Organic production is based on the following internationally-recognised principles as defined by IFOAM International.

The principles express the contribution that Organic Agriculture can make to the world. Composed as interconnected ethical principles to inspire the organic movement in its full diversity, they guide our development of positions, programs and standards. The four principles are:

Principle of health

Organic Agriculture should sustain and enhance the health of soil, plant, animal, human and planet as one and indivisible.

Principle of ecology

Organic Agriculture should be based on living ecological systems and cycles, work with them, emulate them and help sustain them.

Principle of fairness

Organic Agriculture should build on relationships that ensure fairness with regard to the common environment and life opportunities.

Principle of care

Organic Agriculture should be managed in a precautionary and responsible manner to protect the health and wellbeing of current and future generations and the environment.

Download the Principles of Organic Agriculture brochure

Are organic foods better for you?

Recent research indicates that foods produced organically are indeed better for you! With organic foods coming from production systems that sustain the health of soils and ecosystems, you’re doing the right thing for you – as well as the environment! This means synthetic insecticides, fertilisers , antibiotics, growth hormones, irradiation and genetically modified organisms (GMOs) are not generally allowed or used.

Current studies on the benefits of organic food

The following studies showcases the benefits of eating certified organic food.

Organic agriculture in the twenty-first century

Published in 2016 by the Nature Research Journal, researchers conclude organic farming delivers equally or more nutritious foods that contain less or no pesticide residues and provide greater social benefits than their conventional counterparts. The supporting illustration represents different sustainability metrics that compare organic farming with conventional farming. It indicates that organic farming systems can more effectively balance the four areas of sustainability: production, environment, economic and social wellbeing, than conventional farming systems.

Comparing organic farming with conventional farming

 

Organic food could lower cancer risk

This 2018 French study involving 69,000 participants reporting on their dietary intake, concluded that a higher intake of organic food was associated with a reduced risk of cancer of the breast, skin, prostrate, lymph and colon. Other studies have found that organic foods are much higher in many compounds that in dietary intervention and epidemiological studies have been linked to a reduced risk of chronic diseases, including CVD and neurodegenerative diseases and certain cancers.

A comparison of the nutritional value, sensory qualities, and food safety of organically and conventionally produced foods

A 2014 meta-analysis of 343 peer-reviewed publications found that concentrations of a range of antioxidants such as polyphenolics were between 28% and 85% higher in organic crops and crop-based foods. The study also found that the frequency of pesticide residues was four times higher in conventional crops, and contained significantly higher concentrations of the toxic metal Cd, than organic foods

Other resources

Keen to start your organic journey? Check out the resources below for more information on the organics industry.