Conversion or transition?

Two terms are frequently applied to the process of becoming organic: conversion and transition. The term ‘conversion’ is used more often in Europe and Australia, whereas the term ‘transition’ is more common in the USA literature. Some people prefer the religious overtones of the word ‘conversion’, as it implies a holistic change and a fundamental change of attitude or ‘belief system’. The term ‘transition’ has validity too, in that it contains the concept of a timeframe. In the period of change between systems, growers do not have access to the chemical tools of the conventional system, but may not yet have established protective or defensive benefits of the organic system, such as soil health and biological activity, and environmental enhancement to support natural biological controls. This takes time.

Whatever the term used, the processes and experiences of producers will be similar.