Organic September is, first and foremost, a celebration of everything organic! Organic living requires hard effort and dedication from producers to consumers. An initiative first sprung from The Soil Association to spread the word about the numerous advantages of organic farming and everything it generates.
Purchasing organic contributes to farmers’ efforts to protect our biodiversity and wildlife, combat climate change, enhance animal welfare, and lower pesticide exposure.
‘Organic is a system of farming and food production. Organic farmers aim to produce high-quality food, using methods that benefit our whole food system, from people to planet, plant health to animal welfare.’
– The Soil Association.
Organic is a legally defined term that refers to producing food without using pesticides, synthetic fertilisers, or chemicals. Organic food has no GMOs and promotes using natural insecticides like ladybirds to keep other insects away.
An organic agricultural and food production system seeks to provide enough high-quality food in sufficient quantities. By adhering to a rigid set of guidelines, organic producers accomplish this. In addition, they safeguard the well-being of the local ecosystems and the inhabitants who rely on them. The end result is a system that helps both plants and the world as a whole.
It means significantly increased standards of animal welfare, reduced levels of pesticides, no produced herbicides or artificial fertilisers,’ the Soil Association said. And there are many other advantages for the ecosystem that will support species’ survival.
Organic food is grown without chemical fertilisers or pesticides in order to respect nature. Compost, nitrogen-fixing plants, and crop rotations that are 25% more successful at long-term carbon storage are all used to nourish the soil, which also results in healthier soil.
“If Europe’s farmland all followed organic principles, agricultural emissions could drop by 4050% by 2050, with plenty to feed the growing population healthy diets” – The Soil Association.
Organic farming has increased the diversity of plants, animals, insects, and bacteria. Organic farms often have 30% more species than non-organic ones, according to a review of 66 scientific publications.
Research has shown that organic farms emit less greenhouse gas than non-organic equivalents. This is due, in part, to the fact that healthy soils constitute a significant source of carbon storage. The Soil Association calculated that the ground would absorb at least 1.3
million tonnes of carbon annually if all farming in the UK switched to organic practices. That’s equivalent to removing about 1 million vehicles from the road simultaneously!
Products bearing the Soil Association organic emblem have been produced following the highest environmental requirements. Therefore, when you see the organic logo, you can be confident that the product you are purchasing has followed the highest standards.
Obtaining organic certification is complex; when you buy an organic product, you know exactly what you’re getting.
So, if you’re thinking about going organic, why not start with the basics? Organic farmers sell everyday items such as milk, vegetables, rice, and other grains.
