BASI C STA ND AR DS

FOR OR GAN IC
AG RI CUL TUR E
AND P ROC ESS IN G
By: Po nci ano B .
Almo nt e
The Need for Organic Agriculture:

Over the last decades agriculture has changed

character with the development of new knowledge,
machinery and chemical industry.

This agriculture enabled the world to produce

food that kept in pace with population growth, but
this was not achieved without side effects on the
health of people. Since 1970’s, Philippine
agriculture began its extensive dependence on
modern or high yielding crops, livestock, and
poultry as well as on modern agrochemicals.
Meanwhile, traditional agriculture based on
indigenous knowledge has been looked down as
backward mere subsistence farming. The new
agriculture which has come to be known as
conventional agriculture was seen as scientific
and progressive and hence, do not recognize the
ecological wisdom of the people’s culture in
farming. Fortunately however, there are also
forward-looking farmers who developed
agricultural methods and processes that were
considered sound and sustainable. Such farming
systems are based on the dynamic interaction
between soil, plant and environment. This relies
largely on locally available resources.
These farmers today called organic farmers have
proven to the world that their farming system is
distinguishable from other agricultural system,
and above all, is competitive and able to provide
agricultural products of good quality. Crop
livestock diversity and integration in organic
farming also served as a broad-based source of
food and income. Organic agriculture can
contribute to an ecologically sound future for
humanity.
What are Standards for Organic Agriculture?

The extent and progress of organic agriculture in many

countries have been enhanced substantially by the
development of set of principles, requirements and
guidelines for organic farming and processing
commonly referred to as Basic Standards. This
eventually evolved into the International Federation of
Organic Agriculture Movements (IFOAM) Basic
Standards. It reflects the collective knowledge and
practices of IFOAM members, who in, 1972 came from 5
countries and now from 115 countries worldwide. It is
widely recognized worldwide and as a “living
document”, it is continually evaluated and constantly
improved through a democratic process every when
IFOAM holds its General Assembly.
Such standards seek to clarify the practices and
procedures approved in organic agriculture, those that
maybe accepted or prohibited. It should however be
understood that it cannot be used for certification on their
own, but it provide a framework for certification programs
worldwide to develop their own national or regional
standards.

Under such conditions, when products are sold on the

market using the an “organic label” the farm processors
must work within and be certified by a recognized
certification program according to the respective label
standards, which in effect will help to build consumer
trusts. The majority of certification programs used
worldwide is accredited by IFOAM
Principal Aims of Organic Agriculture and
Processing:
Basic to our understanding of Organic Agriculture and
Processing is to accept the fact that these are based on the
number of principles, and ideas, which are all equally
important. These are:

To produce food of high nutritional quality in sufficient quantity;

To interact in a constructive and life-enhancing way with natural

system and cycles;

To encourage and enhance biological cycles within the farming

system, involving micro-organisms, soil flora and soil fauna,
plants and animals;

To promote the healthy use and proper care of water, water
resources, and all life therein;
To enhance the conservation of soil, water, improve soil quality
and increase soil fertility;

To use organic matter and nutrient elements as far as possible,

within the closed system;

To work, as far as possible, with materials and substances which

can be reused or recycled either on the farm or elsewhere;

To give livestock (including poultry, fishes, basic aspects of their

innate behavior;
bees and other farm animals) conditions which allow them to
perform the

To maintain the genetic diversity of the agricultural system and its
surroundings, including the protection of plant and wildlife habitats;
To minimize all forms of pollution that may result from farming
practices and progress towards the entire production chain that is
ecologically sound, economically rewarding, and socially just;

To allow everyone involved in the organic production and

processing quality of life conforming to the UN Human Rights Charter,
including a safe working environment; and

To foster indigenous and ecological production system that can

produce, adequate, safe and nutritious food for local communities;

To produce non-food products out of renewable resources which

are fully biodegradable;

To encourage organic farming associations to functions along

democratic lines and the principle of division of powers;

To progress towards the entire organic production chain, which is

both socially just and ecologically responsible?
The Bases or the Principal Requirements of Organic
Agriculture and Processing:

