o Wide crop rotation as a prerequisite for an efficient use of on-site resources

o Very strict limits on chemical synthetic pesticide and synthetic fertiliser use, livestock antibiotics,

food additives and processing aids and other inputs

o Absolute prohibition of the use of genetically modified organisms

o Taking advantage of on-site resources, such as livestock manure for fertiliser or feed produced on

the farm

o Choosing plant and animal species that are resistant to disease and adapted to local conditions

o Raising livestock in free-range, open-air systems and providing them with organic feed

o Using animal husbandry practices appropriate to different livestock species

The definition

According to the International Federation of Organic Agriculture Movements, “Organic agriculture is an

agricultual system that promotes environmentally sound production of food, fibre, timber, etc. In this system,

soil fertility is seen as the key to successful production. Working with the natural properties of plants,

animals, and the landscape, organic farmers aim to optimise quality in all aspects of agriculture and the

environment.”

The European Commission’s guide to organic farming (http://ec.europa.eu/agriculture/organic/organic-

farming/what-organic_en) is instructive in providing us with some typical organic farming practices. But there

is considerable debate on whether a stricter or broader definition of organic products is needed.

Organic farming is commonly defined as a form of agriculture that relies on crop rotation, green manure,

compost, biological pest control, and mechanical cultivation to maintain soil productivity and control pests,

excluding or strictly limiting the use of synthetic fertilizers and synthetic pesticides, plant growth regulators,

livestock feed additives, and genetically modified organisms.

A Guide to

in Singapore

A few reasons why you should go organic

(Source: The Ethics of What We Eat, Peter Singer & Jim Mason, 2006.)

o Health: organic products avoid the heavy pesticide and herbicide use typical of conventional farming:

organic farmers are permitted to use only a very limited range of insecticides, selected because they are

natural products or their safety is well-established.

o Maintains the quality of the soil: organic farmers enrich the soil by adding organic matter. That

increases the number of worms and micro-organisms. Soil rich in organic matter needs less irrigation

because the soil holds moisture better. It is also less likely to blow away in the wind, or wash off with

every storm.

o Fosters biodiversity: rare plants are indiscriminately sprayed with herbicides, along with more common

weeds.

o Reduces pollution from nitrogen run-off: the Gulf of Mexico dead zone is caused by too much

nitrogen, which makes its way into rivers, affecting both freshwater and marine environments.

o Saves energy compared to conventional farms: organic farms do not use synthetic fertilizers, the

manufacture of which requires a lot of energy.

o Offsets carbon-dioxide emissions: organic farming increases the amount of organic matter in the soil

– matter that would otherwise rot above ground and produce carbon that would go into the atmosphere.

The various organic schemes

Scheme Description

BDIH

o BDIH refers to the Federation of German Industries and Trading Firms which

regulates organic products

o Certified products have a blue label that red “Certified Natural Cosmetic –

BDIH”

ECOCERT

o A European-based organic certification organisation that conducts inspection

in over 80 countries

o Certified products come with a red ECOCERT label

National Association for Sustainable Agriculture Australia (NASAA)

o A non-profit group set up in 1986 recognised as Australia’s leading organic

certifier.

o Cetified products come with a green NASSA label

Soil Association

o A British-based environmental charity that enforces certification of organic

food and farming.

o Over 70 per cent of organic products in Britain are certified by the Soil

Association.

United States Department of Agriculture

o Classifies organic products under 3 categories

o “100 per cent organic” products are made entirely of organic ingredients.

o “Organic” products contain at least 95 per cent organic ingredients.

o “Made with organic ingredients” products contain at least 70 per cent organic

ingredients.

Networks

Although Singapore is not represented at the International

Federation of Organic Agricultural Movements (www.ifoam.org),

Organic SG (groups.yahoo.com/group/OrganicSG/) is a volunteer-

run network for organic farmers, organic shops and consumers of

organic produce to share and learn about the organic scene in

Singapore. Participation in this network is free of charge.

