Compiled by:
Mary V. Gold
Alternative Farming Systems Information Center

October 2001

This resource is part of our Organic Production/Organic Food: Information Access Tools tutorial which identifies the best sources that address sustainable agriculture, research and information sources, contacts and experts, research funding sources, educational and career opportunities, and upcoming events.

Introduction

Ten years ago it was easy to direct people to information about organic agriculture. Resources were limited, and reference to a few books and articles was often all that could be offered. Today, electronic and print information overwhelms the seeker of organic-related information.

Organic food and fiber production is presently one of the fastest growing agricultural sectors in the United States, both in terms of annual sales and farmed acreage. [U.S. Organic Farming Emerges in the 1990s: Adoption of Certified Systems, by Catherine R. Greene. USDA Economic Research Service, June 2001. ERS AIB No. 770. http://www.ers.usda.gov/publications/aib770/] By all indications, accompanying information resources have multiplied in similar fashion. Organic is very much a "hot topic."

This document will present background information on the organic knowledge base in terms of history, quality, and quantity, and it will present resources and techniques that may be used for optimal retrieval of organic resources and data. It will address the following questions:

• Who generates (and has generated) organic data? Original sources
• Where is organic data and information available? Print and non-print outlets
• How is organic information available? Formats
• What is the current status of organic information? Organic information's rapid growth
• What are some of the problems related to searching for organic information? The "organic" challenge
• What is the best way to search electronically on organic topics? Search engine options
• Where can I search to find just what I want in the least amount of time? Databases, directories, and the WWW
• What are the best search "strings" for finding organic? Keywords and phrases
• What can I do if I find too much or too little on my organic topic? Optimizing the search through use of keywords and search engine options
• How can I "capture" and use what I find? Sorting, downloading, and printing search results
• Related References

1. Who generates (and has generated) organic data? Original sources

A wide array of players are researching the agronomic and horticultural aspects of organic production, as well as the marketing, consumer, environmental, social, and economic aspects. These sources include government, non-profit, and commercial agricultural researchers; advanced degree candidates at colleges and universities, Cooperative Extension educators and farm consultants; environmental, nutritional, and food safety groups; marketing and trade organizations; and commercial and non-profit consumer entities.

During much of its history, organic farming has relied on farmer-generated data. Experiments and observations in the field were, for many years, a prime resource for organic production. This information, often discounted as unscientific and/or irrelevant to large-scale agriculture by professional agricultural researchers, was shared through farmer networks and organizations. The data did not make it into mainstream information resources; what did appear in print was published in what information specialists call "gray literature" -- local and organizational newsletters, conference proceedings, and other alternative outlets.

2. Where is organic data and information? Print and non-print outlets

Currently, organic-related documentation can be found in many kinds of resources and publications. These include traditional science and research journals (peer-reviewed and non-peer-reviewed), conference proceedings, college and university dissertations, agricultural production and marketing reports, newsletters and magazines, news feeds and newspapers, as well as literature and research databases.

3. How is organic information available? Formats

As with other types of information resources, organic-related information has become increasingly available in electronic formats: online full-text documents (both free and fee-based); email listservs; agency, commercial, and organizational Web sites, and more. Pertinent information is also abundant in traditional print articles, newsletters, and books; videos and other non-print media available through subscription or libraries.

4. What is the current status of organic information? Organic information's rapid growth

Gone are the days when just a few Web sites, journals, and books provided organic data. The pioneer information providers are now augmented by not only brand-new organic-specific resources, but by organic research, reports and articles that are folded into the conventional agriculture and business data.

As an example of organic information's growth, here are the results of a combined search on the two largest agricultural databases: AGRICOLA and CAB ABSTRACTS:¹

¹Search terms/ Boolean operators used: (organic*OR biodynamic* OR bio-dynamic*) AND (food OR foods OR fruit OR fruits OR vegetable* OR grown OR production) AND (market* OR sales OR price OR prices OR industry OR business OR retail* OR wholesale* OR consumer*)

5. What are some of the problems related to searching for organic information? The "organic" challenge

The unique nature of organic production and marketing makes searching on organic topics difficult.

• There are many unrelated topics connected with the word organic, such as organic chemistry, organic acids, and soil organic matter, that preclude searching on just the word organic with the expectation of meaningful results.

• There is the confusing nomenclature associated with organic production: organics, organically grown, biodyamic, biological farming, ecological agriculture, and more - a host of almost synonymous terms. There are also many organic practices and organic commodities that may not always be labeled as such, but that may be relevant to a particular search, e.g. biological pest control, or natural foods. See also: Finding "Organic": Search Strategies and Terminology.

• There is the holistic nature of organic production itself. Particularly in the area of organic farming, one may need to consider the whole-farm, economic, political, philosophical, and economic aspects of organic. This is not easy to do, especially on discipline-focused databases.

6. What is the best way to search electronically on organic topics? Search engine options

Where ever you are searching, whether it is on the Internet via a search engine like Google or Yahoo, on a specific site using the site-designated search engine, or when searching a literature database online, be aware that different search engines have different formats, capabilities, and limitations. Here are some examples of search engine idiosyncrasies to consider.

