What makes farming organic?

Answer: Avoiding synthetic chemicals

Avoiding synthetic chemicals ✓ — Correct! Organic farming avoids synthetic pesticides, herbicides, and fertilizers, using natural alternatives like compost, crop rotation, and beneficial insects. The goals are environmental health and producing food without synthetic chemicals.

Producing higher crop yields — Wrong. Organic farming typically yields 10-25% less than conventional farming because it avoids high-efficiency synthetic inputs. Farmers choose organic for environmental reasons, not higher yields.

Using cheaper farming methods — Wrong. Organic farming is usually more expensive—requires more labor, more land, and certification costs. Organic products command higher prices to compensate.