Yada Agriculture Science | What are the "Mysteries" of Organic Farms?

When we buy food in supermarkets, we usually see three different labels: pollution-free food, green food, and organic food. These three categories represent different product quality standards, among which organic food having the highest standards. Therefore, in the eyes of consumers, organic food often shows life quality, safety and health.

What is organic food? What is organic produce? Yada Agriculture will give you an introduction.

01 | ONE

At present, agricultural products can be roughly divided into general agricultural product, pollution-free agricultural product, green agricultural product, and organic agricultural product.

（Organic Agricultural Product on Top）

The organic food standard has the highest requirements. Not only are pesticides and fertilizers prohibited during production and processing, but also the surrounding environment, such as soil and water quality, have strict requirements. It is considered to be pure, non-polluting, safe and nutritious food.

Once identified as organic, the organic logo and the word "organic" can be used on the product. In other words, agricultural products that have passed organic certification can really guarantee that "no chemical pesticides and fertilizers are used in food".

Rape Field at Yixing Yada Agricultural Park (East Area)

Organic agricultural products give consumers the safe and natural impression, but the price is often 3-5 times higher than ordinary agricultural products. Why is it so expensive?

02 | TWO

First, organic agricultural products need to be quantitatively planted in specialized plots, and organic cultivation methods must be used. Considering that some substances will remain in the environment for a long time, organic cultivation needs to be under the effective supervision of a certification body to ensure that the soil testing is completely up to standard and cultivated in organic cultivation for 1 to 3 years (transition period) in order to obtain organic food certification.

Intelligent Temperature Control Greenhouse at Yixing Yada Agricultural Park (East Area)

Second, organic agricultural products are completely prohibited from using synthetic substances such as pesticides, fertilizers and hormones during production and processing process. Genetic engineering technology is also not allowed. Therefore, in order to resist insect pests, only biological insecticides and physical pest control methods can be used, combined with periodic high-frequency manual weeding. In addition, because chemical fertilizers and growth regulators are not used to promote growth, the production cycle of organic agricultural products is longer than that of ordinary ones and the output is relatively low, which makes organic agricultural products cost more.

Full-physical Pest Control for Ice-cream Tomato Variety at Yixing Yada Agricultural Park (East Area)

When agricultural products are mature, they must pass the organic certification of the national special agency before they can be sold on the market. The certification includes soil, atmospheric environment and water quality conditions. The certification is expensive, and the validity period is only one year. After one-year, you must reapply. After passing the reapply inspection and audit, you can continue to use the organic food mark.

03 | THREE

1. Look at the label: The organic food label should include Chinese organic food logo, certification institution name or logo, organic code, all of which are indispensable.

2. Check the code: The country requires that the certification institution must grant a unique code to each certified organic product in accordance with the unified coding requirements. The code consists of 17 digits. With this organic code, you can enter the China Food and Agricultural Products Certification Information System (http://food.cnca.cn), query product information, and confirm its authenticity.

（Chinese Organic Food Logo, Certification Institution Name or Logo, Organic Code are Indispensable）

04 | FOUR

In many people's eyes, the process from seed to fruit seems simple, just need soil, sunlight, and water. In fact, this process is far more complicated and longer than imagined. Where do they come from? How long is the planting cycle? What kind of fertilizers and drugs are used in the growth process? What secondary packaging and processing have been performed? Most people know very little about this. It also reflects the lack of consumers' right to know the production of agricultural products.

Organic Lily Plantation at Yada Agricultural Park (West Area)

The organic certification and quality control traceability system has to a certain extent eliminated the lack of consumers' right to know and ensured the health development of modern agriculture. Once a food safety problem occurs, the source of the food can be effectively traced, and substandard products can be recalled in a timely manner to minimize losses. It is conducive to ensuring that the origin of the agricultural products is known, where they are, where they can be traced, their quality can be checked, and their responsibilities can be investigated.

Organic Lily Plantation at Yada Agricultural Park (West Area)