Organic September: reasons to go organic like helping wildlife

The Soil Association has designated this month Organic September. Here are seven reasons to go organic

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  1. Our food and farming system is responsible for around one-third of all greenhouse gas emissions. If half of all farming in the European Union converted to organic by 2030, we could cut almost a quarter (23%) of the EU’s greenhouse gas emissions simply by increased soil carbon sequestration and reduced use of mineral fertilisers.
  2. Organic standards ban the use of manufactured fertilisers, lowering the risk of pollution in rivers, seas and waterways which kills fish and aquatic life.
  3. Organic farms have the highest standards for animal welfare of any farming system in the UK. By providing the space and environments that animals need organic farmers can reduce stress and disease (and their consequent side effects) on their farms. This means that animals don’t need to undergo painful mutilations (like beak trimming and tail docking), and it means that there is no need for preventative antibiotics.
  4. Organic principles reduce the routine use of antibiotics on animals (which currently accounted for 30% of all antibiotic use in the UK in 2017), which helps minimise antibiotic resistance for humans and increases the effectiveness of these drugs.
  5. Intensive agriculture causes soil erosion, chemical run-off into water systems and can mean some weeds and insects become resistant to herbicides and pesticides. Organic farming on the other hand doesn’t rely on synthetic or petroleum-based pesticides or fertilisers. It significantly reduces water and soil contamination, and wildlife can thrive.
  6. Organic farms have 50% more bees, butterflies and other pollinators.
  7. Research at Newcastle University has found that organic crops are up to 60% higher in a number of key antioxidants than conventionally-grown ones and both organic milk and meat contain around 50% more beneficial omega-3 fatty acids than conventionally produced products.

For more details of the Soil Association’s Organic September campaign click here

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