Single word searches: Some search engines automatically perform stem searching - they are smart enough to know that when you type in the word organic they also look for organically or organics (e.g. MSN Search). Most are not. Others may allow for truncation or wildcards, that is, by placing a * or ? at the end of the word, as in organic*, all terms that start with organic will be retrieved including organics and organically (e.g. AltaVista and NorthernLight).

Multiple word searches: There are several ways that an engine may handle multiple word searches. Searching on organic markets will elicit different results, depending on the engine you use. It may find: 1.) all the items that contain organic OR markets - thousands of hits (e.g. AltaVista); 2.) it may elicit items where organic AND markets appear, either together or paragraphs apart (e.g. Google); or 3.) it may elicit only items where the exact phrase appears (e.g. SilverPlatter CDROM databases). Of course, the results will also vary on engines that allow stemming as discussed above.

Phrase searching: Most search engines allow phrase (words adjacent and in given order) searching through the use of quotation marks: "organic markets"

Other options that may be available: 1.) Boolean searching - allows searching multiple terms/phrases at one time through the use of AND, OR, AND NOT. [The "AND NOT" function removes items with defined terms (example: organic AND NOT "organic compounds").] 2.) Field searching - searching for terms in titles only or just in URLs (e.g. organic in ti; .edu in URL).

Most people can improve their searching success exponentially simply by reading the Help screens, and using the "Simple" and/or "Advanced" options effectively.

Warning: Internet search engines evolve constantly. What worked well last year may be out-of-date. While it is nice to have a tried-and-true favorite engine, do try others every now and then. You many find something you like better. There is a helpful Web site that regularly evaluates and compares Web search engines: The Greg Notess Web Site: Home of Search Engine Showdown (http://notess.com/)

Quick comparison of search engine results: Popular Internet search engine results: "organic marketing" (the phrase) on Thursday, July 18, 2001 [The Appropriate Technology Transfer for Rural Areas (ATTRA) recent publication, Organic Marketing Resources (http://www.attra.org/attra-pub/markres.html), was used as a benchmark to help evaluate relevance/order of items retrieved.]

²Warning: Some Internet search engines provide preferential placement or ratings for advertisers.

7. Where can I search to find just what I want in the least amount of time? Databases, directories, and the WWW

Many people have now discovered the joys and frustrations of Internet searching. Despite the Internet's relative newness, it is easy to believe that all the information one needs is free and online on the World Wide Web. This may or may not be true. Particularly when it comes to marketing-related information, the Internet is very limited. For one thing, most good information is proprietary. The vast majority of relevant reports and journals are not available for free downloading on the Internet. And you can't find them by searching on the Internet.

For a more complete picture of a marketing issue, check out traditional literature databases (some are available online free, some for a fee), and mainstream marketing journals and directories.

Sampling a range of databases and search results. Search query used, unless otherwise noted: organic AND (food OR foods) AND (market OR markets OR marketing OR consumer OR consumers) AND (1995-2001)

8. What are the best search "strings" for finding organic? Keywords and phrases

In thinking about a search string or "strategy" that will help retrieve the best information in the shortest amount of time, first define exactly what it is you want to know. Then work to define the concept elements in the question you want answered. For instance, the question, "What can you tell me about consumer markets for organic herbs in the U.S. Northwest?" might be broken down in the following elements:BECKY

Develop a list of keywords and phrases for each category, starting with the most pertinent - synonymous and to the point; working down to relevant - close in meaning; and then related - potentially applicable. For inspiration, try some sample searches, read the titles and texts that look most likely, and borrow words that describe them. For the above question, the list might look like this:

³The major agricultural databases offer added definition using subject codes. For instance, all documents indexed by AGRICOLA that are about "consumer economics" are assigned the code number E720.

9. What can I do if I find too much or too little on my organic topic? Optimizing the search through use of keywords and search engine options

Broadening a search to get more "hits." Here is an example of how widening a search through adding relevant and related terms, and by optimizing the search engine's searching capabilities, can help find additional information. [Sample search: Wilson Select database (academic/business/general/full text articles online) 1995 - 2001 publications]

Narrowing a search with too many hits. In just the way that a search can be "exploded," it can be "imploded," that is, narrowed. If you have started your search with the broad term, natural foods, for instance, look for more restrictive labels. But beware using the "AND NOT" option on a search engine. You may remove a great article about your topic if the author or indexer has mentioned the taboo term anywhere in the title, keywords, text, or abstract. For instance, if the abstract explains, "this research centers on organic alternatives to conventional agriculture" and you tell the engine to "NOT" out all documents with phrase, "conventional agriculture," you will never see this article! So use the option carefully. It is better to concentrate on the terms you DO want to appear in your results.

