Organic movement broadly refers to the organizations and individuals involved worldwide in the promotion of sustainable agriculture and organic farming, and a general opposition to agribusiness. Its history goes back to the first half of the 20th century, when modern large-scale agricultural practices began to appear.

An abbreviated timeline:

• Sir Albert Howard is often referred to as the father of modern organic agriculture. His writings, and notably, the 1940 book, An Agricultural Testament, influenced many scientists and farmers of the day.

• In 1939, strongly influenced by Sir Howard's work, Lady Eve Balfour launched the Haughley Experiment on farmland in England. It was the first scientific, side-by-side comparison of organic and conventional farming. Four years later, she published The Living Soil, based on the initial findings of the Haughley Experiment. It was widely read, and lead to the formation of a key international organic advocacy group, the Soil Association.

• During the 1950s, sustainable agriculture was a research topic of interest, but science tended to concentrate on the new chemical approaches. In the U.S., J.I. Rodale began to popularize the term and methods of organic growing. In addition to agricultural research, Rodale's publications through the Rodale Press helped to promote organic gardening to the general public.

• In 1962, Rachel Carson, a prominent scientist and naturalist, published Silent Spring, chronicling the effects of DDT and other pesticides on the environment. A bestseller in many countries, including the US, and widely read around the world, Silent Spring was instrumental in the US government's 1972 banning of DDT. The book and its author are often credited with launching the environmental movement.

• In the 1970s, worldwide movements concerned with the pollution and the environment increased attention on organic farming. As the distinction between organic and conventional food became clear, one goal of the organic movement was to encourage consumption of locally grown food, which was promoted through slogans such as "Know Your Farmer, Know Your Food".

• In the 1980s, around the world, various farming and consumer groups began seriously pressuring for government regulation of organic production. This led to various legislation and certification standards being enacted through the 1990s and to date. Currently, most aspects of organic food production are government-regulated in the US and the European Union.

• In the 2000s, the market for organic products, including food, beauty, health, bodycare, and household products, and fabrics, continues to grow rapidly worldwide. More countries are establishing formal, government-regulated certification of organic food: in 2002 in the US, and projected for 2006 in Canada, among others. Monitoring and challenging certification rules and decisions have become a regular, high profile aspect of activists in the organic movement.

See also

• Organic food
• Organic agriculture
• List of organic gardening and farming topics

External links

• Organic Volunteers - Coordinates internships on Organic Farms.

• Origins of the Organic Movement, The - Philip Conford, 2001. One of the few published works documenting the history of the organic movement.
• Organic Consumers Association - Large activist resource site: "Campaigning for Food Safety, Organic Agriculture, Fair Trade & Sustainability".
• Sustainable Table - An online resource for consumers on how to shop for organic food and support sustainable agriculture.
• A Cato Institute scholar's take on the subject

Organic food

Organische beweging