How do ethical values of organic agriculture relate to standards and current pratice?

Summary

The concern that in a growing market organic farming will be more intensive and industrialised has led to renewed interest in organic principles. This paper examines what organic values are covered by standards. It uses the ethical value basis of organic agriculture as described in the four IFOAM Principles of Organic Farming of Health, Ecology, Fairness and Care which encompass the values of sustainability, naturalness and of systems approach. It further explores whether these values are reflected in current organic farming practice and what challenges arise from them in relation to the future development of organic farming.