Benefits of Organic Farming

Sunday, December 5th, 2010

Organic farming produces crops without the use of any synthetic or man-made chemicals, and is truly “nature’s way”. It involves increased labour (e.g. manual picking) and the use of natural substances such as compost and the use of natural insect predators. In order to be labeled organic, the food needs to contain no harmful preservatives or additives and needs to be 100% GMO free.

Through organic farming, we are able to improve our land and environment. This is done via better soil combination, cleaner waterway and protection of native biodiversity. Organic farming shows a greater compassion towards animal welfare as the animals are allowed to develop in accordance with the natural systems of their environment and are not restricted.

There are many benefits that come hand in hand with consuming organically grown food:

Nutrition
Professor Carlo Leifert, an expert in organic farming from the University of Newcastle, co-ordinated a 4 year European Union-funded project. This study, which was completed in 2007, revealed organic farming produced foods 20-40% higher in antioxidants than in conventional foods.¹

Free of Man Made Chemicals
A major benefit to consumers of organic food is that it is free of contamination from potentially health harming synthetic chemicals such as pesticides, fungicides and herbicides.

Tastes better
Organic food tastes the way food should taste – fresh, crispy and with a distinctive flavour.

Sound moral and ethical principles
It benefits the environment, the air and the soil, our children and farmers. It stores more carbon in the soil and there is less wildlife and environmental damage from fertilizer and pesticide run off. Organic farmers are rearing animals with care and attention to their welfare. They are allowed to roam free as animals should and are given the opportunity to grow and develop in the most natural and humane way possible.

By Amanda Fraser - Nutritionist from OrganicFood.com.au

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