High Quality Content by WIKIPEDIA articles! High Quality Content by WIKIPEDIA articles! Natural organic matter (NOM) is broken down organic matter that comes from plants and animals in the environment. NOM is a collective term, assigned to the realm of all of this broken down organic matter. Basic structures are created from cellulose, tannin, cutin, and lignin, along with other various proteins, lipids, and sugars. NOM is very important in the movement of nutrients in the environment and plays a role in water retention on the surface of the planet. These two processes help to ensure the continuance of life on Earth.