Study urges shift to organic agriculture

Organic agriculture could help countries meet the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals, according to a recently-published study.

The independent study, Organic Agriculture and the Sustainable Development Goals, was commissioned by Eosta, a leading European distributor of organic fruit and vegetables. The study was carried out by a student at the Netherlands-based University of Twente and will be shared across the global organic sector.

The study argues that switching to organic agriculture can achieve eight of the 17 goals, including taking urgent action to combat climate action and its impacts, protecting biodiversity, addressing hunger and ensuring clean water for all.

Based upon more than 50 scientific publications, including numerous U.N. and Food and Agriculture Organization studies, the report concludes 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).

Eosta CEO Volkert Engelsman said the global organic sector will be using the report to inform policymakers, retailers and the public about the need to shift towards organic agriculture.

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.

Photo: Eosta