What is organic food, and how is it now certified? What will ...

[jeatrice]

What is organic food, and how is it now certified?
 
  What will be an ideal response?

Question 2

What are the four steps in IPM? Explain how IPM worked in Indonesia.
 
  What will be an ideal response?

[sarah_brady415]

Answer to Question 1

Organic food is food that has been grown without the use of synthetic pesticides, chemical fertilizers, antibiotics, and hormones. Organic food is certified by certifiers that have been approved by the National Organic Program under the Organic Food Production Act. Nothing genetically engineered, irradiated, fertilized with sewage, sprayed with pesticides, grown with growth hormones, or grown with the help of chemical fertilizers can be certified. To market certified organic foods, farmers now must have their operations scrutinized by USDA-approved inspectors. Only then may they use the USDA seal on their products.

Answer to Question 2

The EPA refers to a four-tiered approach in describing IPM: (1) Set action thresholds, (2) Monitor and identify pests, (3) Prevention, and (4) Control.
Faced with declining success in controlling the brown plant bopper, Indonesian rice growers have switched from heavy pesticide spraying to a light spraying regime that preserves the natural enemies of the insect.