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PRINCIPLE OF ECOLOGY

SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE AT ITS CORE HAS TO ENCOMPASS ALL LIVING ECOLOGICAL SYSTEMS AND CYCLES WHILE WORKING WITH THEM SHOULD BE BASED ON LIVING ECOLOGICAL SYSTEMS AND CYCLES, WORK WITH THEM, GROW THEM AND HELP MAINTAIN THEM.

THIS PRINCIPLE BASICALLY STATES THAT PRODUCTION HAS TO BE BASED ON PROCESSES THAT HELP ALL SYSTEMS THAT INCLUDE LIVING THINGS. IT LAYS IMMENSE IMPORTANCE ON SUCH PROCESSES AND RECYCLING.

NOURISHMENT AND WELLBEING ARE ACHIEVED THROUGH THE ECOLOGY OF THE SPECIFIC PRODUCTION ENVIRONMENT. FOR EXAMPLE, IN THE CASE OF CROPS THIS IS THE LIVING SOIL; FOR ANIMALS IT IS THE FARM ECOSYSTEM ETC. ORGANIC MANAGEMENT SHOULD BE ADAPTIVE TO LOCAL CONDITIONS, ECOLOGY, AND SCALE. INPUTS SHOULD BE REDUCED BY REUSE, RECYCLING AND EFFICIENT MATERIAL MANAGEMENT AND ENERGY IN ORDER TO MAINTAIN AND IMPROVE ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY AND CONSERVE RESOURCES