As overly emphasized, the basis of crop production in gardening,

farming, orchard growing and agro-forestry is the maintenance of
desirable soil quality, build up soil fertility, and the promotion of
biodiversity and sound ecosystem. This is achieved by appropriate
combinations of:

 versatile crop production

 recycling of organic residues with the inclusion of symbiotic N-

fixing plants (legumes and azolla) and other forms of nutrient
plant symbiosis that help avoid the use of synthetic fertilizers

 wide ranges of methods for the control of pests, diseases and

weeds, which avoid the use of synthetic pesticides, fungicides,
herbicides, molluscides
The basis for animal husbandry is the respect for the
physiological and ecological needs of the animals. This is
achieved by:

 Providing sufficient amount of good quality fodder

 Providing shed their behavioral needs

systems and allowing sufficient run according to

 Poor animal health care by preventive measures, management

practices, and veterinary treatment based on natural medicine if
suitable
Animal are important parts of organic farming system
because:
 they contribute in completing the nutrient cycle by providing
manures
 they convert organic matter (household wastes/refuse,
vegetable plant into protein rich meat) which can improve soil
fertility, thus allowing to utilize land which otherwise can not
otherwise be used

 some animal species can utilize agricultural areas, which

otherwise can not be used

they grazed in forage crops that improves the crop rotations, the
diversification, and balance of the farming system

they can utilize by products from agricultural production

 they contribute to higher yields

The basis for processing organic products is that its
vital qualities are maintained throughout each step
of the process. This is achieved by the combination
of :
 Choosing and developing methods which are adequate to the
specifics of the ingredients

 Developing standards which emphasize careful processing

methods, limited refining, energy saving technologies, minimal
use of additives and processing aids, etc. The production and
handling of organic products should seek to minimize the
environmental degradation achieved by :
 developing standards which encompass waste management,
packaging systems and energy savings systems in processing
and transport

 products produced and processed in a traditional way by

indigenous and/or processing are in accordance with the
principles in the basic standards
 APPARENT DETERIORATION OF
PHILIPPINES SOIL DUE TO CONTINUOUS
USAGE OF CHEMICAL FERTILIZERS

THE NEED TO SUSTAIN FOREIGN EXHANGE

SOIL FERTILITY ON A SAVINGS
LONG TERM BASIS

WHY
ORGANIC ENERGY SAVING DUE
INCREASE YIELDS
FARMING TO MANUFACTURE OF
? CHEMICAL FERTILIZER

BETTER/IMPROVED PREVENT
FOOD TASTES ENVIRONMENTAL
POLLUTION

THE CALL FOR

SUSTAINABLE/ORGANIC
AGRICULTURE

FIG. 1 Reasons justifying the need for SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE

 RELATIONSHIP OF SOIL DEGRADATIVE PROCESSES
AND SOIL CONSERVATION PRACTIVES

SOIL DEGRADATION SOIL CONSERVATION

PROCESS PRACTICES

SOIL EROSION CONSERVATION

NUTRIENT OFF TILLAGE CROP
WATERLOGGING ROTATIONS
SOIL
DESERTIFICATION IMPROVED DRAINAGE
PRODUCTI
ACIDITATION RESIDUE
VITY
COMPACTION MANAGEMENT WATER
CRUSTING CONSERVATION
ORGANIC MATTER TERRACING
LOSS SALINIZATION CONTOUR FARMING
NUTRIENT CHEMICAL FERTLIZERS
DEPLETION BY ORGANIC FERTLIZERS
IMPROVED NUTRIENT
LEACHING CYCLING IMPROVED
TOXICANTACCUMULAT SYSTEMS TO MATCH
ION SOIL, CLIMATE AND
CULTIVARS
 STRATEG LINKAG GOAL
Y E
Alternative Sustainable Agriculture
Agriculture
Productive/profitable
Skilled Management SOIL
Energy conserving
Crop Rotation QUALITY
Environmentally sound
Organic Recycling
Economically viable
Reduced Chemical
Input Conserves natural
resources
Crop/livestock
systems Improves health /food/

Integrated pest Quality /safety

management

A conceptual diagram that illustrates how the

attributes o soil quality provide a link between the
strategy of alternative agriculture and the ultimate
goal of sustainable agriculture
 CONVERSION TO ORGANIC AGRICULTURE

General Principles Minimum Requirements:

Organic agriculture means a process
of developing a viable and sustainable
agro ecosystem. The time between the
probable start of organic management
and certification of crops and/or
animal husbandry as fully organic is
known as the conversion period.
Conversion Requirements:
The Standards minimum requirements must
be met from the beginning of the conversion
period onward
Before products from a farm can be certified
as organic, inspection shall have been carried
out during the conversion period.

