Organic farming seeks to provide authentic food while respecting natural life cycle processes. These include ecological land management to balance animal life, the natural environment, and food crops. Use of artificial fertilizers, synthetic chemicals, and genetically modified organisms must be avoided. Animals should be reared with care and given no antibiotics or growth hormones. Although, the organic movement represents a spectrum of practices and philosophies, all organic farms must comply with a set of minimum standards to be certified organic. Certification is intended to protect consumers from misuse of the term organic, and make buying organic food easier.