| Entries List |
| Accreditation |
| A procedure by which an authoritative body evaluates and gives a formal recognition that a certification programme is in accordance with the standards of the authoritative body. |
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| Agribusiness |
| In agriculture, agribusiness is a generic term that refers to the various businesses involved in food production, including farming, seed supply, agrichemicals, farm machinery, wholesale and distribution, processing and marketing. |
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| Agricultural pollution |
| The liquid and solid wastes from farming, including: runoff and leaching of pesticides and fertilizers; erosion and dust from plowing; animal manure and carcasses; crop residue. |
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| Alternative agriculture |
| A systematic approach to farming intended to reduce agricultural pollution, enhance sustainability, and improve efficiency and profitability. Overall, alternative agriculture emphasizes management practices that take advantage of natural processes (such as nutrient cycles, nitrogen fixation, and pest-predator relationships), improve the match between cropping patterns and agronomic practices on the one hand and the productive potential and physical characteristics of the land on the other. Also the selective use of commercial fertilizer and pesticides to ensure production efficiency and conservation of soil, water, energy, and biological resources. |
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| Ammonium |
| A pungent alkaline gas, a compound of nitrogen and hydrogen (NH3). It is formed naturally when bacteria decompose nitrogen-containing compounds, such as manures. Emissions of ammonia can be a problem in enclosed livestock facilities. Synthetic ammonia is used as a nitrogen fertilizer. Also called anhydrous ammonia, it is the basic feed stock for the production of all nitrogen fertilizers. Synthetic ammonia is made through a reaction between natural gas and nitrogen. |
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| Bioaccumulation |
| The absorption and concentration of toxic chemicals, heavy metals, and certain pesticides in plants and animals. Toxicity can be expressed in several ways: lead that is ingested by calves can bioaccumulate in their bones, interfering with calcium absorption and bone development; stored chemicals may be released to the blood stream at a later time, for example, during gestation or weight loss. Bioconcentration is a synonym for biaccumulation. |
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| Biodegradable |
| Capable of being broken down into simpler components. |
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| Biodiversity (or biological diversity) |
| In general, the variety and variation among plants, animals, and microorganisms, and among their ecosystems. It has 3 levels: ecosystem diversity, species diversity, and genetic (within species) diversity. In agriculture, biodiversity is a production system characterized by the presence of multiple plant and/or animal species. |
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| Biodynamic agriculture |
| Comprises an ecological and sustainable system of agricultural production. This type of organic farming system is developed by Austrian scientist and philosopher Rudolf Steiner in the early 1900’s. Biodynamic farming takes into consideration both biological cycles and also “dynamic”—metaphysical or spiritual—aspects of the farm, with the intention of achieving balance. |
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| Biological control |
| The practice of using beneficial organisms—such as insect predators or parasites of pest insects, pest disease agents, insect-eating birds and bats—to keep pest populations at a tolerable level. |
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| Biological monitoring |
| Using living organisms to test the quality of either effluent to be discharged into receiving waters, or waters downstream from a discharge. |
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| Biomass |
| Total mass of the plants (excluding water content of the plants) and/or animals in a particular place. |
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| Buffer zone |
| A buffer zone must be sufficient in size or other features (eg, windbreaks or a diversion ditch) to prevent the possibility of unintended contact by prohibited substances applied to adjacent land areas with an area that is part of a certified operation. |
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| Catch crop |
| Any quick-growing crop sown between seasons of regular planting. It may be such rapid-maturing vegetables as radishes, onions grown from sets, or spinach (planted between rows of slower growing crops); quick-growing crops such as rye, millet, or buckwheat; or an annual legume, such as soybean, which is valuable as fodder or, when plowed under, increases the soil’s fertility. |
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| Certification, or Certified |
| A procedure by which a third party gives written assurance that a product, process certain standards. Certified organic food products are food products that have been verified to have been produced in accordance with specified standards for organic production and processing. |
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| Certification body |
| An organization performing certification. Sometimes referred to as the certifier or the certification agency. |
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| Certification programme |
| A system of rules, procedures and management for carrying out certification. One certification body may process several different certification programmes. |
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| Compost |
| Is the material that results from the composting process and is a dark, moist soil-like substance that enriches the nutrient content of soil and helps soil structure. |
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| Composted manure |
| Animal feces that have been aged in a pile, allowing much of the nitrogen to leach from the feces. |
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| Conservation |
| The management of human and natural resources to provide maximum benefits over a sustained period of time. In farming, conservation entails matching cropping patterns and the productive potential and physical limitations of agricultural lands to ensure long-term sustainability of profitable production. Conservation practices focus on conserving soil, water, energy, and biological resources. |
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| Conservation tillage |
| Any tillage and planting system that leaves at least 30% of the soil surface covered by residue after planting. Conservation tillage maintains a ground cover with less soil disturbance than traditional cultivation, thereby reducing soil loss and energy use while maintaining crop yields and quality. Conservation tillage techniques include minimum tillage, mulch tillage, ridge tillage, and no-till. |
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| Conventional agriculture |
| Generally used to contrast common or traditional agricultural practices featuring heavy reliance on chemical and energy inputs typical of large-scale. Mold-board plowing to cover stubble, routine pesticide spraying, and use of synthetic fertilizers are examples of conventional practices that contrast to alternative practices such as no-till, integrated pest management, and use green manures. |
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| Conversion period |
