Part A.
Where are background resources?

AFSIC Research Guide
Compiled by:
Mary V. Gold
Alternative Farming Systems Information Center

October 2008

The United States National Organic Program

National Organic Program (NOP). U.S. Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Marketing Service.
"The National Organic Program (NOP) develops, implements, and administers national production, handling, and labeling standards for organic agricultural products. The NOP also accredits the certifying agents (foreign and domestic) who inspect organic production and handling operations to certify that they meet USDA standards."
Homepage: http://www.ams.usda.gov/AMSv1.0/ams.fetchTemplateData.do?template=TemplateA
&navID=NationalOrganicProgram&page=NOPNationalOrganicProgramHome
&resultType=&topNav=&leftNav=NationalOrganicProgram&acct=nop

National Organic Program Regulatory text

Federal Regulation, Title 7: Agriculture; Part 205 National Organic Program. Electronic Code of Federal Regulations. Full text: http://ecfr.gpoaccess.gov/cgi/t/text/text-idx?type=simple;c=ecfr;cc=ecfr;sid=4163ddc3518c1ffdc539675aed8efe33;
region=DIV1;q1=national%20organic%20program;rgn=div5;view=text;idno=7;
node=7%3A3.1.1.9.31
"This final rule establishes the National Organic Program (NOP or program) under the direction of the Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS), an arm of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). This national program will facilitate domestic and international marketing of fresh and processed food that is organically produced and assure consumers that such products meet consistent, uniform standards. This program establishes national standards for the production and handling of organically produced products, including a National List of substances approved for and prohibited from use in organic production and handling. This final rule establishes a national-level accreditation program to be administered by AMS for State officials and private persons who want to be accredited as certifying agents. Under the program, certifying agents will certify production and handling operations in compliance with the requirements of this regulation and initiate compliance actions to enforce program requirements. The final rule includes requirements for labeling products as organic and containing organic ingredients. This final rule also provides for importation of organic agricultural products from foreign programs determined to have equivalent organic program requirements. This program is authorized under the Organic Foods Production Act of 1990, as amended."

Selected Web sites

[This listing of Web sources in this section is provided for reader information only; no endorsement by the Alternative Farming Systems Information Center, National Agricultural Library is intended.]

"Does It Pay to Buy Organic?" by Carol Marie Cropper. Business Week, Sept. 6, 2004.
http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/content/04_36/b3898129_mz070.htm

"Eating Better than Organic," by John Cloud. Time Magazine, Mar. 2, 2007. Full text: http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1595245,00.html

Food Labeling: Organic Foods. Food and Nutrition Information Center, National Agricultural Library, USDA.
Full text: http://fnic.nal.usda.gov/nal_display/index.php?info_center=4&tax_level=2&tax_subject=273&
topic_id=1318
Web portal.

Food Safety and Quality as Affected by Organic Farming. Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), 2000.
Full text: http://www.fao.org/docrep/meeting/X4983e.htm

Guide to Organic Market, Industry and Consumer Studies (2004-2008). Guide 6 in the series, Organic Agricultural Products: Marketing and Trade Resources. Alternative Farming Systems Information Center, National Agricultural Library, 2008.
Full text: http://www.nal.usda.gov/afsic/pubs/OAP/OAPGuide6.shtml
Citations and links to documentation on organic marketing and consumer studies.

Organic Foods: Are they Safer? More Nutritious? Mayo Clinic/Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research (MFMER), 2006.
Full text: http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/organic-food/NU00255

Organic vs Non-organic Farming - The Debate. The Royal Society of Chemistry, UK. 2008.
Full text: http://www.rsc.org/Chemsoc/Chembytes/HotTopics/Organic/Index.asp
Discusses:

1. Organic food is healthier and safer than food produced conventionally. Is organic food the healthier option? Is it as safe as the public think?;
2. Organic farming is better as it has zero tolerance to genetically modified (GM) crops. Why does organic faming not use GM crops?;
3. Pesticides used in conventional farming can damage your health. Are the levels of pesticides used in conventional farming enough to damage health?;
4. Organic farming is more environmentally friendly than conventional farming. Environmental impacts of both farming methods;
5. Organic farming cannot feed the developing world. Is organic farming a viable option in the developing world?;
6. Consumers are paying too much for organic food. Why is the price of organic produce so high?

Organic vs. Nonorganic: Understanding the Issues. Quamut.com, Barnes & Noble, Inc.
Full text: http://quamut.com/quamut/organic_food/page/
organic_vs_nonorganic_understanding_the_issues.html
Discusses: "Health Concerns, Environmental Issues, Cost, Quality and Flavor, Appearance and Social Concerns."

Scientific Findings about Organic Agriculture: Organic and Conventional Comparisons. Leopold Center for Sustainable Agriculture, Iowa State University, 2008.
Full text: http://www.leopold.iastate.edu/organic/orgvconv/index.html
Cites peer reviewed research on, "Organic Foods: Health Facts, Quality of Organic Animal Products; Meat Quality of Organic and Conventional Pigs; Fatty Acids in Meat, Antioxidants and Meat Quality; Organic Food: Good Food-Good Medicine; Organic Farming and Food Assertions in the UK; Organic Foods and Swedish Consumers; Organic Food: Nutritious Food?; Organic and Conventional Foods; Organic and Conventional Foods: Nutritional Value and Food Safety; Fast Food / Organic Food; Organic Farming and Human Health; Quality of Organic and Conventional Plant Foods; Nutrition and Biodynamics."

Sustainable Table. The Issues. GRACE, 2008.
Full text: http://www.sustainabletable.org/issues/
Discusses major issues surrounding sustainable meat and factory farming.

"When it Pays to Buy Organic." Consumer Reports, Feb. 2006.
Full text: http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/food/diet-nutrition/organic-products/
organic-products-206/overview/

*See also related parts of this information series:

Question and answer fact sheets:

• Should I purchase organic foods? Introduction

• A. Where are background resources? [A-3 sections]

• B. Does organically-grown food contain more or better nutrients – vitamins, minerals and phytonutrients – than conventionally grown food? [B-7 sections]

• C. Are there fewer pesticide residues on organic foods than on conventionally grown foods? Are there fewer antibiotic and hormone residues in organic meat, eggs and dairy products than in conventional animal products? Is organic food safer to eat? [C-5 sections]

• D. Are organic foods more environmentally friendly than non-organic foods? Do organic farming practices have fewer negative impacts on soil resources, water quality and climate change than conventional practices? Are organic farms more sustainable? [D-in progress]

Bibliographies:

• Organically Produced Foods: Nutritive Content. Citations for research publications to 2000 (2000), Full text: http://www.nal.usda.gov/afsic/AFSIC_pubs/srb0003.htm and citations for research publications, 2000-July 2008 (2008). Full text: http://www.nal.usda.gov/afsic/AFSIC_pubs/srb0003.htm

• Organically Produced Foods: Food Safety Issues. Citations for research publications, 2000-July 2008 (2008). Full text: http://www.nal.usda.gov/afsic/pubs/srb0803.shtml#ref25

• Organic Agriculture's Conservation Focus: Selected Research Publications 2005-2006 (2006). Full text: http://www.nal.usda.gov/afsic/pubs/orgconserv2006.shtml