The whole farm including livestock

should have been fully converted
according to the standards within a
period of five (5) years.

The responsible farmer shall have a clear
plan of how to proceed with the conversion.
This plan should be updated as necessary.
The conversion plan shall cover all
aspects relevant to these standards
The conversion plan shall at
least include :
 Field and farm history and present
situation (crops, pest management,
fertilizing, animal husbandry)
 A schedule fro the progression of
conversion
 Aspects which shall be improved
during the conversion period (e.g. crop
relations, manure management , fodder,
plan, pest management , environmental
conditions, including
time limits).
If a farm is not converted all at once, it
should be done on a field-by field basis,
whereby full standards are followed from the
start of conversion on a relevant field. The
areas of land being managed to the full
standards will therefore progressively
increase.
If the whole farm does not get converted at
once or if a field is decertified, the
responsible farmers have to ensure:
 Fixed demarcation between the
conventionally and organically farmed parts

 That the organically farmed parts are

The composition of a farm unit can vary
inspectable
widely according to geographically
conditions, ownership structure, time,  That all farm records and accounting are
span, stc.
identifiable for both farming systems

The entire operation should be seen as  That no parallel production takes place
a whole. It is not recommend to
separate the conversion of individual  Those converted areas do not get
fields or individual livestock switched back and forth between organic
productions, unless this is on the and conventional management.
basis of imposed public restriction or
can be justified according to local
conditions

When the organic farmland and remote areas are
operated under the same management, the
remote areas in general should be included in the
conversion plan as well. If a farmer or farming
community operates two or more farms within a
local area, all the farms should be converted
according to the OCCP Standards.
Farmland which:
 requires disproportionately long
transportation of farmyard manure
 has very different agro-ecosystems
 in any way has difficult access in
relation to other operations may, with
approval of the certification body, be
operated conventionally, provided that the
associated prohibited production aids are
not kept within the operation area for
which certification is applied
Where de facto full standard requirements
have been met for several years (e.g. in
traditional management or when claiming
idle land) and where this can be reliably
proved, no full conversion period is required.
Primary and secondary forests are
discouraged from conversion
The certification program can reduce the
conversion period in case of:
 uncultivated land is claimed for organic
agriculture;
 traditional agriculture , which has already
been fulfilling the full standards for several
years, where this can be verified by reliable
means and sources. In such cases,
inspection shall be carried out at least six
months before the first harvest.

