Organic farming is a production method defined and regulated at EC level by the EC Reg.  834/07, EC Reg 889/08, and at Italian national level by the Ministerial Decree  (D.M.) 220/95.

 

In organic farming synthetic chemical substances (such as fertilizers, weeding chemicals, antifungi, insecticides and pesticides in general) or Genetically Modified Organisms (GMO) cannot be used. 

Crop protection is mainly done by selecting species resistant to pests and carrying on certain cultivation techniques such as:

• crop rotation: avoiding cultivation of the same crop for more seasons in a row on the same soil. On one hand this technique destroys a favorable environment for pests to proliferate, and on the other hand nutrients of the soil are used in a more sound and less intensive way;

• planting bushes and trees: this ameliorate the landscape, gives shelter to natural predators of common pests and acts as a physical barrier to possible external pollutants;

• intercropping: signifies the simultaneous planting of different crops in the same space, with each crop being unfavourable to the other’s pests.

 

In organic farming natural fertilizers are used, such as manure and other composted organic substances (green cuttings, etc.) and green organic matter is incorporated, with Trifolium spp. and Sinapis spp..

If needed, the following can be used for crop protection: natural vegetable, animal or mineral substances, useful insects that predate pests, rock meals or natural minerals that correct the structure or characteristics of the soil or protect crops from fungi.

If deemed necessary for the protection of crops from pests the grower can use only natural substances clearly authorized and described in the EEC Reg. (under the “positive list”- criteria).