4 basic principles of IFOAM on organic agriculture

The fundamental principles of organic agriculture

The role and history of IFOAM

IFOAM (International Federation of Organic Agriculture Movements) is an international non-governmental organization founded in 1972, headquartered in Bonn, Germany. The organization focuses on promoting organic and sustainable agriculture worldwide, while also playing an important role in developing organic agriculture standards and regulations.

The principles set by IFOAM aim to ensure crop and livestock ecosystems while producing safe, high-quality products for consumers. In addition, organic farming brings economic efficiency, maintaining and enhancing long-term soil fertility. Examples include growing vegetables, tubers, and fruits without using any toxic agrochemicals for pest, disease, and weed control, as well as chemical fertilizers, with production oriented toward natural ecological balance.

In developed countries, over the past few decades, organic agriculture has demonstrated that humans can feed the world sustainably and in harmony with the ecosystem. Particularly in the EU, agricultural farming has completely eliminated the use of synthetic chemicals, inorganic fertilizers, plant growth regulators, stimulants, and antibiotics in livestock farming. Organic farmers rely on crop rotation, crop residues, animal manure, and mechanical cultivation to maintain soil fertility, ensure plants are supplied with adequate nutrients, and simultaneously manage weeds, pests, and diseases. Organic farming improves and maintains natural landscapes and agroecosystems, avoids overexploitation that leads to environmental pollution, and minimizes the use of energy and non-renewable resources. The ultimate goal of organic agriculture is to maximize health safety and productivity for the community, fostering self-reliance across soil, crops, livestock, and people.

Over its more than half-century of operation, IFOAM has established four guiding principles of organic agriculture: Health, Ecology, Fairness, and Care. These principles not only benefit the environment but also play a vital role in promoting sustainability, biodiversity, and overall well-being.

Health

The first principle introduced by IFOAM emphasizes the importance of farming sustainably for health. Health here is not limited to humans, but encompasses the health of the entire ecosystem, such as nourishing soil health to support plant and animal life. Organic agriculture, with its focus on soil health, provides practical solutions like feeding the soil through practices such as composting, cover cropping, polyculture, crop rotation, and the use of legumes, thereby maintaining and enhancing soil fertility and reducing the need for chemical inputs.

_Healthy soil not only produces nutrient-rich crops but also further promotes the 'One Health' principle, emphasizing the interconnectedness of human health, animal health, and our environment._

And of course, IFOAM also emphasizes protecting human health by promoting the use of clean organic food. Less than 20 years ago, agricultural practices in Vietnam still carried the popular saying: "two beds of vegetables, two pens of pigs" - meaning one vegetable bed grown for home consumption (organic vegetables), and another treated with chemical fertilizers and growth stimulants to... sell to consumers. That dangerous mindset and over-reliance on synthetic fertilizers and chemical pesticides led to soil degradation, harmed crop quality, and had negative impacts on people's livelihoods.

Ecology

This principle illustrates how all ecosystems are interconnected and that the issue of biodiversity loss requires immediate attention. From IFOAM's perspective, land-use change, heavy reliance on synthetic inputs, and genetically modified organisms (GMOs) pose direct threats to biodiversity. Moreover, agricultural practices such as monoculture and industrial farming strip the land of natural habitats and threaten ecosystem components. For example, if bees and butterflies were to disappear one day, natural pollination would be ruined; wildlife is therefore essential for sustainable food systems.

_By avoiding GMOs and synthetic chemicals, organic farmers have created habitats for beneficial insects and promoted diverse ecosystems_

Organic agriculture depends on organic farmers, who play an important role in promoting biodiversity. By avoiding GMOs and synthetic chemicals, organic farmers create habitats for beneficial insects and foster diverse ecosystems on their farms. In doing so, they protect pollinators such as bees, beneficial insects, and other wildlife, not only sustaining the environment but also contributing to better crop yields through natural pest control.

Fairness

Organic farming principles place fairness at the core of their practices, extending to the welfare of not only humans but also other natural animals. This principle encourages a fairer food system and provides fair and ethical treatment for farm workers and animals. Many Vietnamese people once laughed upon hearing about TH True Milk giving cows warm water baths and playing relaxing music for them... but that is precisely part of the fairness principle in organic farming.

_Organic farming places fairness at the core of its practices, extending welfare not only to humans but also to other wild animals_

This means ensuring that animals have access to pastures, banning the routine use of antibiotics and growth hormones in livestock farming, and providing humane conditions for animals. Furthermore, the principle of fairness in organic farming requires establishing transparent, fair food supply chain systems that consider environmental and social costs. To give you a clearer picture of this principle, consider the example of EU tariff barriers. A product processed from genetically modified organisms (GMOs) such as corn or soybeans originating from the US will face extreme difficulties entering the EU, and even if it is proven that the genetic modification does no harm to humans, it will still be taxed at a very high rate compared to products certified as non-GMO. That is fairness, because a portion of those taxes is used by the EU to support organic farmers within its territory.

Care

The principle of responsible and conscientious practice extends to protecting Earth's environment and ensuring the well-being of future generations. In practical terms, organic farmers adhere to this principle by minimizing synthetic chemical use, conserving water resources, and enhancing carbon sequestration through promoting healthier soils. This multifaceted approach not only reduces their carbon footprint but also adopts sustainable farming techniques, ultimately minimizing environmental harm. This commitment to environmental stewardship plays a vital role in fostering a more sustainable and resilient food system.

A clear example can be seen in Bac Giang province, Vietnam, where farmers are testing "Environmentally Friendly Rice Farming". This new farming method has helped farmers conserve water, reduce pests, and cut down on fertilizer applications; thereby significantly lowering production costs while maintaining rice yield and quality, and especially contributing to reducing greenhouse gas emissions compared to conventional farming. In the future, carbon credits accumulated through this farming method will be monetized and returned to support the farmers themselves.