a wide range of constraints from production to policy issues limit the growth of the coffee sector, the most noteworthy factors are the long production period of the coffee plant which acts as a disincentive to invest in coffee production; the lack of research programmes; limited Zambian brand recognition; and the lack of accessible and affordable financing for coffee growers. Sustainable growth and employment creation in the coffee sector can be achieved through coherent strategies such asthe government working with the private sector to come up with innovative ways of availing affordable financing mechanisms for farmers. The government should also facilitate the development of technologies and marketing strategies to ensure that Zambian coffee fetches premium prices on the world market.

Organic food processing: a framework for concept, starting definitions and evaluation

In 2007 EU Regulation (EC) 834/2007 introduced principles and criteria for organic food processing. These regulations have been analysed and discussed in several scientific publications and research project reports. Recently, organic food quality was described by principles, aspects and criteria. These principles from organic agriculture were verified and adapted for organic food processing. Different levels for evaluation were suggested. In another document, underlying paradigms and consumer perception of organic food were reviewed against functional food, resulting in identifying integral product identity as the underlying paradigm and a holistic quality view connected to naturalness as consumers' perception of organic food quality. In a European study, the quality concept was applied to the organic food chain, resulting in a problem, namely that clear principles and related criteria were missing to evaluate processing methods. Therefore the goal of this paper is to describe and discuss the topic of organic food processing to make it operational. A conceptual background for organic food processing is given by verifying the underlying paradigms and principles of organic farming and organic food as well as on organic processing. The proposed definition connects organic processing to related systems such as minimal, sustainable and careful, gentle processing, and describes clear principles and related criteria. Based on food examples, such as milk with different heat treatments, the concept and definitions were verified. Organic processing can be defined by clear paradigms and principles and evaluated according criteria from a multidimensional approach. Further work has to be done on developing indicators and parameters for assessment of organic food quality.