Does organic food have any real benefits?

The benefits can be global and local. The cost of oil and raw materials has increased. Governments are aiming to cut greenhouse gas emissions by 80% by 2050. We can only achieve this by reducing our reliance on fossil fuels - and that includes cutting back on agricultural inputs of fossil fuel-based chemical fertilizers. Ultimately, that means we need to derive soil fertility from sunshine and organic matter - the way organic farmers do - and we also need to expand organic food production.

Instead of asking "Can we afford to buy and produce more organic food?" as a global community perhaps we should ask: "Can we afford NOT to?"

Can we trust multi-national companies with safe food production?

Legal, decent and honest organic labeling systems use long-standing and internationally recognized trademarks such as the Soil Association Symbol. This lets consumers know the products they are buying are produced according to strict organic and humane standards. Consult the Organic Consumers Association for updates and advice on how to avoid products that are fraudulently labeled.

What does organic food protect you from?

We cannot escape the negative effects of persistent pesticides in our environment (and it is widely recognized that children and babies are particularly susceptible to these). What we can do is reduce our intake of these potentially harmful substances. Choosing organic means we're taking sensible precautions to minimize our intake of potentially toxic substances and residues.

From a health point of view - buying organic products makes sense in other ways too. Generally speaking organic foods are not processed as extensively as non-organic options. Doctors tell us excessive amounts of additives like mono-sodiumglutamate, salt and sugar are best avoided. Other food additives and colorings have been suspected of triggering sensitivities and allergic reactions. Consumers may also have concerns about hygiene, health, safety and ethical employment practices. Many shoppers feel they really need to know where their food is coming from. The best organic standards and practices should tell you the story of your food and how it was produced.

So what are the organic food items I should splurge on? Top three shopping cart items:

Organic produce, rice and cereals

Health experts agree we'd all be better off eating more of these - so buy organically- and ethically-sourced produce, rice and cereals. Try bulk purchasing with friends or community groups to make shopping easier, reducing costs and carbon emissions.

Organic meat, fish or luxury cheeses.

Focusing on organic whole foods, fruit and vegetables as major factors in your diet frees you up to splurge on good quality meat, fish or luxury cheeses from sustainable sources. If and when you do buy meat, choose organic or free range. The excellent quality and taste of organic products generally means a little goes a long way.

Seeds

Organic seeds should definitely be on your shopping list. Non-organic salads in bags are not just pricey - they're full of pesticide residues. So grow your own instead.

You can save a small fortune by growing salad crops such as rocket and loose-leaf cut-and-come-again lettuce. Even a tiny area such as a courtyard or window box will do to start. A larger space gives you more options, such as raspberries and small fruit trees. These take a few years to get going, but once fully productive they'll provide you with original organic "fast food" for years to come.

Perspectives

Despite a world-wide recession, the organic food market remains a global "cash cow." Even mass marketeers such as Wal-mart and Kellogg have recognized there are fat profits to be harvested by "milking" this healthy lifestyle trend.

Whilst some shoppers are changing their habits - according to the Soil Association: "Thirty -six percent of committed organic consumers said they expected to spend more on organic food in 2009, and only 15% expected to spend less. Animal welfare issues attracted a high public profile in 2008 and sales of organic milk, cheese, and some meat and poultry grew by 10.6%, 11.5%,13.3% and 17.7% respectively, demonstrating that where the benefits of organic production are understood - commitment remains firm among ethical consumers."

Learn more about this author, Frances Laing.
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