Organic. Regenerative. Biodynamic…Confused? 

It’s been hard not to notice the increase in buzz words emerging in conversations about how our food is grown in recent years.

Even for the conscious foodies amongst us, it can be difficult to cut through the noise and get to grips with what it all means.  One such term, 'organic' has been a staple in the dialogue for years, yet its meaning can still be misunderstood.

What does organic really mean when it comes to the food you’re buying, and how does it differ from other farming practices?  We asked our Head of Sustainability, Bertel to help us unpack organic farming, its benefits, and why it matters to Rude Health. 

What is organic farming? 

Simply put, the practice of organic farming means farming with nature. Organic farmers cannot rely on chemical inputs to get rid of pests so they adopt creative and time-honoured strategies to minimise them. For example, they:

1. Rotate their crops to prevent the build-up of pest population 

2. Plant companion crops that have complimentary characteristics 

3. Introduce natural predators, like ladybirds, to control insects

4. Use natural approved sprays like organic neem oil.   

Organic farmers also cannot rely on fossil fuel derived fertilisers, so they use natural fertilisers like compost.  

So what does that mean for organic food? 

Organic food is the product of this farming system which avoids the use of man-made fertilisers, pesticides, growth regulators & livestock feed additives.  Irradiation &  the use of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) or products produced from/by GMOs are generally prohibited by organic legislation. 

The result is that organic farms have been proven to have 30% more biodiversity, on average. And organic farms have healthier soil that stores more carbon.

Why is organic often more expensive? 

Even though organic farmers don’t buy inputs like chemical fertilisers, pesticides & herbicides, their yields can be lower and the amount of work required is higher, therefore the price will be a bit higher than conventional farming.  

You could argue that chemical inputs like fossil fuel fertilisers should in fact be more expensive, due to their high environmental cost, but that isn’t currently the case.  

Organic vs regenerative, what’s the difference? 

'Regenerative’ farming is a loosely defined term used to describe farming with practices that serve to protect nature. It is still quite a young movement, which means it hasn’t been enshrined in law in the same way that organic has.  

Organic farming, we believe, is the original ‘regenerative’ farming system. An organic farmer must take care of their soil, their biodiversity & minimise inputs used to produce the best ingredients.  

While we think the regenerative farming movement is a positive step in the right direction, we believe that the organic system offers a more comprehensive guarantee of quality and sustainability for Rude Health.   

Why is it important to Rude Health? 

To make the best quality products you need to find the best quality ingredients that are grown sustainably, with nature, for taste. Organic farming delivers on all of those with a robust farm to bowl certification system that is trust-worthy. The organic system has shown that you don’t need to spray crops with chemical pesticides or artificial fertiliser.  You can work with nature, not against it. It’s this commitment to biodiversity, sustainability & quality that we most appreciate.