10. How can I "capture" and use what I find? Sorting, downloading, and printing search results

Making order out of search results. Search engines present a variety of options when it comes to sorting. You may be able to arrange your results alphabetically, chronologically, by full-text results only, by relevance, by WWW site, by peer-reviewed articles only, etc. There are also options for formatting download files or printed pages. Help screens can help (!) you find the sort option that puts the items most relevant to your search first.

Obtaining full-text reports and articles. Depending on the database that you have searched, you may still be only halfway home. If your search was on the Internet, and turned up all the full-text articles you desire, you are fortunate. Alternatively, you may only have a detailed list of publications in your hand, and not whole text documents. While abstracts can be very informative, having the complete article or book may be required.

• First, check the Internet, using the title of the article (phrase search) and/or the journal name. Even though you may not have originally retrieved the citation from a Web search, you may be pleasantly surprised to find it available. Some journal publishers are offering older articles for free online, and requiring fees only for the most recent issues. Occasionally, a special interest group has permission to post selected articles for free downloading on their Web sites.

• General library services. Searching at large academic libraries offers the added bonus of on-site availability of the full-text articles and books. The process of searching expensive databases that are linked to expensive online journals can provide instant gratification: searching, selecting titles from your search that look promising, and downloading or printing the full text article in one seamless operation. No more trips to the stacks, or waiting at the desk for someone else to go, much less waiting a week or more for InterLibrary Loan delivery.

• InterLibrary Loan. If you fail to find the needed full-text documents cited on your list, ask local library staff about obtaining loans or photocopies from other institutions. Even the smallest libraries are usually connected to a state-wide system that facilitates this.

Copyright restrictions. Keep in mind that copyright law covers how you may download and distribute most publications. This often includes the abstracts.

Related references:

1. Agriculture: A Glossary of Terms, Programs, and Laws. Congressional Research Service Report for Congress, Jasper Womach, Coordinator. (Jun-2005) Available at http://ncseonline.org/NLE/CRSreports/05jun/97-905.pdf

2. "Definitions." Basic Standards for Organic Production and Processing. (decided in Basel 2000) International Federation of Organic Agriculture Movements (IFOAM). Available at http://www.ifoam.org/standard/index_neu.html

3. Definitions and Terminology. Québec Organic Reference Standards (Nov. 1998) Available at http://www.caqbio.org/a/NBR.htm

4. Glossary of Terms. Earthbound Farm Organic. Available at http://www.ebfarm.com/organic_glossary.html

5. Glossary of Terms and Abbreviations. Organic Trade Association. Available at http://www.ota.com/rule_glossary_of_terms_and_abbreviati.htm

6. A Glossary of Terms Used in Agroecology. Center for Agroecology & Sustainable Food Systems. Available at http://www.agroecology.org/glossary/index.htm

7. Gold, Mary V., Electronic Databases and other Information Search Tools Available at the Alternative Farming Systems Information Center. Beltsville, MD: Alternative Farming Systems Information Center, National Agricultural Library, 2001. Available at: http://afsic.nal.usda.gov/nal_display/index.php?info_center=2&tax_level=1&tax_subject=288

8. Gold, Mary V., The Language of Electronic Searching: A Search Terms Glossary. Beltsville, MD: Alternative Farming Systems Information Center, National Agricultural Library, 2001. Available at: http://www.nal.usda.gov/afsic/ofp/srchglos.shtml

9. Gold, Mary V., Organic Production: Terminology / Descriptive Phrases. Beltsville, MD: Alternative Farming Systems Information Center, National Agricultural Library, 2001. Available at: http://www.nal.usda.gov/afsic/pubs/ofp/orgterms.shtml

10. Gold, Mary V., Sustainable Agriculture: Definitions and Terms (Special Reference Briefs Series no. SRB99-02). Beltsville, MD: Alternative Farming Systems Information Center, National Agricultural Library, 1999 and 2007. Available at: http://www.nal.usda.gov/afsic/pubs/terms/srb9902.shtml

11. Gold, Mary V., Where to Find Sustainable Agriculture Research Online. Beltsville, MD: Alternative Farming Systems Information Center, National Agricultural Library, Updated May 2004. Available at: http://www.nal.usda.gov/afsic/pubs/agnic/susagresearch.shtml

12. Lipson, Mark and the Organic Farming Research Foundation., Searching for the "O-Word": Analyzing the USDA Current Research Information System for Pertinence to Organic Farming. Santa Cruz, CA: Organic Farming Research Foundation, 1997.

13. U.S. Organic Agriculture. USDA Research Emphases, Harmony Between Agriculture and the Environment: Current Issues. USDA Economic Research Service. Available at http://www.ers.usda.gov/emphases/harmony/issues/organic/organic.html

14. Weintraub, Irwin, "Holistic Literature Searching for a Holistic Agriculture." Quarterly Bulletin of the International Association of Agricultural Information Specialists (IAALD), 42, 1 (1997): 10-15.

15. Weintraub, Irwin., "The Terminology of Alternative Agriculture Searching AGRICOLA, CAB and AGRIS." Quarterly Bulletin of the International Association of Agricultural Information Specialists (IAALD), 37, 4 (1992): 209-13.