The establishment of an organic management
System and building of soil fertility requires an
interim period, the conversion period.
The length of the conversion period should be
based on:
the past use of the-land
the ecological situation
The conversion period can be extended by
the certification program taking into account
past use of the land
Length of Conversion Period:
Plant products can be certified organic when
the full requirements of these standard have
been met:
*for annual crops: at least twelve (12) months
before the start of the production cycle,
*for perennials: at least eighteen (18) months
of management according to the full
standards requirements before the first
harvest
A 3-year conversion period
(before the start of the production cycle)is
required on lands heavily treated with
synthetic chemicals over several years. The
certification program decides whether this
rule applies on a specific site.
Products may be sold with an indication
referring to the conversion to organic
farming, when the full requirements of the
Standards have been met for at least one
year.
 CROP PRODUCTION
General Principles
Species and varieties cultivated should,
as far as possible, be adapted to the soil
and climatic conditions and should be
resistant to pests and diseases.
All seeds and plant materials used should
be from certified organic produce or from
the same farm
Local seed and crop production and
development programs should be
encouraged.
In the choice of varieties, genetic diversity
Should be taken into consideration.
Minimum Requirements:
Choice of Crops and Varieties
Seeds and plant materials shall
be from certified organic production
when available.
When certified organic seed and plant
materials are not available, chemically
untreated conventional materials may be
used in regions where organic agriculture is
in the early stages of its development or
where a new crop gets introduced.
The use of genetically engineered seeds,
transgenic plants or plant material is not
allowed.
General Principles
Rotations and cropping patterns should
be as varied as possible and should
aim at:
*maintaining soil fertility
*reducing leaching of nutrients
*minimizing soil erosion
preventing weed, pest and disease
problems
Recommended soil and crop management
practices and provided in Appendix 1.2.
rotations including legumes are generally
encouraged
Minimum Requirements:
Crop Rotations and Soil Management
Practices
In lowland rice cultivation,
green manuring or rotation with
legumes or other nitrogen fixing
plants has to be applied at least
once a year.
In intensive vegetable cultivation, there shall
be at least one legume crop in rotation within
three years. Crop rotation patterns must be
documented.
In perennial crops, intercropping, cover
crops or mulching must ensure that the
soil is sufficiently covered for most part
of the year.
General Principles
The fertilization program should aim at
maintaining and increasing the fertility of
the soil and biological activity within it.
Sufficient quantities of organic material
should be returned to the soil to increase
or at least maintain its humus content on a
long-term
basis.
Biodegradable materials from conventional
farms should undergo a process of
composting, fermentation or other
treatment prior to application.
Minimum Requirements:
Fertilization Policy
Biodegradable materials of microbial, plant or
animal origin produced on organic farms should
be the basis of the fertilization program.
If biodegradable from organic farms are not
available in sufficient amounts, materials
from conventional farms may be used, but
should not exceed 50% of the applied
materials. The proportions of these materials
should be reduced with time and such
stopgap measures time and such stopgap
measures
When supplementary application of fertilizer
is needed, the materials must be certified as
organic fertilizer or correspond with the
requirements of Appendix 2.1 to 2.4.
General Principles
Care must be exercised to prevent over
application of animal manure and plant
materials.
Management, handling, and storage of
manure and compost shall minimize losses of
nutrients and biological content.
Soil pH values, which are appropriate to the
soil type and crops cultivated, shall be
maintained.
Minimum Requirements:
In order to prevent over application of
biodegradable material a maximum
application of material containing 170 kg
Nitrogen per hectare per year shall not be
exceeded on a specific plot. Farms shall keep
suitable records on the application of
manures.
Organic and mineral fertilizers and
particularly those rich in Nitrogen (e.g. blood
meal, farmyard slurry) should be applied in
such a
way as to have minimum adverse effect on the
quality of crops (nutritive quality, nitrate
content, taste, keeping quality, and plant
resistance) and the environment (e.g.
on ground and surface water). Storage places
of manure and compost sites should be
covered or sheltered in order to prevent
leaching of nutrients and pollution water.
General Principles
Use of human feces in restricted
consideration should be paid to the
absence of pollutants and accumulation
of heavy metals. Steps should be taken
to prevent the spreading of pest,
parasites and other infectious agents.
Non-synthetic mineral fertilizers and
brought in fertilizers of biological
origin should be regarded as
supplements to, and not replacement
for nutrient recycling.
Minimum Requirements:
Untreated sewage manure containing human
feces shall not be used on vegetable
production for human consumption, unless it
has undergone a process of anaerobic
fermentation (e.g. biogas process) or
high temperature composting.
Mineral fertilizers conforming with Appendix
2.4 shall only be applied in combination with
a fertilization program based on
biodegradable material and in case of
obvious nutrient deficiency.
Mineral fertilizers shall be applied in their
natural composition and shall not be
rendered more soluble by chemical
treatment.
General Principles
Accumulation of heavy metals and other
pollutants by brought in materials should be
avoided.
Organic fertilizer production should preferably
be based on biodegradable organically grown
plant or animal materials and wastes.
Minimum Requirements:
Minerals inputs, which may have a
considerable content of heavy metals and/or
other toxic substances, shall not be used.
All synthetic nitrogenous fertilizers including
urea are prohibited.
Commercial Production of Organic
Fertilizer
Raw materials for organic fertilizer
production must be in Accordance with
Appendix 2.1 to 2.3. however, preference
should be given to material indigenous in
the area.
Raw materials coming from conventional
farms may be allowed in areas where
organic agriculture is still in the early stage
of development or where it has not been
introduced until such time that the required
volume of matters from organic sources
are already available.
Other macro elements may be used for
enrichment.
General Principles Minimum Requirements:

Organic fertilizer production is preferably For compost activation, appropriate plant

based on a natural composting or based preparations of micro-organisms, not
fermentation process. genetically modified, may be used to hasten
decomposition of organic residues.
Vermicomposting is allowed.

Synthetic nitrogenous additives are prohibited.

The organic fertilizer produced should be
such that the original materials are no longer
recognizable, free from plant and animal
pathogens, soil-like in texture, contain not
less than 20% organic matter (o.m.) over dry
basis and can supply nutrients to plants.

The processing method should not have Care must be exercised to prevent
hazardous effects both human health and contamination of ground and surface
the environment. water due to leaching of nutrients from
composted materials.

