Australian Farming Practices Terms and Definitions

We do our best to provide as much transparency as possible when describing the growing methods used for our products, and we hope this gives you confidence in purchasing based on your personal preferences. If you would like to purchase products that meet particular criteria, please use the filters on our main shop page to select what's most important for you. 

When we use the term ‘organic’ to describe any of our products, it means that the food was produced in accordance with the National Standard for Organic and Biodynamic Produce and the farm has been checked and certified and are authorised to use the organic label.

Organic farming avoids synthetic fertilisers, pesticides and genetically modified organisms (GMOs) and relies on natural processes and biological diversity to control pests and diseases. Organic farms prioritise improving soil health and nutrient cycling through crop rotation, green manuring, application of animal manures or composted organic matter, soil tillage that preserves soil structure and the incorporation of livestock into the rotational system.

Biodynamic agriculture is a form of organic farming also regulated under the National Standard for Organic and Biodynamic Produce. It shares all the same principles with organic farming including no synthetic inputs and a reliance on natural processes, biodiversity and soil health. Biodynamic farming, however, has some extra requirements!

Biodynamic agriculture was originally developed in the 1920’s by Rudolph Steiner and is considered to be one of the earliest organic agricultural movements. Biodynamic farmers recognise the interrelatedness of soil fertility, plant growth and animal health and aim to create a self-sustaining farm ecosystem.

Biodynamic farming has a very strong focus on soil microbiology and the whole farm being an active living system. Biodynamic farms don't use any water soluble fertilisers (but some organic farms do) and instead use a special preparation called Preparation 500 that is made and stored in a particular way then applied to the soil at particular intervals.

Biodynamically farmed soils are full of life and have a wonderful texture held together by minute networks of soil microbes that live in symbiosis with the plants and animal life in the soil (eg. worms, insects, beneficial fungi etc.). That's not to say that organically farmed soils won't also have these characteristics - organic and biodynamic are reaching the same standard - but biodynamic achieves another level above and beyond the organic standard through the addition of it's special preparations and practices unique to the biodynamic system.

Like Organic, to be called Biodynamic in the market, produce needs to be certified by a recognised certification body. For more information about Biodynamic farming, we recommend taking a look at these two sites: Biodynamic Association and Biodynamic Agriculture Australia.

Certified Sustainable is an emerging standard used in Australia to recognise farms and processors committed to sustainable practices, without necessarily meeting the strict requirements of organic certification. Overseen by Certified Sustainable Ltd, the program is built around transparent, measurable commitments to:

• Soil health and biodiversity
• Integrated pest and weed management
• Non-GMO inputs and residue-free farming
• Ethical trade, traceability, and environmental responsibility
• Supporting regional resilience and climate adaptation

Unlike organic certification, which excludes most synthetic inputs entirely, Certified Sustainable allows some flexibility based on environmental and social risk assessments. Importantly, no synthetic additives are permitted in the final food product.

It’s a practical and rigorous path to sustainable food production, especially for growers working in marginal regions or transitioning away from conventional systems. Wholegrain Milling Co. and their growers are among those leading the charge with this transparent, traceable approach to sustainable flour and grain production.

Chemical-free is a broad term that suggests no synthetic chemicals were used in the growing process, however it’s important to note that this term isn't regulated, so its meaning can vary. Some people might interpret “chemical-free” to mean completely free of any chemicals, including natural ones, while others might allow for certain naturally derived substances.

Chemical-free in our context generally means that the grower has not used synthetic pesticides or herbicides directly on their crops, but they have also not undergone auditing or certification processes to verify their practices. This means that while “chem-free” produce is often better than conventionally grown crops, the growers may still use synthetic fertilisers. We talk with our chemical-free growers about their farming practices but cannot guarantee that synthetic inputs have not been used. 

The term "spray free" generally means that no synthetic sprays (insecticides, herbicides or fungicides), are applied to the crops. This doesn't necessarily mean that the produce is organic as it could still be grown with synthetic fertilisers or other chemicals, and other aspects of the organic standard (eg. animal welfare and land management) may not be followed.

"Insecticide-free" indicates that no insecticides, natural or otherwise, have been used on the crop. This does not mean that other chemicals, natural or synthetic (such as fertilisers, herbicides or fungicides) have not been used. Insecticides are used to kill insect pests, but not other species such as 'pest' plants or fungi.

Unlike the more naturally focused farming methods outlined above, conventional farming relies on a range of synthetic inputs such as insecticides, herbicides, fungicides, fertilisers and other 'enhancements' to manage pests, weeds and to maximise crop yields. Conventional farming may also use genetically modified seeds or crops and places a high priority on maximum production, often through large scale operations.