‘Is organic really healthy?’ I regularly get asked this question by people who are skeptical or unsure of the benefits of organic. Sometimes this is followed by an extreme example – such as the fact that eating excessive amounts of organic potato chips is not healthy at all.
When looking at it purely from a narrow health perspective, it is hard to judge whether organic is really healthy or even healthier than conventional food. However, there is much more to say about health in relation to organic.
Health is one of the four principles of organic agriculture that we have defined at IFOAM Organics International, along with Ecology, Fairness and Care. The principle of Health and states that:’ Organic Agriculture should sustain and enhance the health of soil, plant, animal and planet as one and indivisible.’
This principle points out that the health of individuals and communities cannot be separated from the health of ecosystems – healthy soils produce healthy crops that foster the health of animals and people. The role of Organic Agriculture, whether in farming, processing, distribution, or consumption, is to sustain and enhance the health of ecosystems and organisms from the smallest in the soil to human beings.
Thinking about ‘positive health’
In Organic Agriculture we are used to looking at agro-eco systems with a holistic perspective. Farmers design their production systems in ways that emulate and enforce natural systems. For instance, pests could be considered as an expression of imbalance in production. Therefore, pest control measures are taken to restore the balance.
When it comes to human health though, we often think solely in the context of an ‘absence of illness. However, the relatively new concept of ‘positive health’ relates to the organic ‘systems thinking’ and describes health as a dynamic phenomenon with several dimensions.
‘Positive health’ goes beyond purely physical functions and daily functioning to also include aspects like participation, quality of life, mental well-being and meaning.
Organic agriculture has a lot to offer in the context of positive health. First of all, organic food contains less pesticide residues. This has been scientifically researched and shown many times.
Furthermore, consumers with an organic lifestyle take seasonality and proximity into consideration. Not only does this contribute to healthy environment, it also encourages greater creativity and diversity in cooking, which again contributes directly to one’s health. Many organic consumers are also conscious about meat consumption and animal welfare.
The ability to ‘make a change’ and a sense of meaning
Thinking about the other aspects of positive health, like participation, quality of life and meaning, organic has a lot to offer. For instance, in community supported agriculture or participatory guarantee systems, group of consumers and producers come together to decide what they want their local food system to look like. This means that people are empowered to make the choices that can positively contribute to their – and their society’s – health.
Crucially, consumers, in their role as citizens, can also contribute to a greener agricultural political direction through the very act of their purchases. Every cent that we spend shapes the world around us. This means that people can make a positive contribution – even if they are buying organic potato chips!
We can also increase our sense of meaning when we relate the effects and impacts of organic agriculture to the sustainable development goals. It is not difficult to see how organic contributes to reducing poverty, as farmers have to buy fewer inputs and can earn higher prices for their products. Organic also contributes to clean, to preservation of life on land and can be part of climate action. These are all public goods that are at the centre of the health of our shared planet!
A credible and realistic approach to organic and health
Promoting health as an element of organic also implies that we should be honest and clear in our communication about what organic can do and cannot do. This means no false promises.
Sometimes consumers get the idea that organic is a ‘green wonderland’, which sets them up for frustration as they expect organic to heal all injustices in the world. Likewise, when people are ill we should not claim that if you just eat organic you will be all right.
At IFOAM – Organics International, we promote a realistic perspective on the positive relationship between organic and healthy by showing the deeper connections between our production systems and the maintenance of our overall physical, mental, social and ecological well-being.
We are what we eat. And we also are how we eat. And we also are how we eat. The transformation to a different food culture, an increased appreciation of food and of those who worked to get that food onto our table and a sense of modesty regarding what we really need to be happy will help create a context in which we can live healthily.
We hope that you enjoy your organic meal!
This article was originally published by IFOAM Organics International.