Natural Chilean Nitrate is Essential and Necessary       Natural Way of Production of Chilean Nitrate        Considerations on the Impact on the Environment        Human and Animal Health and Quality        Socio Economic Aspects and Values (Ethics)        References used in this study        REPLY TO THE 1989 AND 2004 IFOAM EVALUATION OF NATURAL SODIUM NITRATE "IFOAM 1989" AND "IFOAM 2004" All argumentation against natural Chilean nitrate can be countered effectively and convincingly by referring to the document "Natural Nitrogen, Nitrogenous Rock" which is based on solid scientific references of which the most important come from reputed, peer reviewed and published research some of them carried out by organic agriculture research stations. All references used, unless fully written down, can be found in the same NNNR reference list. Besides referring to publications like TAP reviews (TAP: National Organic Standards Board Technical Advisory Panel for the NOP (National Organic Program) of the USDA (United States Agricultural Department) USA.), the replies to the IFOAM 1989 and 2004 evaluations are therefore mostly based on this afore mentioned document. Reply on IFOAM 1989 document Replies are given only to some selected arguments. References to sections and pages are those of this document or of the book: "Natural Nitrogen, Nitrogenous Rock" indicated as NNNR. The full text of the "IFOAM 1989" report can be found as addendum in the downloadable document. The period from 1989 to 2004 The proposed alternatives in IFOAM 1989 appearently did not solve the problems as new alternatives were introduced i.e. animal waste (blood meal, bone meal and feather meal) which are now considered to be the valuable alternatives. This is very surprising, as they contain "substantial amounts of mineral N" (TAP-review on Chilean nitrate, page 7) and are currently also under serious discussion, due to problems related to BSE, the avian flue, the usage of genetically modified organisms, PCB contamination, etc… (see NNNR, section 1.4, page 59). Reply on IFOAM 2004 document Also "IFOAM 2004" has been addressed argument by argument. The full text of the "IFOAM 2004" report can be found as addendum. This evaluation was used to address some criteria in the Codex Guidelines for organically produced food (ALINORM 03/22A). To facilitate the reading of the corresponding replies each ARGUMENT has been numbered. The full reply can be downloaded here.      Did you know that Natural sodium nitrate is the oldest single nitrogen amendment in the world. It was used by the native Latin American Indians in the 7th century ? Yes No       Other usefull sites related to organic farming:

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