PROTECTING OUR HEALTH AND PLANET
The conventional thinking tells that the basic factors of organic are the proper fertility of soil, the respect for plants, animals and landscape, the drastic reduction of external inputs through the exclusion of fertilizers, pesticides and synthetic chemical drugs, as well as the reduction in CO2 emissions.
However, producers have to comply with other more specific principles to obtain
products totally reflecting the philosophy of organic world:
- The principle of well-being – The well-being of individuals and communities cannot be separated from the well-being of ecosystems: a healthy soil produces healthy foods, which favour peoples’ and animals’ well-being. Organic farm aims to produce high-quality nourishing foods, capable to contribute to the prevention of disease and to the strengthening of health. As a consequence, it has to avoid the use of fertilizers, plant protection products, vet drugs and food additives which could have harmful effects on health.
- The principle of ecology – The production has to be based on ecological and recycling processes; an ecological balance has to be fulfilled through the conception of farming systems, settlement of habitats and maintenance of genetic and agricultural diversity. Those who process,
trade and consume organic products have to protect and act for the benefit of common environment, including landscape, climate, habitat, biodiversity, air and water. - The principle of equity – Who works with organic farm has to start and maintain human relations so as to ensure social justice at all levels and to all the involved people: farmers, workers, processors, distributors, retailers and consumers. Natural and environmental resources used to produce and consume have to be managed in a socially and ecologically fair way, considering the respect for future generations. Equity requires the production, distribution and market systems to be transparent, fair and to take into account the real environmental and social costs.
- The principle of precaution – Organic farm is managed in a cautious and responsible way, to protect the health and well-being of present and future generations, as well as the environment.
Organic farm prevents the highest risks of conventional agriculture through the adoption of appropriate technologies and the refusal for unpredictable technologies, as genetic engineering (GMO). The institutional stakeholders’ decisions have to reflect the values and needs of those who could be involved, through transparent and participatory processes.
CONSUMER GUARANTEES
To protect consumers, rules regulating the production and trading of organic products, guaranteeing the respect of the above-mentioned principles and the traceability of raw materials, are available. These are significant EU regulations also on labelling – EU Regulation no. 248/2018: only the products respecting all the conditions are worthy to receive the European logo – the green flag in which the stars representing EU Countries are arranged to create a leaf-shaped
composition. S’Atra Sardigna works exclusively in organic, and can do it, as well as all the organic certified producers, because it is subject to a control system by specific independent Organisms, accredited by the Ministry of Agriculture. The control is made either during production or on the final products with inspector technicians and certification committees with no relationship with the controlled producer.
The Cooperative S’Atra Sardigna and all the collaborating farms are certified according to EU Regulation no. 848/08. This ensures to buy foods produced with methods respecting the surrounding environment.