Can hemp be certified organic?

Answer:

For hemp produced in the United States:

Only hemp produced in accordance with the U.S. Domestic Hemp Production Program and/or the 2014 Farm Bill may be certified as organic, if produced in accordance with USDA organic regulations.

For imported hemp:

Existing regulations and guidelines
continue to govern whether products may be certified as organic.

References
USDA Organic Regulations (7 C.F.R. Part 205)
7 C.F.R. § 205.501 General Requirements for Accreditation.

What is the difference between 100 percent organic and organic?

Answer:

100 percent organic” can be used to label any product that contains 100 percent organic ingredients (excluding salt and water, which are considered natural). Most raw, unprocessed farm products can be designated “100 percent organic.” Likewise, many value-added farm products that have no added ingredients—such as grain flours, rolled oats, etc.—can also be labeled “100 percent organic.”

Organic” can be used to label any product that contains a minimum of 95 percent organic ingredients (excluding salt and water). Up to 5 percent of the ingredients may be non-organic agricultural products that are not commercially available as organic and/or non-agricultural products that are on the National List.

more info on labeling standards on the USDA’s website

Is organic regulated?

Answer:

YES! 

The National Organic Program (NOP) focuses on protecting the integrity of the organic seal and organic farmers. Organic regulations serve to level the playing field for all farmers, producer, and processors who want to convert to organic. NOP holds all commodities, regardless of origin, to the same standards to ensure label integrity.

5 Steps to Certification

What is the meaning of non GMO?

Non-GMO means non-genetically modified organisms.

Organic vs non gmo

Organic vs gmo

The World Health Organization (WHO) defines GMOs as organisms whose genetic material—or DNA—has been altered or modified in some way that does not occur naturally. In most cases, genetic engineering works by transferring individual genes from one organism to another. Most commonly found in crops such as soybeans, corn and canola, GMOs are designed to provide a higher nutritional value to food, as well as protect crops against pests.

Organic foods, on the other hand, do not contain any pesticides, fertilizers, solvents or additives. According to the Organic Trade Association (OTA), USDA-certified organic foods are grown and processed according to strict federal guidelines that cover everything from soil quality and pest control to animal raising practices. Similarly, organic livestock raised for meat, eggs and dairy products must be given organic feed, and cannot receive antibiotics, growth hormones or any animal by-product

Is organic the same as non GMO?

Organic is non-GMO because the use of GMOs is prohibited in organic production.

Does organic mean pesticide free?

Organic standards are designed to allow natural substances in organic farming while prohibiting synthetic substances. The National List of Allowed and Prohibited Substances—a component of the organic standards—lists the exceptions to this basic rule.

Read more about the use of pesticides in organic 

Check out our Podcast episode that discusses pesticides in organic agriculture