Organic food - Consumer trend of the modern world

Organic food has emerged as a safe food solution for households since the 1990s. But what exactly are organic foods and are they truly safe? Let's explore this in this article.

What is organic food?

Organic food refers to food produced through organic farming practices. The main premise is to minimize environmental and human harm, and this agricultural system avoids or minimizes the use of synthetic substances such as fertilizers, pesticides, herbicides, and growth hormones.

Particularly, natural methods are highly emphasized in the production process, such as:

• Substituting chemical fertilizers with organic waste

• Using natural predators to control harmful insects

• Utilizing green manure to regenerate soil instead of tilling

• Employing natural methods to preserve harvested food

• Minimizing chemical intervention as much as possible

The benefits of organic food

Organic food has a positive impact on:

1. Human health

The saying "You are what you eat" holds true. When we consume naturally grown and organically produced food, our bodies naturally regenerate clean and healthy energy.

Studies have shown that organically cultivated food often has higher levels of vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants compared to conventional food. By absorbing these abundant sources of energy, our health can significantly improve.

Organic products also contain little to no harmful synthetic additives. Exposure to such chemicals in industrial food can lead to adverse health effects.

2. Environment

Organic farming and production methods also have a positive impact on the environment, contributing to natural balance and sustainable development of all species.

For example, by avoiding the use of pesticides, you create opportunities for other species to thrive, thus enhancing biodiversity in agriculture.

When there is a diverse range of species coexisting, each plays its role in a continuous regenerative chain: earthworms aerate the soil, leguminous plants provide surface cover, beetles symbiotically interact with plant roots, providing abundant nitrogen and nutrients to the soil, bees & butterflies pollinate plants, birds prey on leaf-eating insects.

All these elements come together to create a harmonious natural world, where human intervention ensures an undisturbed chain of connections. The rest can be entrusted to the miraculous hands of nature's nurturing and construction.

Water pollution, air pollution, and soil degradation can gradually be pushed back when we truly understand, appreciate, and align ourselves with the values of nature. This awareness is applicable to both farmers producing food and consumers consuming it.

Read more:  Facing the challenge of food pollution: Secrets to a healthy lifestyle

3. Economy

If environmental benefits are established, economic benefits for farmers will also follow.

When the natural cycle is operated and maintained continuously, farmers will have to put in very little effort while still achieving high yields. This does not mean being lazy and expecting food without working for it. Rather, when we let nature operate, we can reduce a lot of tasks and allow farming to be "leisurely" and self-sustaining.

For example, when sowing legume seeds to create a cover for the soil, this cover layer thickens every year, becoming green manure that nourishes the soil. Over the years, the fertility and richness of the soil will be significantly improved.

At this point, thousands of seeds have the opportunity to germinate, take root, and seek abundant nutrients in the soil without relying on chemical fertilizers or growth stimulants anymore.

Farmers can reduce the expenses of buying fertilizers and chemicals, and they don't have to spend labor on plowing the soil every year. This reduces both financial costs and labor-intensive work.

Types of organic crops

Organic crops include:

• Leafy vegetables: lettuce, cabbage, spinach, water spinach...

• Root vegetables and fruits: cucumber, banana, apple, plum, watermelon...

• Seeds and grains: oats, wheat, soybeans...

• Organic products: animal fat, poultry meat, milk, flour, pastries, beverages, spices...

In general, almost all types of food can be organic. The difference lies in the production method, whether it is organic or not. To be certified organic, food must meet the strict standards set by the government and international organic trade organizations.

For example, organic food must not contain artificial additives. It is usually produced under natural conditions, with minimal artificial interventions. Methods such as food irradiation, genetic modification, and the use of nano-technology are not recommended.

Read more: Have you ever heard of genetically modified food?

Differentiating organic food from other types of food

There are two other types of food besides organic food:

1. Industrial food

Organic food and industrial food are completely opposite concepts. Industrial food is usually produced using technological processes, using chemical fertilizers, pesticides, growth hormones, and preservatives to increase productivity and prolong the freshness of food.

For example, wax is used to polish fruits to make them look more attractive, or food is soaked in solutions that are widely used to keep the food fresh and odorless.

Currently, in the Vietnamese consumer market, there are many industrial products mixed with organic products. In supermarkets and grocery stores, organic food is labeled and clearly indicates its origin. You can choose labeled products to ensure clean and green eating.

For food sold at local markets, there are still no specific labels for each type of food. However, there are many households and small businesses that naturally cultivate and bring their produce to the market. In summary, "knowing the farmer means knowing the food." Choose reputable sellers when you frequently go to the market.

2. Natural food

Natural food is a step higher than organic food in completely eliminating chemical products.

For organically grown food, a small amount of bio-protective products is still allowed (under strict monitoring by government agencies). However, for natural food, there is a complete absence of bio-products in the farming process.

In the books "The One-Straw Revolution" and "Sowing Seeds in the Desert" Fukuoka Masanobu, a Japanese farmer and philosopher, shared about natural and sustainable farming practices. 

He also specifically discussed the economic aspects and the problems we can solve to address global food security and green the desert. He talked about the changes that both farmers and consumers can make to transform their perception of food and to understand and communicate with Mother Nature.

If you want to learn more about natural farming, the two mentioned books can be helpful.

Conclusion