What is organic agriculture? Organic food production is based on a system of farming that mimics natural ecosystems that balance pest and beneficial organism populations and maintain and replenish fertility of the soil. The term ‘organic’ in the United States is applied to the agricultural products produced on farms that adhere to the USDA’s National Organic Program (NOP) Rule. More on the NOP Rule is contained in Section 3, with specific aspects related to materials review contained in Section 5.