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Sustainability
Shift to Organic Agriculture Vital for Sustainable Food Systems, Finds Study
If we are to maintain sustainable food systems for future generations and tackle the many challenges facing our planet, including the climate crisis, governments would be wise to embrace organic farming practices. This will be one of the principal findings of new, independent study by students at the Netherlands-based University of Twente, which will find that adopting organic agriculture is crucial to meeting the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SGDs).
The report, Organic Agriculture and the Sustainable Development Goals, which will be launched on 25 September to mark the official anniversary of the UN SDGs, will conclude that switching to organic agriculture can achieve eight of the 17 SDGs. These include several of the most important goals, including taking urgent action to combat climate change, protecting biodiversity, addressing hunger and ensuring clean water for all.
Read the report-Organic Agriculture and the Sustainable Development Goals
The study, which was commissioned by Dutch organic specialist Eosta and will be shared across the global organic sector, looked at how organic agriculture can contribute towards meeting the UN SDGs. Based on meta-analysis, the research will conclude that a move towards organic must play a central role if the UN objectives are to be met and we have any chance of tackling the many grave challenges facing the planet.
The report comes exactly four years after 150 world leaders adopted a global transformative agenda for sustainable development, committing to work together to achieve 17 core goals by 2030 to benefit the generations of today and tomorrow. The SDGs build on the Millennium Development Goals and are closely interconnected, meaning success in one can directly affect the success of others.
Practical solutions
Eosta CEO Volkert Engelsman said the global organic sector will be using the report to inform policy makers, retailers and the public about the need to shift towards organic agriculture. However, when it comes to achieving the SDG’s, he believes we are not moving fast enough. Engelsman: “Right now we are in the middle of a huge climate, health and biodiversity crises and it is important we focus on realistic practical solutions. We have always been convinced about the positive contribution of organic agriculture and wanted the independent research to look at the issue. Although not surprised, we are delighted with the conclusion that organic has so much of a positive impact. He continued: “Together with other organic organisations in Europe, Asia and North America, we will be using the report to further promote and develop sustainable organic agriculture all around the globe.”
Based upon more than 50 scientific publications, including numerous FAO and U.N. studies, the report will conclude that organic agriculture can play an important role in achieving no less than eight of the UN 17 SDGs. These include: Zero Hunger (SDG 2), Good Health and Wellbeing (SDG 3), Clean Water and Sanitation (SDG 6), Decent Work and Economic Growth (SDG 8), Responsible Consumption and Production (SDG 12), Climate Action (SDG 13), Life Below Water (SDG 14) and Life on Land (SDG 15).
Zenxin Organic Food’s executive director TAI SENG YEE said: “We are glad to be part of this movement and definitely part of the solution to create the sustainable future for our next generations. We understand that the conventional methods in developing agriculture is not sustainable and SDGs are the guidelines to realign what we have been doing. SDGs only produce positive impact to the world, the same as the principles of organic.” Sengyee: ”If all the farmers are conscious about SDGs, we are sure that the world will be a much better place. Zenxin is committed to get all its organic farms, organic grower group and its’ operations to follow the SDGs.”
Together with a broad coalition of organic associations including IFOAM, Organic Sweden, Pro Luomu (Finland), Soil Association (UK), Organic Denmark, Bio Austria, Bioforum Vlaanderen and Wallonie, Irish Organic Board, Bionext (The Netherlands), Assobio (Italy), Ecovia (Spain) Oikos (Norway) and numerous organisations in the US, Canada, Japan and Malaysia, Eosta will not only be promoting the results but also making them available for everyone that wants to help share the positive proactive sustainable story of organic agriculture.
About Eosta
Eosta – with Nature & More as a consumer brand – was established in 1990 and over the past 29 years has developed into a leading European distributor of organic fruit and vegetables. The company is known for its sustainability campaigns such as The True Cost of Food, Natural Branding, Dr. Goodfood, and Save Our Soils. In 2018, the company won the King Willem I Plaquette for Sustainable Entrepreneurship and the European Business Award for the Environment. See www.eosta.com and www.natureandmore.com.
About ZENXIN ORGANIC FOOD
Established in 2001, Zenxin Organic Food has been the leading grower, distributor and retailer of organic fresh produce in Malaysia and Singapore. Zenxin is popular for its down-to-earth reputation, growing more than 60 types of organic fruits and vegetables, supplying more than 400 organic dried products in all the major supermarkets in Malaysia and Singapore. With strong credibility and large satisfied customer base, Zenxin won the Frost and Sullivan Customer Value Leadership award in 2018.
International Contact
Eosta / Nature & More – Michaël Wilde
T: +31 (0)180 63 55 63
M: +31 (0)6 205 35 063
E: [email protected]
Local Contact
Zenxin Organic Food
T: +60 (7) 7728199, +60 (7) 7736899
E: [email protected], [email protected]