| Specific period during which organic certification standards shall be fully applied to a given production unit. The period may vary, depending on the cultivation and crop types that are being certified. |
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| Dairy stock, organic |
| Organic animals producing milk products, must be managed organically at least one year to certified organic production. Dairy animals may also be considered breeder stock, but must meet dairy requirements in order for milk products to be considered organic. |
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| Denitrification |
| The reduction of nitrites, with the formation of ammonia and free nitrogen, as in nitrate reduction in soil by soil organisms, particularly anaerobic organisms under certain conditions. |
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| Disease resistance |
| The resistance to the infection by a particular pathogen. |
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| Disease tolerance |
| The ability of a plant to continue growing without severe symptoms despite being infected by a pathogen. |
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| Ecological competition |
| The competition of two or more organisms for a limited supply of an environmental resource. |
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| Ecological imbalance |
| A lack of functional relationships among parts of an ecosystem. |
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| Ecosystem |
| A system consisting of a community of animals, plants and microorganisms and the physical environment in which they interrelate. |
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| Erosion |
| The wearing away of the land surface. Unconsolidated materials, such as soil, erode more rapidly than consolidated materials, such as rock. The most common causes of erosion are wind and moving water. . |
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| Evapotranspiration |
| The loss of water from the soil both by evaporation and by transpiration from the plants growing in the soil. |
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| Extensive farming |
| Farming in which a comparatively small amount of labour or capital is used per acre, usually implying a large acreage. |
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| Codex Alimentarius |
| The Codex Alimentarius is a collection of international standards for food safety and consumer protection. It is maintained by the Codex Alimentarius Commission, a body established jointly by FAO (The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations) and WHO (The World Health Organization) in the years 1961-1962 to protect consumers health and ensure fair practices in the international food trade. |
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| Fertility |
| The soils ability to supply enough nutrients, water and air for healthy plant growth. A fertile soil will have at least 5% organic matter and humus in it, and be crumbly. |
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| Genetic engineering |
| The science of changing the DNA of a plant or animal to produce desirable characteristics. Examples of desirable characteristics include fast growth and unusually large size. This is a very controversial science that many believe has not been adequately tested and studied. In addition, not everyone agrees that the plants and animals that are genetically engineered are safe for humans to eat or safe for the environment if released. |
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| GMO (Genetically Modified Organism) |
| An organism that has been genetically altered through the transfer of DNA from another organism, resulting in the expression of new characteristics in the recipient. |
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| IFOAM (International Federation of Organic Agriculture Movements) |
| A non-governmental organization that has established a set of Basic Standards. IFOAM has contracted with the International Organic Accreditation Service (IOAS) to accredit certifiers to these voluntary standards. Several large retailers in Europe rely on the IFOAM standards and IOAS accreditation as the basis for their certification rather than any particular national standard. |
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| Organic fertilizer |
| By-product from the processing of animal or vegetable substances that contain sufficient plant nutrients to be of value as fertilizers. |
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| Manure |
| The excretion of livestock and poultry. Sometimes referred to as livestock waste. This material may also contain bedding, spilled feed, water or soil. It may also include wastes not associated with livestock excreta, such as milking centre wastewater, contaminated milk, hair, feathers or other debris. |
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| Label |
| Any display of printed or written wording, or graphic symbols present on a food product, or associated with a food product, in order to advance sales. |
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| Mulch |
| Any nonsynthetic material, such as wood chips, leaves, or straw, or any synthetic material included on the National List for such use, such as newspaper or plastic that serves to suppress weed growth, moderate soil temperature, or conserve soil moisture. |
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| Organic aquaculture |
| The farming of aquatic animals and plants, without the use of synthetic fertilizers, pesticides, antibiotics, growth hormones, or feed additives. |
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| Organic certification |
| Process by which agricultural operators, retailers, distributors, and food processors are inspected and reviewed to verify compliance with organic standards |
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| Organic production |
| A production system that is managed in accordance with the Act and regulations in this part to respond to site-specific conditions by integrating cultural, biological, and mechanical practices that foster cycling of resources, promote ecological balance, and conserve biodiversity. |
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| Certification label |
| A label or symbol indicating that compliance with standards has been verified. |
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| Inspection |
| An on-site visit to verify that the performance of an operation is in accordance with specific standards of a certification programme. The inspector is the person appointed to undertake the inspection. |
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| Traceability |
| Monitoring procedure (audit trail) that is sufficient to determine origin, transfer of ownership and transportation process for all products labeled as organic or containing organic ingredients. |
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| Transaction Certificate/ Declaration |
| Official document issued by certification body during organic product transaction (this is the key document used to track the amount of product sold). |
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| Renewable energy |
| Energy obtained from sources that are essentially inexhaustible, unlike, for example, the fossil fuels, of which there is a finite supply. Renewable sources of energy include wood, waste, geothermal, wind, photovoltaic, and solar thermal energy. |
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| Recycled |
| The process of collecting materials from the waste stream and separating them by type, remaking them into new products, and marketing and reusing the materials as new products. |
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