Conventional (non-organic) farming systems are heavily reliant on toxic pesticides and synthetic fertilizers, causing serious harm to people and ecosystems.
These chemicals were first developed as biological weapons during WWII. After the war they were reformulated and sold to farmers to kill pests and artificially enrich soil, improving short-term crop yields.
Over the long run this system has backfired disastrously, creating a vicious cycle that requires ever more chemicals to create the same amount of food. In the United States alone, approximately 1 billion pounds of pesticides are used every year.1 These chemicals poison pollinators, persist in the environment, and bioaccumulate in our bodies.
The toxic pesticides used in conventional systems are linked to the disruption of metabolic functioning and elevated cancer risk, as well as reproductive, immune, and nervous system harm.2 Farmworkers exposed to heavy doses on the job face acute risk.
Synthetic fertilizers are made from fossil fuels and create many environmental harms. Rainfall and irrigation on fields laden with pesticides and synthetic fertilizers creates runoff into local waterways, poisoning the plants and animals who live there and polluting our drinking water.3 Conventional farming also destroys the health of our living soil which leads to diminished food quality and biodiversity loss.4
Unfortunately, in today's profit-driven marketplace, food grown in this way is often marketed as sustainable and “all natural” to confuse and entice busy shoppers. However, unlike many food products advertising dubious health or environmental claims, USDA Organic food is legally required to be free from the most harmful conventional inputs. Alongside toxic pesticides and synthetic fertilizers, USDA Organic prohibits the use of sewage sludge, GMOs, and ionizing radiation. Comparatively, “Non-GMO” alone allows all conventional inputs except GMOs.
By growing our food without toxic inputs, we can reduce many of the social and environmental harms associated with conventional food systems. By purchasing organic plant foods, we are voting for practices that are better for people and ecosystems everywhere. While this is not always possible or practical, it is essential that we do what we can. As demand for organic increases, more farms are enabled to make the switch to organic production methods, healing our soil and increasing access to safe and healthy food for all.
That being said, USDA Organic isn’t perfect and still allows for many questionable ingredients including “natural” flavors. As we learned firsthand during our prior business venture, natural flavors are typically made in a laboratory from concentrated chemical isolates and synthetic solvents like propylene glycol. USDA Organic also lacks enforceable standards for animal welfare, harming countless animals trapped in factory farming systems.
Thus, Superbrain Organics uses USDA Organic as a minimum starting point while embracing a spirit of continuous improvement. Our first product, Blue Oatmilk, goes beyond USDA Organic by using whole plant ingredients while reducing food and packaging waste.
We are also inspired by a new standard called Regenerative Organic Certified5 that builds off of USDA Organic and includes additional requirements in service of soil health, animal welfare, and farmworker fairness. Read David Bronner’s excellent blog post6 on regenerative agriculture to learn more.
“You cannot get through a single day without having an impact on the world around you, what you do makes a difference, and you have to decide what kind of difference you want to make.” Jane Goodall
By choosing organic plant foods you are helping create a healthier, more compassionate world, one day at a time.
Love always,
David & Kassidy
1) Georgetown University LINK
2) Institute for Functional Medicine LINK
3) Environmental Protection Agency LINK
4) UN Environment Programme LINK
5) Regenerative Organic Alliance LINK
6) Regenerative Agriculture: The Good, the Bad and the Ugly LINK
