Organic farming is a particularly resource-efficient and environmentally sound form of agriculture, which is based on the principle of sustainable development. Many governments thus support efforts to expand organic farming in their country. At the same time, a growing number of consumers buy organic products. As a result, organic farming is not a niche any more, but an economically relevant segment of the agricultural sector. Against this background, this lecture aims to (a) introduce the key elements and ideas of organic farming, (b) provide an overview of the business organisation and performance of organic agriculture, in the context of the regulatory and policy environment within which it operates as well as broader sustainability considerations and (c) reflect critically the potential of organic farming for resource protection worldwide.