Extract from the

NATIONAL STANDARD FOR ORGANIC AND BIO-DYNAMIC PRODUCE
Edition 3.2 October 2005

General Principles
i. The basic aim of an operator complying with this Standard is to achieve optimum quantities of quality produce, while enhancing the sustainability of natural agricultural resources.
ii. Emphasis is placed on management practices, use of renewable resources, the need for conservation of energy, soil and water and the maintenance of environmental quality.
iii. The principal objectives of the certified operator include:
- the production of food of high nutritional value.
- the enhancement of biological cycles in farming systems.
- maintaining or improving fertility of soils.
- working as far as practicable within a closed system by minimising the use of non-renewable resources.
- the avoidance of pollution resulting from agricultural practices and processing.
- the co-existence with, and the protection of, the environment.
iv. The aims and objectives outlined above are achieved through management practices that create soils of enhanced biological activity, as indicated by the humus level, crumb structure and feeder root development, such that plants are fed through the soil ecosystem and not, principally, through soluble fertilisers added to the soil.
v. Plants grown in natural systems take up nutrients that are released slowly from humus colloids, at a rate governed by sunlight and warmth. Under such a system, the metabolism of the plant and its ability to assimilate nutrients is not over-stressed by excessive uptake of soluble salts from the soil water (e.g. nitrates). Therefore the development of soil structure and humus is fundamental to organic and bio-dynamic systems.
vi. Organic and bio-dynamic systems rely upon crop rotations, use of residual crops, animal manures, legumes, green manures, mechanical cultivation, cultural control, minimal application of approved mineral-bearing rocks and aspects of biological pest management to maintain soil productivity and tilth, to supply plant nutrients and to control diseases, insects, weeds and other pests.
vii. The provision of organically grown feed and livestock husbandry practices that reflect the behavioural needs and ethical treatment and welfare management of livestock are also of fundamental importance where animals are kept on the farm.

For the source document visit http://www.daffa.gov.au/aqis/export/organic-bio-dynamic/food-legislation