Farming organically supports biodiversity (under the national organic standards 5% of land has to be set aside for biodiversity) and Australia already had a fragile ecosystem before the introduction of conventional farming practices. Over use of synthetic pesticides, herbicides, organophosphates tend kill the biological life in the soil. Poor soil structure is responsible for a large percentage of soil erosion.

The soil is essential to organic farming.  Without good and well cared for soils, farmers cannot maintain organic certification. Maintenance and increase of the long-term fertility of soil is a fundamental principle.  In Australia we depend upon a thin, fragile mantle of soil to produce our food but we have been reckless with it.  55% of arid rangelands and 45% of our agricultural land requires treatment for degradation.  While conventional farmers everywhere are now realising that they must stop the destruction and nurture the soils they have left, large areas remain damaged and are uneconomic to repair. If climate change is not curtailed Australia could be looking at having more arid dry land, not conducive to growing food.

Many of the growers and food artisans have had to solve problems with little support; (with much agricultural advice dependent on resources provided by the  chemical chemical and GMO companies)  So  many have shown great ingenuity in finding solutions. One citrus grower researched & found detailed drawings of native flora of the riverbank on his property, which had been documented by a botanist 100 years earlier. He repopulated with the native plants and they have thrived ever since.

When the certifier checks a farm they want to see a system which is well on the way to being sustainable. They want to see a farmer who can keep farming this way, far into the future. Farmers maintain an whole farm Organic Management Plan, which outlines the ongoing improvements they are making to their farming system. The soil is essential to organic farming. Without good soil that is well cared for farmers cannot maintain organic certification.