From seed…

The USDA describes organic agriculture as "the application of a set of cultural, biological, and mechanical practices that support the cycling of on-farm resources, promote ecological balance, and conserve biodiversity."⁸ Organic cropland must be free of prohibited substances, including toxic persistent pesticides, synthetic nitrogen fertilizers, and genetically modified seeds, for three years before the first certified harvest.^{9 10 11} Farmers must establish buffer zones and protocols to protect their land and crops from cross-contamination by chemicals used in surrounding areas and can never plant genetically-modified seeds or seeds treated with prohibited substances like fungicides or insecticides.¹²

…To finished product

Artificial flavors, preservatives, colors, and genetically-modified organisms (GMOs) are prohibited in organic foods, but organic standards also protect consumers from hidden chemicals used in manufacturing and processing.^{13 14} Synthetic solvents, often used to extract ingredients like flavorings, don't have to be disclosed on labels due to a loophole called "incidental additives,” but these substances aren’t allowed in organic.¹⁵ Artificial flavors, meanwhile, can include more than 100 unlisted chemicals, according to a 2019 EWG report.¹⁶ And, BHT, a preservative common in conventional cereals, is synthesized from petroleum or coal tar and linked to tumors in animal studies.¹⁷ This is all prohibited in organic foods.

“The relationship between organic farming and soil health is symbiotic.”¹⁸

Organic farmers know that healthy soil is the best defense against disease, pests, and drought, so they implement practices rooted in the core principles of soil health: "building soil organic matter, enhancing soil biodiversity, and minimizing soil disturbance."^{19 20 21} Soil organic matter (SOM) improves core soil functions including water retention, plant nutrition, and carbon sequestration, and research shows it's often higher in organic systems.^{22 23} A 2017 study from Northeastern University and The Organic Center compared soils from organic and conventional farms across the U.S., finding organic soils averaged 13% more SOM.²⁴ They also had 44% higher humic acid levels—the soil component responsible for long-term carbon sequestration.²⁵ Biodiversity is also higher on organic farms. Studies show organically managed land supports, on average, 30% more species and 50% more individual organisms than non-organic areas.²⁶

Organic standards ban toxic, persistent pesticides, protecting consumers in ways that may be off the radar. For example, more than 150 million acres of U.S. farmland are planted annually with neonicotinoid (insecticide)-coated seeds, including crops like wheat, sunflower (made into oil), and squash.^{27 28} Neonicotinoids are extremely harmful to pollinators and aren't regulated by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) as pesticides, due to a loophole called the “Treated Article Exemption.”^{29 30 31} This allows treated seeds to be deployed with minimal oversight, including no “use-reporting” or regulations for safe disposal.^{32 33} Choosing organic reduces exposure to these "hidden" pesticides.

Additionally, shoppers may try to avoid the world's most widely used herbicide, glyphosate, by choosing non-GMO products,³⁴ but this does not guarantee that glyphosate was not used in the growing or processing of the products. Beyond glyphosate-tolerant GMO crops like corn and soybeans, it's also used on non-GMO conventional crops as a pre-harvest desiccant (drying agent);^{35 36} some of the most common of these include oats, lentils, and beans.³⁷ Glyphosate is banned under organic standards.³⁸

The organic system isn’t perfect, but no other certification delivers as many of the attributes other claims individually represent, with stringent government regulations backing its authenticity.³⁹ Yet the true, multi-layered value of organic production is this—it’s inherently regenerative for the planet and restorative for human health. So, fellow eaters, may the clarity of organic certification cut through the noise, because it’s a choice whose guiding value is imperative—tomorrow’s food security depends on today’s methods of producing it.

