The main objective of the organic production —also denominated biological— is to obtain highest quality food by means of a natural process, respecting the environment and without using chemical agents (hormones, medicines, chemical fertilizers...)

The organically reared and agriculture are regulated by an European norm (Regulation the EEC 2092/91), which establishes the production norms, labeled and control system of these products. In Catalonia this control is carried out by the Catalan Council of the Ecological Agrarian Production.

The organically reared and agriculture adapt themselves to the environment that surround them and refuse the continued use of aggressive chemical products. This type of food production takes the best advantage of the natural balances and of the nature’s mechanisms. It provides the cultures and the flocks with the vital and productive conditions that enable them to develop themselves in a natural and balanced way.

This way, the organically reared and agriculture integrates the agricultural activities with the cattle raising ones, in order to improve the alternatives of culture by means of the introduction of vegetable eating species which allow a better fertilization with of varied organic wastes.

Another objective of the organically reared and agriculture is to minimize the pollution and to avoid the quality losses that can be produced due to the techniques applied during products production processes, elaboration or manipulation.

This kind of cattle raising and agriculture also promotes the maximum use of renewable resources and the local organization of the agrarian systems.

Why are the ecological products more expensive?

Normally, the organic certified products are more expensive than the conventional products. This is explained, on one hand, because the production costs are generally more elevated, since the sum of work by production unit is greater and it is difficult for this business to adapt itself to a scale economy. On the other hand, it is more expensive because the commercialization and distribution network of ecological products is small, and so the costs by commercialized volume are higher.

Nevertheless, the predictions point that the growth and the organization of the sector will bring down the costs. In addition, we must consider all the positive external effects that ecological products bring forward: environment protection, decrease of the risk of food contamination, job creation... Usually all these positive effects are not considered economically.