Safety precautionary measures for

production workers such as wearing
masks, gloves, and boots should be
undertaken.
General Principles Minimum Requirements:

The packaging of organic fertilizers should Packaging shall be “ environmentally friendly”

also consider ecological principles. (such as jute sack), simple and not deceptive.

Pest, Disease and Weed Management

Organic farming systems should be The use of synthetic pesticides (herbicides,

carried out in the way, which ensures that fungicides, insecticides, molluscides,
loses from pests, diseases, and weeds nematicides etc.) is prohibited.
are prevented considerable efforts
should be made to select varieties well
adapted to the environment to achieve a
balanced organic fertilization program,
fertile soils of high biological activity,
diverse rotations, companion planting,
green
manuring etc.

The natural enemies of pests and diseases Products used for pest, disease and weed
should be protected through proper habitat management prepared at the farm from local
management while encouraging hedges, plants, animals and microorganisms are
nesting sites, etc. allowed.
General Principles
Weeds are controlled by a number of
preventive cultural techniques limiting
their development, e.g. suitable rotations,
green manure, a balanced fertilization
program, early seedbed preparations and
pre-drilling, mulching, and by mechanical
control.
Minimum Requirements:
Products that may be used in the control of
pests, disease and indicated in Appendix 2.5.
Recommended plants for the control of some
pests/diseases are described In Appendix 2.6.
Themic weed control and physical methods
for pests, disease and weed management are
permitted. Themic sterilization of soils to
combat pests and diseases can be allowed by
the certification body b in circumstances
where a proper rotation or renewal of soil
cannot take place. Permission shall be given
on a case-to-case basis but is not
recommended.
All equipment used for pesticides and
fertilizers application on uncoverted areas of
the farm shall be properly cleaned and free
from residues when used for applying
permitted substances on organically managed
areas. However, the spraying equipment in
particular should be exclusively used in
organic farms.
The use of genetically engineered organisms
or products thereof is not permitted.
General Principles Minimum Requirements:
Growth Regulations:

Growth and development should take All synthetic products like growth regulators
place in a natural way. and dyes (e.g. for cosmetic alterations of
organic products) are prohibited.

Off-farm products that may be used for Products used for regulating growth and
growth regulation are seaweeds development of plants prepared on the farm
itself from local plants, animals and
microorganisms are allowed

Pollution Control:

All relevant measures should be taken to The buffer zone could be a dike which is
minimize synthetic pesticide and fertilizer planted with multi-purpose tree species of
contamination, from outside and within the sufficient density. Products of the buffer
farm by wind drift, drainage and irrigation zone shall not be sold as organic but can
where drift of agrochemicals or other be used as fodder for livestock
pollutants is likely, a buffer zone between
conventionally and originally farmed fields
must be kept. Accumulation of heavy metals
and other pollutants should be avoided.
General Principles Minimum Requirements:

In case of reasonable suspicion of pollution, an

analysis of the relevant products, crops and/or soil
quality should be done. The certification body
decides whether the respective crops can still be
sold as organic.

If pollution and de-certification of a field has

taken place, this has to be clearly identifiable
and inspectable. Standards for parallel
production apply.

In case of risk or reasonable suspicion of

pollution, specific limits shall be set for the
maximum yearly addition of heavy metals and
other pollutants.

For protected structure coverings, plastic

mulches, fleeces, insect netting and silage
wrapping, only products based on
polyethylene and polypropylene or other
polycarbonates are allowed provided that safe
disposal is ensured. These shall be removed
from the soil after use and recycled if
possible. Use of polychloride based products
is prohibited.
General Principles Minimum Requirements:
Soil & Water Conservation:

Organic farming systems should be Clearing of land through the means of burning
designed and managed to include control organic matter shall be restricted to the absolute
measures against soil erosion and Minimum. The use of burning for pH correction
against depletion of water resources. needs approval of the certification body.

Relevant measures shall be taken to prevent

soil erosion and ensure water conservation

Relevant measures shall be taken to prevent

excess and improper use of water and the
pollution of ground and surface water.

Relevant measures shall be taken to prevent

salinization.