References

1. Letizia, M. (2025, December 29). The history of National Organic Farmer movements, and the founding of the Organic Farmers Association. Organic Farmers Association. https://organicfarmersassociation.org/news/the-history-of-national-orga…
2. USDA Certified Organic: Understanding the Basics | Agricultural Marketing Service. (n.d.). https://www.ams.usda.gov/services/organic-certification/organic-basics
3. Organic Standards | OTA. (n.d.). https://ota.com/advocacy/organic-integrity-standards/organic-standards
4. Organic Regulations | Agricultural Marketing Service. (n.d.-b). https://www.ams.usda.gov/rules-regulations/organic
5. USDA Certified Organic: Understanding the Basics | Agricultural Marketing Service. (n.d.-b). https://www.ams.usda.gov/services/organic-certification/organic-basics
6. How is organic food grown? | OTA. (n.d.). https://ota.com/organic-101/what-is-organic/how-is-organic-food-grown
7. CCOF.org. (2025, March 13). How to read labels - CCOF.org. https://www.ccof.org/why-organic/how-to-read-organic-labels/
8. Fact Sheet: Introduction to organic Practices | Agricultural Marketing Service. (n.d.). https://www.ams.usda.gov/publications/content/fact-sheet-introduction-o…
9. National Organic Program (NOP) | OTA. (n.d.). https://ota.com/advocacy/organic-integrity-standards/organic-standards/…
10. How is organic food grown? | OTA. (n.d.-b). https://ota.com/organic-101/what-is-organic/how-is-organic-food-grown
11. Northeast Organic Farming Association of Vermont, U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Agricultural Marketing Service, & National Organic Program. (n.d.-b). Guidelines for organic Crop certification.
12. Northeast Organic Farming Association of Vermont, U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Agricultural Marketing Service, & National Organic Program. (n.d.-b). Guidelines for organic Crop certification.
13. How is organic food processed? | OTA. (n.d.). https://ota.com/organic-101/what-is-organic/how-is-organic-food-process…
14. Organic Standards | OTA. (n.d.-b). https://ota.com/organic-standards
15. Andrews, D. (n.d.). Synthetic ingredients in Natural Flavors and Natural Flavors in Artificial flavors. www.ewg.org. https://www.ewg.org/foodscores/content/natural-vs-artificial-flavors/
16. Organic: The Original Clean Food. (2019). www.ewg.org. https://www.ewg.org/research/packagedorganic
17. Organic: The Original Clean Food. (2019). www.ewg.org. https://www.ewg.org/research/packagedorganic
18. IERE Team. (2025, June). How Do Organic Farming Practices Relate to Soil Health? iere.org. https://iere.org/how-do-organic-farming-practices-relate-to-soil-health/
19. United States Department of Agriculture. (2015). Organic crop production practices. In Introduction to Organic Practices. https://www.ams.usda.gov/sites/default/files/media/Organic%20Practices%…
20. IERE Team. (2025, June). How Do Organic Farming Practices Relate to Soil Health? iere.org. https://iere.org/how-do-organic-farming-practices-relate-to-soil-health/
21. Soil Health. (n.d.). www.nrcs.usda.go. https://www.nrcs.usda.gov/conservation-basics/soil/soil-health
22. IERE Team. (2025, June). How Do Organic Farming Practices Relate to Soil Health? iere.org. https://iere.org/how-do-organic-farming-practices-relate-to-soil-health/
23. Breakthrough study shows organic cuts agriculture’s contribution to climate change | The Organic Center. (n.d.). https://organic-center.org/breakthrough-study-shows-organic-cuts-agricu…
24. Breakthrough study shows organic cuts agriculture’s contribution to climate change | The Organic Center. (n.d.). https://organic-center.org/breakthrough-study-shows-organic-cuts-agricu…
25. Breakthrough study shows organic cuts agriculture’s contribution to climate change | The Organic Center. (n.d.). https://organic-center.org/breakthrough-study-shows-organic-cuts-agricu…
26. Organic agriculture and its  benefits for climate and  biodiversity. (2022). In organicseurope.bio. IFOAM Organics Europe. https://organicseurope.bio/content/uploads/2022/04/IFOAMEU_advocacy_org…
27. Pesticide Action Network North America. (2023, June 8). Treated seeds have got to go | Pesticide Action & Agroecology Network (PAN). Pesticide Action Network North America. https://www.panna.org/news/treated-seeds-have-got-to-go/
28. Treated seeds Fact Sheet | National Caucus of Environmental Legislators. (2026, February 12). National Caucus of Environmental Legislators. https://www.ncelenviro.org/resources/treated-seeds-fact-sheet/
29. Pesticide Action Network North America. (2023b, June 8). Treated seeds have got to go | Pesticide Action & Agroecology Network (PAN). Pesticide Action Network North America. https://www.panna.org/news/treated-seeds-have-got-to-go/
30. Treated seeds Fact Sheet | National Caucus of Environmental Legislators. (2026, February 12). National Caucus of Environmental Legislators. https://www.ncelenviro.org/resources/treated-seeds-fact-sheet/
31. Pesticides | Pesticide-Coated seeds. (n.d.). Center for Food Safety. https://www.centerforfoodsafety.org/issues/6459/pesticides/pesticide-co…
32. Treated seeds Fact Sheet | National Caucus of Environmental Legislators. (2026, February 12). National Caucus of Environmental Legislators. https://www.ncelenviro.org/resources/treated-seeds-fact-sheet/
33. Pesticides | Pesticide-Coated seeds. (n.d.). Center for Food Safety. https://www.centerforfoodsafety.org/issues/6459/pesticides/pesticide-co…
34. Organic, O. (n.d.). Why glyphosate is used on Non-GMO crops | Organic Voices. Only Organic^TM © Copyright 2026. https://www.organicvoices.org/why-glyphosate-is-used-on-non-gmo-crops/
35. Adoption of genetically engineered crops in the United States - Recent trends in GE adoption | Economic Research Service. (n.d.). https://www.ers.usda.gov/data-products/adoption-of-genetically-engineer…
36. Organic, O. (n.d.). Why glyphosate is used on Non-GMO crops | Organic Voices. Only Organic^TM © Copyright 2026. https://www.organicvoices.org/why-glyphosate-is-used-on-non-gmo-crops/
37. Organic, O. (n.d.). Why glyphosate is used on Non-GMO crops | Organic Voices. Only Organic^TM © Copyright 2026. https://www.organicvoices.org/why-glyphosate-is-used-on-non-gmo-crops/
38. Adoption of genetically engineered crops in the United States - Recent trends in GE adoption | Economic Research Service. (n.d.). https://www.ers.usda.gov/data-products/adoption-of-genetically-engineer…
39. Younger, health-conscious consumers are embracing organic, OTA survey shows | OTA. (n.d.). https://ota.com/about-ota/press-releases/younger-health-conscious-consu…