Live a sustainable life

Why organic anyway?

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Organic products are becoming more and more popular. But what does organic mean – and what benefits does it offer? We highlight the most important points.

“Organic” is short for “organic farming”: an agriculture that, among other things, no chemical-synthetic plant protection products, no mineral fertilisers, no genetically modified organisms and no ionising radiation (this is radiation that makes a food longer shelf life, but can also change its molecular structure). Organic fields are planted with a variety of crops instead of one plant type that always stays the same. This keeps the soil fertile – and promotes biodiversity. And in meat production, for example, the use of hormones is prohibited.

What does organic mean when it comes to what I eat?

Organic means different things for different food groups. A few examples: Meat does not usually contain antibiotics (unless an animal had to be treated with them due to illness). In the case of fish, spawning must not be induced by means of artificial hormones. Wine from organic cultivation contains less sulphites than conventional wine. And organic vegetables grow in the soil. This may sound obvious to you – but in fact more and more conventional vegetables are actually grown in greenhouses on rock wool, foam or coconut fibre.

Is it really organic if it says organic?

For the most part, yes. The labelling of organic products is protected by law: in Switzerland by the Swiss Organic Ordinance of 1997, in the EU by the EC Organic Regulation. This means that the labels “organic” and “ecological” can only be used if the relevant requirements are met during production and processing, as well as during storage. This also applies to imported products.
Imports can still be mislabelled: Apples from Chile or strawberries from Turkey, for example, have already been awarded the EU organic label even though they have been treated with pesticides. This can happen in particular when the inspection bodies in the producing countries are not independent institutions but companies that are – paradoxically – financially dependent on the very farms they are supposed to be inspecting.

How are controls applied in Europe?

In EU countries , it is usually the state ministry of agriculture or the ministry of health thatchecks whether the organic regulations of the European Union are being complied with. In Switzerland, four independent inspection organisations are authorised by the federal government to keep a watchful eye. The inspectors check the plant protection and fertilisation journal, for instance, while in the case of animal husbandry they will look at the size of the stables and the animals’ condition. In processing plants, inspections focus on formulas, residues, freedom from genetic modification and packaging.

Is organic better for the environment?

Organic farming really is much better for the environment than conventional farming in many ways. Here is a list for you:

Soil:
Bio-bewirtete Böden werden nicht durch synthetische Stoffe und mineralische Dünger belastet.
Durch den Verzicht auf Monokulturen bleibt die Erde länger fruchtbar.
In Böden von Bio-Feldern siedeln sich mehr Regenwürmer an.
Es findet mehr Humusbildung statt.
Water:
Grund- und Oberflächengewässer werden weniger durch Dünger und chemische Pestizide belastet – so haben wir gesünderes Trinkwasser.
Biodiversity
Die Pflanzenvielfalt ist auf Bioäckern deutlich höher als im konventionellen Landbau.
Vögel und Insekten, die auf oder in der Nähe von Bio-Feldern leben, finden durch das Verbot konventioneller Pestizide mehr Nahrung und siedeln sich deutlich häufiger an .
Ökologisch wertvolle Flächen wie Blumenwiesen, Hecken oder Trockenmauern werden gepflegt, was die Artenvielfalt zusätzlich förder
Climate
Die Grasfütterung von Bio-Rindern wirkt sich günstig auf den Stoffwechsel der Tiere aus, sodass sie weniger Methan ausstossen.
Auch durch den Verzicht auf Mineraldünger fallen weniger Treibhausgase an.
Bio-bewirtete Böden können mehr Kohlenstoff speichern, was dem Klima zugutekommt.
Die vermehrte Nutzung lokaler Ressourcen reduziert insgesamt den CO₂-Ausstoss.

Is organic healthier for humans, too?

There are contradictory studies on the question of whether organic products contain more vitamins than conventional ones. However, organic fruit and vegetables really do seem to contain more antioxidants and organic meat and milk have more unsaturated fatty acids. And logically, it is healthier to eat meat that is produced without added hormones and antibiotics, and to consume fruit and vegetables that doesn’t contain chemical residues.

But aren’t organic foods sprayed as well?

Even an organic farmer is allowed to “spray” their crops to protect them from pests and disease in certain cases – but in this case natural substances such as sulphur or plant oils are used for this purpose. For example, bitterwood extracts and coconut soap broths can be used against wasps, plant lice and spider mites, and clay can be used to prevent scab infestation of fruit. Attempts are also often made to control the plants using mechanical means – e.g. very fine-meshed nets. This essentially reduces negative impact on the environment, and any sprays used are normally biodegradable. Nonetheless, copper is used to protect organic vines from fungal attack, and this can also accumulate in the soil and harm earthworms and other microorganisms. In the case of certain natural remedies, it is generally important to bear in mind that they have a broader effect than just combating a specific pest and they can be detrimental to other insects, too.

All organic – and all’s well?

Organic farming does a lot for our environment and our health overall. However, there are other environmental and social aspects of sustainability when it comes to our food, such as whether it comes from fair trade, how it was packaged or how (and how far) it was transported. These dimensions can overlap with organic, but don't necessarily. So it’s still important to remember that if you shop seasonally and regionally, the environment is even happier.