Organic agriculture is founded on the principles of health, ecology, fairness and care. Health of soil, plants, animals, humans and the planet as a whole is one and indivisible. Ecology circles around the scientific understanding of nutrient cycles and the active utilization of natural systems to enhance organic life to our advantage. Fairness respects the equitable relationships by sharing the environment and opportunities for life. Care stands for the responsibility to manage the dynamic environment not just today, but also for future generations.
Organic food is free from harmful chemicals, particularly pesticides and herbicides, but also grown without synthetic fertilizers. It does not contain any genetically modified organisms (GMO).
Organic agriculture uses and enhances natural processes, starting with live soil, plants growing in live soil and animal feeding on plants grown on and in live soil. Organic agriculture systems embrace diversity as there are no mono-cultures in nature.
Organic foods are generally more nutrient-dense than foods grown or raised within chemical agriculture systems, as organic systems let the invisible life in soil do the work to supply the host-plant with all the necessary nutrients and minerals in exchange for plant exudates, in the form of sugars derived from photosynthesis.
How do you know that the food you buy is indeed organic? The entire value chain from farm (Organic Farmers) to retail shelf, allow external certification, by a third party, against clearly defined organic standards. This regular, in-depth certification is not only standardized, but also transparent and verifiable.
As customer you can ensure that your organic food is indeed organic by looking for the mark of the certifier. Organic as a mark is so valuable that self-claims occur frequently, for the sole reason of economic advantage. Protect yourself and your certified organic producer by only purchasing food products carrying a verified organic certification label.
Customers often lament that organic food is more expensive. While a healthy organic farm may actually spend less on inputs from outside, fair wages for workers and the cost of certification can add considerable expense. But as a consumer do know that a healthy lifestyle is worth not just quality of life, but can also save expensive visits to the doctor. You and your family are worth it, and our Namibian organic farmers do not take this responsibility lightly.
Always look out for the Namibian Organic Association's logo on local products that claim to be organic!
