Organic food is more popular than ever with 85% of UK homes buying organic in the last year*. So, why are so many people choosing to enjoy organic food? We’ve picked our top 5 reasons to share the love for organic.
#1 Great for wildlife
Organic is food as it should be. Made by working with nature the organic approach views soil, plants, animals and humans as being connected, with each element vital for the others to thrive. Take hedgerows for example, these tend to be bigger and more diverse on organic farms since they are not cut between March and August, which allows wildlife to thrive during the breeding season. This is just one of many ways that organic farming is good news for nature. Research has found that, on average, plant, insect and bird life is 50% more abundant on organic farms, with around 30% more species and larger bumblebee populations. You can read more about the benefits for wildlife here.
#2 Good for the animals
For those that eat meat, dairy and eggs, organic is the best choice you can make for the animals when it comes to their welfare. On organic farms, animals have access to pasture with plenty of space to graze and forage. livestock also have more space per animal, as well high standards of feed and bedding and no routine use of antibiotics. The land on which they roam is also managed organically, so no herbicides and little or no pesticides will be used on it.
#3 Good for the environment
At its heart, organic farming is about producing food in a way that looks after people, animals, society and the environment. Organic farming reduces pollution and helps future-proof our land and soil. Research suggests it has significant potential to help tackle climate change. If all UK farmland was converted to organic, it is estimated that 1.3 million tonnes more carbon would be taken up by the soil each year - the equivalent of taking nearly 1 million cars off the road! Our planet faces many challenges in food security and climate change, but organic farming is surely part of the solution. You can read more here.
#4 Great taste
It’s a subjective one, of course, but many people say they can taste the difference in organic food. Recent research found that 78% of people who buy organic say it tastes fantastic!**. Why not give it a try and let us know what you think. You can read more about taste and nutrition, here.
#5 Good for you and your family
Ground-breaking research has found that organic is nutritionally different, with some organic crops (such as cereals, fruit and veggies) up to 60% higher in a number of key antioxidants. In 2016, another study found that both organic meat and milk contain around 50% more beneficial omega-3 fatty acids than non-organic products. You can read more here.
So next time you're doing the weekly shop, make the switch and choose organic. After all, you’d be supporting a way of farming that works with nature, using real ingredients, with animals free to forage on land that’s home to more wildlife.
Sources:
* OTB | Kantar Worldpanel Study October 2018, base - 25k adults
**OTB | Kantar Millward Brown Study October 2018, base – 2k adults