Options
1. Conventionally Farmed Produce – Commercially produced, most widely available and usually cheapest.
2. Organic produce – Generally farmed using sustainable agricultural techniques, which minimise environmental impact and are healthier for both the consumer and the economy. Usually more expensive than conventionally farmed produce.
3. British Organic Produce – Organically Farmed in the UK, benefiting the local economy and further minimising environmental impact through reduced food miles. Also more expensive and limited by seasonal availability.
4. Fair Trade – Most organic production is small scale and ethically driven. Some organic products are given fair trade certification as an additional guarantee of protection of workers health and safety and income, by the removal of middlemen.
5. A combination of options – Where cost and availability are restraints, individuals may choose specific items of organic produce in their weekly shopping.
Impacts on Sustainable Living
Organic farming is a modern, sustainable farming system, which maintains the long- term fertility of the soil and uses less of the Earth’s limited resources to produce high quality, nutritious food. These methods benefit our health as individuals, the environment and the economy.
Personal Health Benefits
- Organic Crops have statistically significant higher levels of vitamin C, magnesium, iron and phosphorous and show significantly higher levels of cancer-fighting antioxidants. (1)
- The average persons daily diet is now reported to contain residues of some 30 different artificial chemicals and a supermarket apple may have been treated up to 40 times with any of 100 chemicals. (2)
- Phenolics are antioxidants generated by a plant when attacked by pests. Researchers have recognised the growing concern that levels of some phenolics, along with vitamin E and beta-carotene, may be lower than is optimal for human health in conventionally grown foods. (3)
Environmental Benefits
- Organic farming prohibits the use of artificial chemical fertilisers and pesticides relied on in “conventional” farming. This avoids their impact on the wider environment, e.g. polluted water sources.
- Healthier livestock is reared on organic farms with better diets and without the routine use of drugs, antibiotics and wormers common in intensive livestock farming. This is a better ethical practice and leads to a better quality of meat and dairy produce. (4)
- Buying from UK organic Farmers guarantees high standards of animal welfare and cuts down on unnecessary food miles, vastly reducing pollution and climate gas emissions.
- Waste is generally lower in organic farming.
- Economic Benefits
- Organic Farming avoids the clean up costs intrinsic to “conventional” farming techniques. In the UK, the government spends £2.3 billion per annum cleaning up pesticides and fertilisers from ground and water sources.
- Buying from small organic producers generally means we, as consumers, are not supporting multinationals and globalisation.
- Buying organic avoids supporting Genetic Engineering technology. Copyright protected GM seeds generally don’t reproduce, which leaves agro-chemical farmers legally and economically dependent on new seeds each harvest.
- The organic industry is highly regulated, protecting consumer interests much more effectively. Once a producer or processor decides to become involved in organic food production, they become subject to UK and EC Regulation. (5)
Other ways you can eat more sustainably
- Buying, organic, seasonal and locally produced food reduces the ecological footprint of our diet. By aiming to reduce the animal products we consume, it can be lowered f further. A diet low in animal products is beneficial to your health, animals and the environment.
- A vegetarian diet requires significantly less land and resources than that of a meat eater, and a vegan diet is lesser still.
- There are now more than three and a half times as many farmed animals as people on this planet, (6) responsible for 18 percent of greenhouse gas emissions measured in CO2 equivalent. This is a higher share then transport.
- Keeping animals alive for meat and dairy is an extremely inefficient way of obtaining food.
- The animal industry is simply not sustainable. Large quantities of fossil fuels are required to support the infrastructure required to support it, and virtually 70% of the world's fisheries are characterized by the UN Food and Agriculture Organization as being fully-exploited, over-exploited, or depleted. (7)
Try to cut back on the amount of animal products you consume to help the environment today!
Switching to a vegetarian or vegan diet needn’t be about denying yourself food you like, but an exciting way to explore news cooking methods and get fit!
There are lots of groups in , and nationally who provide information on vegetarianism and veganism.
Next Steps
Unicorn Grocery 89 Albany Road, Chorlton, , M21 0BN (0161) 861 0010. Unicorn is a workers co-operative which offers a wide range of wholesome organic foods, beers and wines. Unicorn specialises in dairy free, gluten free and sugar free products.
Chorlton Wholefoods, 64 Beech Road, Chorlton, , M21 9EG (0161) 881 6399 is a whole food shop running organic fruit & Veg delivery service.
Limited Resources, Unit 3, 6 Brooks st, Higher Hill Gate, Stockport, SK1 3HS (0161) 477 2040 Originally based in Hulme, distributes high quality organic produce (from fruit & veg to Kitty Litter) all over – with Free delivery to homes and offices.
Glebelands Market Garden Ltd, Box Scheme/Delivery Service, Growers. Horticultural enterprise linked to Unicorn Grocery Ltd, local food campaigning and educational work. C/o 24 Athol Rd, Whally Range, M16 8QN (0161) 718 5328.
Altrincham Organic Food Market, Greenwood st, Altrincham, WA14 1SA. 0161 941 4261. The market runs on the first Friday of every month.
Marble Beers, is ’s only organic and vegan brewery. It has four outlets dotted around the city, including both The Bar at 533 Wilbraham Rd, Chorlton (0161) 881 7576 and The Marble Beer House at 57 Road, Chorlton, (0161) 881 9206.
Earth Café run on the basis of Buddhist ethics is a relaxing and comfortable place in which to enjoy delicious, healthy affordable vegetarian food.
Eighth Day is a worker co-operative organic outlet established in 1970. It has a brand new shop and café, 111 Oxford Road, , M1 7DU (0161) 273 4878.
Soil Association Bristol House, 40-56 Victoria Street, Bristol, BS1 6BY, United Kingdom T: 0117 314 5000 F: 0117 314 5001.
Northern Harvest, Kenyon Hall, Croft, Warrington, WA3 7ED.
[email protected]. Delivers a wide range of organic food to North Cheshire, South Lancashire, Greater , and Merseyside. 0845 602 3309.
Vegetarian Society
An educational charity promoting understanding and respect for vegetarian lifestyles
Parkdale, Dunham Road, Altrincham, Cheshire, England WA14 4QG
0161 925 2000 [email protected]
Vegan Society
Provides fact sheets on topics including nutrition and health.
Donald Watson House, 21 Hylton Street, Hockley, Birmingham. B18 6HJ
0121 523 1730 [email protected]
http://www.vegansociety.com/html/
VIVA!
Vegetarians International Voice for Animals
8 York Court, Wilder Street, Bristol BS2 8QH, UK
T: 0117 944 1000 F: 0117 924 4646 E: [email protected]
References
1. Nutritional Quality of Organic Versus Conventional Fruits, Vegetables and Grains -Virginia Worthington (2001)
2. Working Party on Pesticide Residues Annual Report, 1998. Brown Lynda. The Shopper’s Guide to Organic Food. Fourth Estate 1998.
3. Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, 2003
4. www.ciwf.org.uk/involved/consumer.html
5. www.organicfarmers.uk.com/organic.html
6. FAO, FAOSTAT Agricultural Data 2002 www.fao.org
See also http://www.vegansociety.com/html/environment/land/
7. http://www.un.org/Depts/los/general_assembly/documents/impact_of_fishing...