Organic food and nutrition content

Several studies have compared the nutritional content of organic and conventionally grown plants, and most have shown no significant differences in key vitamin and mineral content. Although the differences are small – research has shown that some organic food has:

Lower nitrate levels

Higher vitamin C levels

Higher levels of some minerals (such as phosphorous, magnesium and iron).

Organic food and ethics

Organic foods promote more humane treatment of animals, as well as providing meat that is free from hormones and antibiotics.

Also, some people worry about the long-term health, economic and environmental consequences of GM foods and choose organic foods in support of an industry that does not use GM techniques.

Organic food is better for the environment

Organic foods promote healthier and more sustainable use of natural resources. Modern conventional farming methods include excessive use of chemicals and planting only one crop multiple times (monocropping). This has led to a decline in soil fertility, and an increase in salinity and blue-green algae in waterways over many years.

Organic farmers try to minimise damage to the environment by diversifying their crops, using physical weed control, and animal and green manure.

Organic food outlets

You can buy organic food from:

Some supermarkets

Some green grocers

Health food shops

Some fresh food and farmer’s markets

Certified organic retailers.

Organic food is often more expensive than conventionally produced food. This is because organic farming generally operates on a smaller scale, production is more labour intensive. Also, without herbicides, pesticides and other chemicals, yields are generally smaller.