Where you can buy organic

Supermarkets with dedicated organic sections

NTUC FairPrice http://www.fairprice.com.sg/ Hypermarkets in Ang Mo Kio and Hougang Point, NTUC Finest stores in Bukit Timah Plaza and Thomson Plaza

Carrefour http://www.carrefour.com.sg/ Carrefour Suntec City

Cold Storage – Naturally

Marketplace

http://www.coldstorage.com.sg/ VivoCity, #01-23B

Organic Farms

Bollywood Veggies www.bollywoodveggies.com 100 Neo Tiew Road

Fire Flies Health Farm www.fireflies.sg Lot 75, Lim Chu Kang Lane 2

Go Organic Farm http://www.goorganic.com.sg/

Green Valley Farm - 1 Bah Soon Pah Rd Singapore 769959

Greencircle Eco Farm www.greencicle.com.sg 41 Neo Tiew Road

Kampung Senang Charity and Education Foundation

www.kg-senang.org.sg Tampines Block 840, Street 82, #01-111

Quan Fa Organic Farm http://www.quanfa.com.sg 20 Lorong Serambi (off Lim Chu Kang Road)

Cafes & Restaurants serving organic food

12 x 12 Café Suntec City

Cedele by Bakery Depot www.cedeledepot.com CBD: Chevron House, Golden Shoe Carpark, One Raffles Quay North Tower, Millenia Walk, 8 Shenton Way Central: Raffles City Shopping Centre #B1, Novena Square, Tanglin Mall, VivoCity, Jelita East: Frankel Avenue, Parkway Parade West: Nordic European Centre ALL-DAY DINING Great World City, Wheelock Place, Raffles City #03-28A

Genesis Vegetarian Health Food Restaurant

www.genesishealthfood.blogspot.com

1 Lorong Telok, S'pore 049014

Green Room, The www.asmaraspas.com Bishan Park II, 1382 Ang Mo Kio Avenue 1

Living Green - 325 Beach Road

OrganiCafeXperience www.organicafexperience.com Orchard Building, Velocity, Century Square, Central Kitchen

Create Healthy Lifestyle 190 Middle Road, #02-17 Fortune Centre

Green Pasture Health Food Trading

190 Middle Road, #04-22 Fortune Centre

Vegsenz 2 Serangoon Road #01-24, The Verge, S. 218227

Stores selling selected Clothing made from Organic Cotton

After Organic www.afterorganic.com

Banana Republic Green Collection

Paragon #02-04

Belle & Dean www.belleanddean.com 27A Lorong Mambong, 02-05, Stamford House

BGO Singapore http://www.biggrinorganics.com/ www.bgo.com.sg

By The Sea www.bythesea-organic.com

Coosh Life http://www.cooshlife.com/index.shtml

Greenberry Loft 177 River Walley Road, Liang Court, #03-09

Levi's #01-32 Raffles City

Kyrie International

Marks & Spencer #02-50, The Centrepoint

Muji's

Queen's Couture The Heeren, #04-01

Quicksilver

Timberland Ngee Ann City, Vivo City, Centrepoint, Changi Airport T1, Suntec City, Takashimaya, Parkway Parade, Isetan Scotts, Isetan Tampines, Paragon, OG Albert Complex

Selected Organic Cosmetics / Bodycare

Adara Coconut Virgin Oil Yogi House, #02-06, Fu Lu Shou Complex

Balm Balm Apothecary+Co, Raffles City B1-21

Billie Goat Soap Purely Botanic

Botanic Source Noel Building, #05-02

Bud Cosmetics http://www.budcosmetics.com 10 Sinaran Drive , #01-66 Square 2 (above Noverna MRT)

Eminence Botanic Source, Oriental Spa (Mandarin Hotel Level 5)

Jurlique Tangs Orchard, Tangs VivoCity, OG People's Park

Kanga Organics www.kangaorganics.com P.O. Box 543, Serangoon Central, Singapore 915502

Lavera Naturkosmetrik Raffles City Watsons, Parkway Parade B1-14, Ngee Ann City, #B2-06

Medtra

Origins Isetan Scotts, Metro Paragon, Robinsons The Centrepoint, Raffles City, Tangs VivoCity

PhytoOrganics Raffles City Shopping Centre, B1-74

Purely Organic Square 2, Novena Square

Wilde Wood Purely Botanic

Food Importer / Retailer

Ban Choon Marketing http://www.banchoon.com.sg/general/Products.aspx#organic

30 Quality Road

Bright Morning Star Agency www.bmsagency.com.sg 51 Bukit Batok Crescent, #07-46, Unity Centre