The number of livestock must be closely

related to the area available in order to
prevent over gazing, erosion and pollution
of ground and surface water. Maximum
stocking rates shall correspond with the
maximum application of manure containing
170 kg Nitrogen per hectare per year as
described in Article 4.3.4
General Principles
The farm should have sufficient crop
diversity in time and/or space that takes
into account pressures from insects,
weeds, diseases and other pests while
maintaining or increasing soil organic
matter, soil fertility, microbial activity
and general soil health.
Minimum Requirements:
Diversity in Crop Production:
The diversity of crops and cropping systems on
organic farms shall endeavor to achieve the
following
objectives:
 To maintain and promote biodiversity that is
suited to local agro-ecosystem.
 To promote and encourage the use of local
flora and fauna around the fields suited to the
ecosystem.
To develop indicators for successive
progression of indigenous flora and fauna.
 To promote fruit-bearing trees and
medicinal plants in forest areas.
 To develop repellants (plants that repel
pests) and attractants (plants that attract
beneficial insects.)
 Crop diversification systems include crop
rotation, intercropping, ailey cropping, relay
cropping, and multi-storey cropping
General Principles
The act of collection should positively
contribute to the maintenance of natural
areas. Interests of tribal and forest
communities should be protected.
Minimum Requirements:
Collection of Non Cultivated
Materials and Minor Forest Products
Collected products shall only be certified
organic if derived from a stable growing
environment. Harvesting or gathering the
product shall not exceed the sustainable yield
of the ecosystem, or threaten the existence of
plant or animal species.
Produce can only be certified if derived from a
clearly defined collecting area not exposed to
prohibited substances at least once year prior
to the first harvest and if subjected to regular
inspection.
The operator managing the harvesting or
gathering of the products shall be clearly
identified and be familiar with the collecting
area in question.
The collection area shall be at an appropriate
distance from conventional farming, pollution
and contamination
 PROCESSING
General Principles
The consumer must always be able to rely
on the organic integrity of a product when
this product is labeled as organic.
There should be no source of pollution of
organic products.
Minimum Requirements:
Postharvest Operations:
Organic produce shall neither be mixed nor
switched with non-organic produce
Processing and handling shall be done
separately in time or place from processing
of non-organic products.
When equipment is not exclusively used for
organic products, the machineries should
be properly cleaned before processing
organic products.
All products shall be adequately identified
through the whole process, until final
labeling.
Genetically modified organisms and
product thereof are not allowed
Pollution sources shall be identified and
contamination avoided
 COMPARATIVE NUTRITIONAL VALUES OF
ORGANICALLY- GROWN FOODS VS. CHEMICALLY-
GROWN ONES:
Recent studies have shown that organic foods have higher nutritional value-trace minerals,
vitamins, etc. than the commercially grown foods or that which were applied with synthetic
chemicals. In this particular study, elemental concentrations of the tested organic foods on a
fresh weight basis were found to be approximately twice that of commercially grown foods.
The results are shown in the following table:

1. Snap Beans
The organic vs. commercial snap beans, like the other plant food, were tested
for calcium, magnesium, potassium, sodium, manganese, iron and copper. Result of
such tests, are shown below for various commodity crops.

Nutrient Content Organically Commercially

( %) (%)

Calcium 40.5 15.5

Magnesium 60.0 14.8
Potassium 99.7 29.1
Sodium 8.6 0.0
Manganese 60.0 2.0
Iron 227.0 10.0
Copper 69.0 3.0
2. CABBAGE

Nutrient Content Organically Commercially

( %) (%)

Calcium 60.0 17.5

Magnesium 54.6 15.6
Potassium 148.3 53.7
Sodium 20.4 0.8
Manganese 13.0 2.0
Iron 94.0 20.0
Copper 48.0 0.4
3. Lettuce
Nutrient Content Organically Commercially

( %) (%)
Calcium 71.0 16.0
Magnesium 49.3 13.1
Potassium 176.5 53.7
Sodium 12.2 0.0
Manganese 169.0 1.0
Iron 516.0 9
Copper 60.0 30.0
3. Tomatoes

Nutrient Content Organically Commercially

( %) (%)
Calcium 96.0 47.5
Magnesium 203.9 46.9
Potassium 257.0 84.0
Sodium 68.5 0.8
Manganese 117.0 1.0
Iron 1585.0 19.0
Copper 32.0 0.5
Conclusion:
The elements found within the organically grown produce far
surpassed the elemental minerals and vitamins within the commercially-grown
produce. This study found for the consumer interested in the elemental
concentrations, a significant difference between organic and commercial
foods. Additionally, the study concluded that while the weight, color, texture
appeared similar, there were significant nutritional differences. Organically-
grown foods were richer in minerals than the look alike commercially - grown
products. In fact, by comparison, there were 87 % less minerals and trace
elements in today’s commercially grown ones.