The Role of the Concept of the Natural (Naturalness) in Organic Farming
Author(s)
Verhoog, Henk; Matze, Mirjam; Lammerts Van Bueren, Edith; Baars, Ton
Abstract
Producers, traders, and consumers of organic food regularly use the concept of the natural (naturalness) to characterize organic agriculture and or organic food, in contrast to the unnaturalness of conventional agriculture. Critics sometimes argue that such use lacks any rational (scientific) basis and only refers to sentiment. In our project, we made an attempt to clarify the content and the use of the concepts of nature and naturalness in organic agriculture, to relate this conception to discussions within bioethical literature, and to draw the implications for agricultural practice and policy. We conclude that the idea of “naturalness” can be used to characterize organic agriculture and to distinguish it from conventional agriculture, but only if naturalness not only refers to not using chemicals but also to ecological principles and respect for the integrity of life. Thus perceived, the principle of naturalness can also serve as a guide to future developments in the field of organic agriculture. As part of the holocentric ethics of organic farming the value of naturalness has three dimensions: a cognitive one, an emotive one, and a normative one.
