An oasis in a Beijing suburb, the organic farm’s modest 6 acres boast pepper and tomato plants, fields of corn and wheat, and sunflower patches that pop up in between. Two rotund cows chomp on grasses; under a grove of fruit trees, three young pigs slurp water.

Restaurateur and environmentalist Lejen Chen started Green Cow with her husband in 2004, fearful of the pesticides, chemical fertilizers and sewage sludge used in the cultivation of most domestic produce.

The problem, she says, is making sure that farmers stick to those standards, and ensuring that there are enough authorities to adequately monitor producers who claim their food is organic — a tall order in a country where toxic, heavy-metal-filled sewage sludge is the cheapest, most easily accessible fertilizer around.

The Chinese Ministry of Agriculture certifies organic products, and its popular “Green Food” label, which designates food produced with restricted amounts of agricultural chemicals, can be seen on products such as fruit, noodles, tea and even beer. The ministry also labels genetically modified food, something the United States does not do.

Although shoppers’ enthusiasm may run high, organic agriculture will need to expand, and become more accessible, before being embraced by the skeptical penny-pincher.

Related article:

Is Organic Food Really Benefit for Our Health

Organic Agriculture and Our Life

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.