Did you know that the food you put on your plate affects your wellbeing?
Also, the quality of food we choose is not insignificant. The issue of environmental degradation is attracting increasing attention. The solution may be the organic cultivation of food, including cereals, which are the basis of a well-balanced diet. Organic cultivation is becoming more and more popular among European producers.
Organic production involves using natural means and methods to make farms self-sufficient and environmentally neutral. It prevents biological, physical, and chemical contamination by pesticides and nitrogen compounds. 1
Suffice it to say that conventional food processing involves the use of around500 food additives, whereas organic food processing involves only 20, all of which may be found in nature.
The basic principle of organic cultivationof cereals is skilful humus management with the use of slurry and manure ,ploughed green manure, and rotation. The latter involves the use of intercrops, Fabaceae plants, and multiannual feed crops.3 This solution maintains proper humus and soil fertility, covers the soil with vegetation, prevents the development of pests and diseases and suppresses weed growth.
It is also crucial to choose appropriate species and varieties that do not require great soil conditions but are characterised by high nutrient uptake capacity, as well as high resistance to diseases, pests, and weeds.4 All of these contribute to preventive natural crop protection.
A popular cereal product is breakfast cereal. Organic cereal are rich in valuable nutrients such as carbohydrates, protein, fats, vitamins, fibre, and mineral salts.
They are not processed, which means that you can enjoy the full nutritional value! Organic breakfast cereal lack unnecessary emulsifiers, artificial fragrances, preservatives, colouring agents, high content of sugar or glucose-fructose syrup, which, unfortunately, is very often used in conventional food production.5
To sum up, cultivation methods are closely linked with the quality of the final product that ends up on our tables. It is also a sign of solidarity with our planet that we need to take care of, for the sake of future generations. Choose what is good for you and nature - go for the European Union’s organic cereals!
Sources:
1. Poradnik rolnictwa ekologicznego,part III, p. 16; http://polanafruit.pl/polityka/2017/10.%20PR%20-%20Poradniki/9.%20Poradnik%20rolnictwa%20ekologicznego.pdf
2. Idem, p.23
3. Gajewska and Krzysztoforski. Nawozy wrolnictwie ekologicznym. 2019. Radom: Agriculture Advisory Center inBrwinów. Radom Branch. page 3; https://www.cdr.gov.pl/images/Radom/2019/24-12/nawozy.pdf
4. Babalski, Mieczysław. Ogólna uprawazbóż w gospodarstwie ekologicznym. 2012. Page 4 http://lgdpojezierzebrodnickie.pl/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/Książka-ogólna-uprawa-zbóż.pdf
5. https://www.portalspozywczy.pl/zboza/wiadomosci/w-ekologicznej-uprawie-wracaja-dawne-gatunki-zboz,145804.html
