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How much do you know about the food you are buying?
Do you ever think past your dinner plate and consider food production?
There is a lot we don't know about food production and distribution.
Organic and Biodynamic producers focus on nurturing soil quality and plant health, and devise natural methods to combat predators. By creating simple, logical systems, soil vitality and plant health are enhanced.
Certified Organic growers and processors are given strict guidelines and criteria by third party certifying bodies to ensure their farms and operations are truly ORGANIC.
Certifying bodies conduct regular inspections of certified organic farms and uphold these strict guidelines on prohibited substances.
Research the following substances to find out more about the production of food around the world. Many of these are banned around the world, yet still registered for use in Australia.
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Carbendazim is a fungicide used in Australia to control mildew, mould, rot and other diseases. It is commonly used on Apples as a post-harvest application before long term cold storage.
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Endosulfan is banned in more than 60 countries around the world but is still permitted for use in Australia. More commonly used on vegetables for controlling whitefly, aphids and other insects.
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Atrazine is a herbicide used to control broadleaf weeds. Prohibited for use in the European Union. This compound is widely used elsewhere in the world.
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Chlorpropham is commonly used for preservation after harvest. Mainly used on non-organic potatoes to inhibit sprouting after harvesting.
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Aspartame is an artificial sweetener used as a sugar substitute in many foods and drinks.
These substances are strictly banned in CERTIFIED ORGANIC PRODUCTION.
Check our huge range of Certified Organic products in our Order Online section.
What is BioDynamics?
Founded by philosopher Rudolph Steiner, Bio-Dynamics revolves around a method of agriculture which is focused on soil quality and activating the life of soil and plants.
In 1924, a group of farmers concerned about the future of agriculture requested Steiner's help; Steiner responded with a lecture series on agriculture. This was the origin of biodynamic agriculture.
Steiner conceived "individualizing" the farm by bringing no or few outside materials onto the farm, but producing all needed materials such as manure and animal feed from within what he called the "farm organism". The farm as a whole is seen as an organism, and therefore should be a closed self-nourishing system, which the preparations nourish.
Other aspects of biodynamic farming inspired by Steiner's lectures include timing activities such as planting in relation to the movement patterns of the moon and planets and applying "preparations", which consist of natural materials which have been processed in specific ways, to soil, compost piles, and plants with the intention of engaging non-physical beings and elemental forces.
Check www.demeter.org.au for information and research on Bio-Dynamic Agriculture.
Certifying Bodies
Certified Organic products basically carry a "Guarantee". Inspections are carried out at regular intervals and standards have to be adhered to. Producers and processors have strict criteria for all facets of their operation whether it be a farm, processing plant, warehouse or retail shop.
Australian Certifying Bodies include:
Australian Certified Organic - ACO
National Association for Sustainable Agriculture Australia - NASAA
Demeter BioDynamic Research Institute
Organic Growers Australia - OGA
Tasmanian Organic-Dynamic Producers Inc - TOP
Organic Food Chain
AusQual
GM Foods
Do you know the real story behind Genetically Modified Foods?
Do you know what products have been Genetically Modified?
Products which are commonly GM include soy, corn, wheat, canola.
Many people say the reason we need Genetic Modification is to feed the billions of hungry people populating the earth. They say we need this to keep up up with food production compared to a steady rise in population growth.
Basically GM Foods are controlled by a few huge international corporations, including Monsanto and Bayer, both are multi-national agricultural chemical companies.
These corporations genetically modify seed crops such as soy, corn, canola which have an in-plant tolerance to herbicides such as Round Up ( A Monsanto Brand ) allowing producers to spray the whole crop with Round Up. These crops are used in food products around the world. Is this what we really want on our plates?
These companies also have patents on these crops which is bringing many smaller farmers that neighbour a Monsanto Farm, or a farm using patented seeds from Monsanto, into big legal problems. Even if the wind blows patented seeds from a Monsanto paddock to a separate farm, Monsanto thinks they can sue for damages.
Following is a paragraph from American website www.organicconsumers.org about an American farmer up against Monsanto and their law suits. I do have to point out that Percy Schmeiser is not an organic farmer.
Percy Schmeiser is a farmer from Saskatchewan Canada, whose Canola fields were contaminated with Monsanto's genetically engineered Round-Up Ready Canola by pollen from a nearby farm. Monsanto says it doesn't matter how the contamination took place, and is therefore demanding Schmeiser pay their Technology Fee (the fee farmers must pay to grow Monsanto's genetically engineered products). According to Schmeiser, "I never had anything to do with Monsanto, outside of buying chemicals. I never signed a contract.
This is a recent video about these lawsuits.