You don't recognize the highest organic quality at first glance. On closer inspection it becomes clear that organic foods are far superior to products from conventional agriculture. It pays to rely on organic: not only our health benefits from the quality standards, but also the environment. That's why we should all become organic nerds 🤓 🌱
Organic vs. conventional: quality instead of quantity
Growth accelerators, insecticides and other chemical substances: in order to achieve the highest possible harvest yield, the use of pesticides is widespread in conventional agriculture. The problem: We can neither see nor taste toxic chemical residues on apples, pears or bell peppers - and so we usually unconsciously ingest a number of toxins with our diet.
You might be wondering: So what's the problem ?! Well: Pesticides have an often underestimated, negative impact on the human body. They can change the genetic make-up, trigger allergies and impair our body functions. Due to the way they work, they weaken our immune system and disrupt the hormonal balance. Pretty scary, isn't it? So when we consume invisible toxins every day, our body is constantly busy breaking down and getting rid of these substances. In the long run it is quite a show of strength. Especially in the early childhood stage, it is important for mother and child to avoid toxic residues on fruit and vegetables. Because of their size, infants and toddlers take in more harmful substances than adults - and therefore have to break down larger amounts.
Products from organic farmers do not use any chemicals at all - and due to the high purity and quality requirements, they are completely unencumbered. The EC basic organic regulation prescribes the renunciation of chemical-synthetic pesticides and easily soluble mineral fertilizers. When growing organic products, farmers completely forego additives such as growth accelerators. Instead, they rely on pure nature for their fruit and vegetables. That means: sufficient sunlight and daylight, good air and lots of love.
Organic products are only harvested when they have reached their optimal degree of ripeness. Patience pays off: Organic fruit and vegetables have a particularly high proportion of vitamins and antioxidants. This not only ensures an intense taste, but also healthy enjoyment.
The Consequences of Conventional Agriculture
Agriculture is characterized by working in open systems. In concrete terms: Fruit and vegetables should not grow behind thick walls or in closed rooms, but in fields and fields #freetheveggies
But growing fruit and vegetables in the fresh air brings with it problems: Heavy machines for cultivating and harvesting the soil as well as the use of pesticides and fertilizers that contain heavy metals and pollutants have a negative impact on the quality of soil, water and air. In addition, the natural habitat of animals and plants is impaired. And our groundwater as well as rivers, lakes and seas are affected:
- Nitrogen fertilization is particularly important in intensive agriculture. This fertilizer is not only responsible for the higher greenhouse gas emissions in conventional agriculture, but it also leads to an oversupply of nutrients (eutrophication) of water and soil. The result: excessive nitrate pollution in the groundwater. The nitrate concentrations in these groundwater bodies are over 50 milligrams per liter - normally they are not higher than 25 milligrams
- Nitrate pollution is lower in surface water than in groundwater, but it is also much too high. The result: our coastal waters are eutrophied and in a poor ecological condition.
- Pesticides and heavy metals contained in fertilizers, pollutants and drug residues from intensive animal husbandry represent further potential dangers for terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems
- Plowing up grassland, using peatlands, clearing forests and tillage destroys the habitat of many animals and reduces biodiversity
- In 2018, German agriculture was responsible for the "emissions" of around 64 million tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalents. That is 7.4 percent of the total greenhouse gas emissions this year! Methane emissions (CH4) from animal husbandry and manure management as well as nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions from agricultural soils as a result of nitrogen fertilization (mineral and organic) are primarily responsible for this. 62 percent of the CH4 emissions and 79 percent of the N2O emissions came from agriculture
This is how it is with agriculture in Germany
What does organic farming do better?
Organic farming does not require the use of nitrogen fertilizers. Instead, organic farmers rely on organic fertilizers, which bind carbon dioxide in the soil and thus contribute to a clean climate. The alternating cultivation of different crops is also an important factor in improving soil fertility. The right knowledge about favorable plant neighborhoods, good sowing times, a varied choice of location and weed control without chemical agents also help organic farmers to cultivate their products in an ecologically sustainable manner and to create added value for the environment and our society. This is achieved through four basic characteristics: crop rotations, humus management, strengthening of the plant's own defenses and weed regulation without chemicals.
- Crop rotation: Alternating cultivation of different crops that complement each other. This method improves soil fertility. It also means that diseases and pests have less chance of spreading.
- Humus management: This includes soil loosening and green manure. Otherwise, the organic material (manure and compost) from the company's own farm forms the basis for further enrichment with humus.
- Strengthening the plant's own defenses: the basic principle is the prevention of diseases. Knowledge about favorable plant neighborhoods, correct sowing times and the choice of location and variety helps, among other things
- Weed control without chemicals: Successful through crop rotation and soil cover (e.g. with straw) or through mechanical processing.
Our conclusion: organic good, (almost) everything good
Ecological agriculture relieves water and soil, protects our biodiversity and helps to minimize greenhouse gases. Enough reasons to remove conventional foods from our ingredient lists. And don't forget: organic is better for our health.
An absolute no-brainer for us. We rely on organic. All of our ingredients are subject to the highest organic standards and are grown, harvested and processed under strict quality controls.
Swell:
Greenpeace Research Laboratories 2015: Critical Cocktail https://www.greenpeace.de/themen/landwirtschaft/pestizide/kritischer-cocktail
Greenpeace Research Laboratories 2015: Pesticides and our health https://www.greenpeace.de/sites/www.greenpeace.de/files/publications/pestizide-gesundheit-greenpeace-20150502.pdf
UBA 2019: Environmental pollution in agriculture https://www.umweltbundesamt.de/themen/boden-landwirtschaft/umwelthabenungen-der-landwirtschaft
UBA 2019: organic food https://www.umweltbundesamt.de/umwelttipps-fuer-den-alltag/essen-trinken/biolebensmittel#gewusst-wie
UBA 2019: Organic farming: https://www.umweltbundesamt.de/daten/land-forstwirtschaft/oekologischer-landbau#okolandbau-in-deutschland
