Organic good, all good?

05.01.2021 - Organic products are produced in harmony with nature, right? What does that actually mean? And is everything labelled organic really organic?

Since the beginning of the 20th century, agriculture has become increasingly industrialised. Manure is being replaced by chemically produced fertiliser. Pesticides are used across the board to kill unwanted weeds. Large machines do the hard work for us. At first glance, conventional agriculture, which is geared towards performance and efficiency, doesn't look too bad: less input, more output. However, the growth imperatives of modern agriculture, utilising ever more intensive cultivation methods, disregard the ecological balance. This soon leads to depleted soils and dwindling biodiversity. What follows: Erosion, compaction and polluted groundwater. Other ways must therefore be found to provide us with a sustainable food supply in the long term. And this is where organic farming comes into play.

The soil is alive!

The guiding principle of organic farming is to work in harmony with nature. The farm is seen as a large organism with the components human, animal, plant and soil. Everything is interrelated and interdependent so that an ecological balance is maintained. To ensure this, the three most important principles of organic farming ^are1:

• Maintain soil fertility: In organic farming, organic materials such as manure or compost are used as fertiliser. In contrast to mineral fertilisers from conventional farming, they are available in the soil for longer and offer a more complex nutrient supply for soil organisms and plants.
• Aim for closed nutrient cycles: Everything the farm needs is produced in-house - the feed for the animals as well as the manure for the fields. Plant protection with pesticides is avoided. Instead, more robust plant varieties are cultivated in a suitable crop rotation and beneficial insects are used where necessary, such as ladybird larvae to combat aphid infestation.
• Respect for living creatures: The keeping and rearing of animals is much more strictly regulated than in conventional agriculture. Interventions on animals and medical care are also more strictly controlled. Medication may not be administered prophylactically. The administration of performance-enhancing substances and hormones is prohibited. Instead, animals are to be kept healthy through preventative measures^.2

Organic is booming

Even if the topic is more topical than ever today, the idea of organic farming is not new. The first attempts at biodynamic farming were made as early as the 1920s^.3 The first organic products were sold in farm shops and health food stores, and later in the first organic food shops. However, organic has now moved out of its niche. The demand for organically grown products is growing steadily - across all social classes. Never before have so many organic foods ended up in the shopping basket as today. Every supermarket now has its own organic brands in its range. Even discounters sell organically grown and fairly produced products. This is a positive development, but it also has its pitfalls: as there is good money to be made from sustainability, unfortunately not everything that is labelled organic is organic. Terms such as "environmentally friendly", "naturally fertilised", "untreated" or "controlled cultivation" may have the appearance of being organic, but they are not proof of organic production. They are not protected and can be used by companies for advertising purposes.

First orientation: EU organic

To make things easier for consumers, there are various organic labels. The best known to date is the EU organic logo: since 1 July 2012, all pre-packaged organic food produced in an EU member state has carried this label. These products fulfil certain minimum standards. The EU member states have agreed on these in the EU Organic Regulation. It has been in force since 1991 and is constantly updated - the next update will be in 2022^.5 It stipulates how food must be produced, imported into Europe in a controlled manner and labelled. All products that comply with the EC Organic Regulation may be labelled as "organic", "ecological" or similar. Combinations such as "organic-biological" or "controlled organic cultivation" are also permitted.

There's still room for improvement

The EC Organic Regulation follows the principles of organic farming and is therefore definitely more in harmony with nature than conventional agriculture. Nevertheless, it is often criticised, not entirely unjustifiably. The problem is that the regulations are relatively loose and ultimately only represent the minimum required for a sustainable approach to our environment. According to the EC Organic Farming Regulation, farms do not have to have completely converted to organic farming; a partial conversion is also sufficient. However, animal husbandry in particular leaves a lot of room for improvement. This is because EC organic farmers are still allowed to practise factory farming. Although the usual mutilation of animals' tails, beaks and teeth is not routinely permitted, it is hardly "species-appropriate" for animals to be transported to the slaughterhouse for up to 24 hours^.6 Animal welfare controls are also not regulated. This means: Are the animals free from hunger and thirst? Are they free from pain, injury and disease? Can they live out their natural behaviour patterns^?7

The free programme: organic farming by growers' associations

For many farmers, the EC Organic Regulation does not go far enough. In addition to the standards of the EC Organic Regulation, they also fulfil the much stricter guidelines of the so-called growers' associations. These are associations of organic farmers, processors and other agricultural producers. There are a whole range of these associations in Germany, each of which has a slightly different focus. This applies to additives, feedstuffs, fertilisers, animal exercise, treatment of animals in the event of illness, the coexistence of conventional and organic farming on one farm and much more^.6 The farming associations in particular strive to produce food in harmony with nature.

Conclusion

So: organic good, all good? When it comes to organic food, not all that glitters - in this case green - is gold. When buying, pay attention to the organic labels, especially those of the organic farming associations. Incidentally, the question of whether you should choose an imported organic product or a conventionally grown one is particularly tricky. An organic tomato that has just been imported from Spain looks old in comparison to conventional products from a purely emissions point of view^.9 But emissions are not everything: the principles of organic farming show how agriculture can be sustainable now and for future generations. By buying organic products, including those bearing the EU organic logo, you as a consumer can support this development.

Cover picture: Sippakorn Yamkasikorn/Pexels

Sources:

1. Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture: Organic farming in Germany
2. Thünen Institute: Special features of animal husbandry in organic farming
3. M. Klett, Consciousness-historical aspects of the development of biodynamic agriculture in the 20th century. In: Living Earth, 5, 1994, p. 338.
4. Among other things: GMO-free seeds
5. Bund Ökologische Lebensmittelwirtschaft: New organic law
6. Organic farming: EU organic and association organic compared
7. Praxis-Agrar: Animal welfare - what does that actually mean?
8. Among others: Demeter
9. Quarks: Organic vs. conventional agriculture