Organic agriculture is one among the broad spectrum of production methods that are supportive of the environment. Organic production systems are based on specific and precise standards of production which aim at achieving agro-ecosystems which are socially and ecologically sustainable. Organic agriculture is based on minimising the use of external inputs, avoiding the use of synthetic fertilisers and pesticides.

The organic trend is only one of several that are evident in today's food market. These trends include consumers' increasing demand for convenience foods, a broader range and variety of foods on the local market, and foods that are perceived as natural or minimally processed. There is also growing interest in functional foods: foods with purported health-promoting benefits beyond their nutritive value. Finally, an issue of major relevance in the food sector is the use of genetically modified organisms (GMOs). These trends interact in different ways with the phenomenon of organic foods and organic agriculture.