Brown Rice Paradise www.mybrp.com.sg 163 Tanglin Road, 03-15 Tanglin Mall

Biogenic International http://www.biogenicinternational.com/

147B Telok Ayer Street

Bunalun www.bunalun.com

43 Jalan Merah Saga, 01-70, Chip Bee Gardens 391 Orchard Road, B2-01-3A, Ngee Ann City

Camu Camu Nature House Block 211, Hougng Street 21, 01-307

Canmark Supermarket Blk 166, Bukit Batok West Ave 8, 01-256/258

Choice Organic www.choiceorganic.com.sg Lorong Mambong, 01-35, Holland Village Market

Chuan Soon Organic Blk 104, Yishun Ring Road, 01-13

Country Farm Organic Mart 10 Kung Chong Road

Create Healthy Lifestyle

Fortune Centre, Middle Road

Decopon

Eat Organic www.eat-organic.com.sg 619H Bukit Timah Road

Essential Living www.essliv.com 18 Carpenter Street, #03-18B

Fave: The Dried Fruits & Nuts People

www.fave.com.sg 16 New Industrial Road, 01-02, Hudson TechnoCentre

Four Seasons Organic Market

B2-07 Great World City, Kim Seng Promenade

Go Organic International http://www.goorganic.com.sg/index.htm

Turf City, 200 Turf Club Road

Health Chapter http://HealthChapter.googlepages.com

Kang Bao Lek Veg Centre Blk 406, Tampines Street 41, 01-25

L'Organic http://www.lorganic.sg/ Blk 18, Unit A, Dempsey Road and East Coast Park Farmer's Market on weekends

Li Xiang Market Bedok South, 01-157/519

Love For Earth www.loveforearth.com/ 11 Holland Road Shopping Centre

Nature's Glory www.natures-glory.com 315 Outram Road, 11-03 Tan Boon Liat Building

Nature Zone Blk 1, #02-06, Tanjong Pagar Plaza

NutriHub The Organic Fusion Café

Cuppage Plaza

Oasis Organic 100 Beach Road, 01-49, Shaw Towers

Organic 4 Less Trading Blk 194 Pandan Loop, 07-11, Pantech

Organic Garden Woodlands

Organic Himalayan

Organic Living Hub Blk 78, Redhill Lane, 01-17

Organic Paradise www.organic-paradise.com.sg 5 Koek Road, #01-25/27, Cuppage Plaza 62 Temple Street, #01-01

Organic Story Blk 263, Serangoon Central Drive, 01-77

Piore Blk 3, Queen's Road, #02-163

Sensible Choices www.sensiblechoicesgroup.com 32 Maxwell Road, #03-07

Sharon Organics Blk 320, 01-39, Shunfu Market

Sky Organic http://www.skyorganic.com/ 101 Upper Cross Street, 03-78A

Spring Organics 511 Guillemard Road, 03-10, Grandlink Square

Sunny Choice 434 Upper Bukit Timah, Railway Mall

Supernature www.supernature.com.sg 21 Orchard Boulevard, 01-21/27, Park House

Supreme Organic

Blk 44 Owen Road, #01-307

Taste Original Blk 721, Clementi West, 01-122

Teng Yang Veg & Organic Blk 70, Toa Payoh Lorong 4

The Sukha House http://www.sukhahouse.com/shop/

705 Sims Drive, #06-04B, Shun Li Industrial Complex, Singapore 387384

Totally Nature http://www.totallynature.com.sg/

Unitednature (Far East) Pte Ltd

www.unitednature.com.sg, www.iorganic.tv

362 Upper Paya Lebar Road, 05-09, Da Jin Factory Building

Wholesome Living www.wholeseomliving-sg.com Blk 416, Pandan Gardens, #01-130

Yes Natural www.yesnatural.biz 55 Lorong 27 Geylang

Yising Trading Blk 79, 01-121, Redhill Lane

Yong Xu Organic Enterprise

Blk 921 Yishun Central 1, 01-257

Zenxin Agri-Organic Food Blk 14, 01-25, Pasir Panjang Wholesale Centre