This is a communication tool and work place for the IFOAM “Task Force on rewriting the Principles of Organic Agriculture” in cooperation with the Organic Revision Task 2.1 on “Identifying basic ethical values of organic agriculture”, as well as related activities such as translations of the principles and the “Task Force on articulating the Definition of Organic Agriculture”.

See also IFOAM’s page for the Principles of Organic Agriculture.

News

Definition of Organic Agriculture

Organic agriculture is a production system that sustains the health of soils, ecosystems and people. It relies on ecological processes, biodiversity and cycles adapted to local conditions, rather than the use of inputs with adverse effects. Organic agriculture combines tradition, innovation and science to benefit the shared environment and promote fair relationships and a good quality of life for all involved.

Approved by the IFOAM World Board March 2008.
Translations available on http://www.ifoam.org/growing_organic/definitions/doa/index.html

Task Force on the definition of what organic agriculture is

On the General Assembly 2005 a motion was passed on writing a definition of what organic agriculture is, based on the Principles of Organic Agriculture. A ‘Task Force on articulating the Definition of Organic Agriculture’ was formed with six members from the earlier task force on rewriting the principles. See further in the Terms of Reference for the task force on definition (PDF).

A call for definitions is planned to go out to the membership of IFOAM at the end of February with a deadline for inputs at April 14th.

• The deadline for inputs has been extended to May 31st.

Translations underway

The principles are now being translated into other languages than English. Translations into Russian, Ukrainian, Dutch, Japanese, French, Danish, Chinese, Indonesian and Turkish are on IFOAM’s page for the Principles of Organic Agriculture. Other ScandinavianTranslations are underway here.

Principles approved

The principles have, with some amendments, been approved at the General Assembly September 2005 in Adelaide, Australia:

• Approved Principles of Organic Agriculture

The approved principles are also available from the Organic Revision website and from IFOAMs website (direct link to the PDF file).

• Principles with approved amendments marked as track changes showing the differences between the proposed and the approved text.
• The version of the Principles of Organic Agriculture that was put to the General Assembly.

The principles were treated on the General Assembly in accordance with the World Board Motion on Principles of Organic Agriculture.

Feedback from IFOAM members and other stakeholders

At May 1,2 and 3 the Task Force studied all feedback on the second draft as was sent out in January.

• Compiled feedback internal stakeholders
• Compiled feedback external stakeholders

The Task Force made an analysis of the feedback and formulated a response.

• Analysis feedback on second draft
• Response to feedback on second draft

The Task Force has now delivered this work to the IFOAM World Board.

Please see the SideBar menu to the right for more information. The information here is now also available at IFOAM’s website (http://www.ifoam.org/about_ifoam/principles).