用生物學方法施肥和防治病蟲害來代替化學肥料和殺有害生物劑的作物耕種方法。有機耕作法的支持者認為，化學肥料和殺蟲劑有害健康，且汙染環境，不是良好的收成所必需。有機耕作法有意識地摒棄現代農業化學技術，起源於1930年代，由英國農業科學家霍華德爵士所採用。各種的有機物質，包括動物糞肥、堆肥、草皮、秸稈和其他作物殘留物，將其施用於田地，以便改良土壤結構和提高保水能力，並供給土壤養分，從而種植出富含養分的植物（相反地，使用化學肥料是直接給予植物養分）。病蟲害的生物防治是採取預防的方法，包括多種栽種、輪作和栽種抗病蟲害作物，並採用病蟲害整合管理技術。避免使用生物工程製造出的品種。由於有機耕作困難且耗時，因為有機農作物價錢較昂貴。有機農作物過去只佔美國農產品總輸出的極少部分，但近年來的銷售量已有大幅度的成長。
organic farming
System of crop cultivation that uses biological methods of fertilization and pest control as substitutes for chemical fertilizers and pesticides, which are regarded by supporters of organic methods as harmful to health and the environment and unnecessary for successful cultivation. It was initiated as a conscious rejection of modern agri-chemical techniques in the 1930s by the British agronomist Sir Albert Howard. Miscellaneous organic materials, including animal manure, compost, grass turf, straw, and other crop residues, are applied to fields to improve both soil structure and moisture-holding capacity and to nourish soil life, which in turn nourishes plants. (Chemical fertilizers, by contrast, feed plants directly.) Biological pest control is achieved through preventive methods, including diversified farming, crop rotation, the planting of pest-deterrent species, and the use of integrated pest management techniques. Bioengineered strains are avoided. Since organic farming is difficult and time-consuming, organically grown produce is expensive. Organic produce formerly accounted for a minuscule portion of total American farm output, but has seen a huge proportional increase in sales in recent years.
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