China Agriculture View

What is organic agriculture?
The term “organic” is defined by law (see “Legal” section below), as opposed to the labels “natural” and “eco-friendly”.Organic agriculture is defined as “an ecological production management system that promotes and enhances biodiversity, biological cycles, and soil biological activity.

Organic agriculture prohibits the use of synthetic herbicides and pesticides, genetically-modified organisms or synthetic fertilizers. Growth hormones, antibiotics and slaughter by-products are not allowed in organic livestock production. Federal organic rules prohibit the use of sewage sludge (biosolids) or irradiation.

Marketing
Both people own health, as well as the health of the environment, motivates consumers to pay a higher price for organic foods.  According to the Organic Trade Association, the market for organic products has increased by 20% per year for the past 12 years. Organic products are found in mainstream supermarkets as well as specialty natural food stores.

China Organic Agriculture
In the past, farmers have tried to increase yields with modern nitrate-based fertilizers, but this has had damaging side-effects on soil health. ‘The return to more natural farming methods for organic production would allow the land to recover and would be a plus to the environment.Organic production has attracted over the past years an increasing political recognition by the Chinese government for its role in protecting the environment.The China Greenfood Development Centre (CGFDC) was established in 1992 under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Agriculture.CGFDC formulates programme, policies and plans for developing Green Food; it also administers the use of the Green Food label and organizes the formulation of the various standards for Green Food.

The benefit of organic food for our health
A growing number of consumers, and especially those dealing with chronic illness, are switching to organic food.Organic foods are a simple way to reduce an individual’s toxin burden of pesticides and food additives, increase their nutrient intake, and perhaps alter their consumption patterns away from less healthy choices.Organic food isn’t a luxury. It’s how food’s supposed to be, and a valuable part of any regimen intended to maintain, improve, or restore health.