By Holly Vyner
We’ve all heard the banter about buying organic, but what does it really do for us? Rescu. asks Holly Vyner, Biological Farmers of Australia Manager, to give us ten good (and good for you) reasons to go ‘the Big O’.
1. Reduce chemical runoff: “Organic farming reduces chemical runoff and residues in drinking water, waterways and coastal areas”, says Holly. “Runoff is the main cause of diminishing marine life, animals and plants”.
2. Eliminate use of growth hormones: Organic prohibits the use of growth hormones, antibiotics and genetically engineered drugs and feeds in livestock. “In Australia, there are still twelve antibiotics that can be used as growth promoters”, says Holly. Which means if you’re not eating organic, you could potentially be chowing down a pretty toxic dinner.
3. Ensure humane treatment of animals: “Scientific evidence indicates that practices, such as battery hen farming, inflict continuous and intense suffering on animals throughout their confinement”, says Holly. “This kind of farming can lead to acute physical and behavioural problems”. Organic livestock on the other hand are allowed to roam freely and develop naturally.
4. Reduce landfill: “Composting and recycling of nutrients is a major feature of organic farming systems”, says Holly. This, in turn, has a major impact on reducing greenhouse emissions.
5. Safe food that tastes great (and is better for you): Certified organic guarantees a product has been grown, handled, packaged and distributed following strict organic practices (which means zero contamination by fertilisers, additives and growth hormones). “There is a lot of evidence that says organic food is more nutritious”, says Holly. “It is higher in vitamin C, mineral levels and phytonutrients”. Phytonutrients are plant compounds that are known to help protect the body against cancer. The added bonus? Organic food tastes a lot better too.
6. Reduce global warming: “If only 1000 medium sized farms converted to organic production, the carbon stored in the soil would be equivalent to taking
117,440 cars off the road each year”, says Holly. Enough said.
7. Reduce greenhouse gas emissions: “Agriculture in Australia is the second-highest contributor of greenhouse gases”, says Holly. That’s thanks to the heavy use of fertiliser emissions. The good news is that organic standards prohibit organic farmers from using nitrogen fertilisers so by eating organic food, you’re not only making yourself feel better, you’re helping out the environment as well.
8. Stop consuming two kilograms of food additives (each year): “Many food additives have been linked with symptoms such as allergic reactions, rashes, headaches, asthma, growth retardation and hyperactivity in children”, says Holly. Eat organic and you avoid eating nasty additives.
9. Avoid GMOs (Genetically Modified Organisms): “Independent testing of the long-term health effects of GMO foods on humans has not been carried out,” says Holly. “It’s impossible to know which grocery items use GMO-derived ingredients, so certified organic foods are a great way to avoid GMOs”.
10. Reduce the risk of cancer: “On average, organic foods contain about one-third more cancer-fighting antioxidants than comparable conventional produce”, says Holly. Antioxidants also help keep our skin look younger – and don’t we like that…