The term "organic" has become a benchmark for many of us. It's a way of understanding the value or context in which food has been produced.
With the question "Is it organic?", we often seek reassurance, a global vision, or to establish a certain trust in a product.
The truth is that "organic" is a very broad term.
Embarrassingly, I must admit that for a long time, I had the wrong definition of organic, and it was with this definition that I engaged in many discussions. It was only when I delved into the exact concept that I realized most people, including myself, didn't truly know what "organic" implies or excludes.
In an agricultural and food context, "organic" refers to methods or products without synthetic chemicals such as pesticides or artificial fertilizers.
That's good, but this definition is unfortunately incomplete. Organic farming focuses solely and strictly on cultivation and livestock without synthetic chemicals. However, a major flaw, and the cause of the imminent decline of our global agricultural system, is its one-dimensional model, whereas the basic concept is a complex and interdependent ecosystem.
When we talk about our coffee, people often ask us: "Is it organic?" The answer is: it's not organic. It comes from permaculture. Why? Because permaculture goes beyond organic, and also because organic food is not sustainable.
According to Stanford University, sustainability is "...the ability to meet the needs of the current world population without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. When a process is sustainable, it can be carried out again and again without negative environmental effects or impossible costs for anyone involved."
Organic farming, although well-intentioned, is less efficient than regular farming in practice. While non-synthetic products are used, since it's a monoculture and plants are vulnerable, organic pesticides must be used more often and in greater quantities. More land (hence more deforestation), more water, more machinery (greenhouse gases) must be used for crops that produce less and more slowly, and that cost up to twice the price for all involved. This is therefore the opposite definition of sustainable production.
Agriculture itself, organic or not, is a model that has been shaped by mass production, and while necessary, we have strayed from the fundamentals that allow for the balance, self-sufficiency, and sustainability of ecosystems. Instead, we have tried to replicate everything artificially and have sacrificed quality for quantity and efficiency for production.
Permaculture is a design method aimed at creating sustainable agricultural, residential, and social systems by imitating natural ecosystems. It is based on three main ethical principles: care for the earth, care for people, and fair share of resources. Its ideology is as follows:
- Holistic design approach: Encompasses not only agriculture but also land use planning, human habitat, and resource management.
- Integrated systems: Designs systems where each element (plants, animals, humans) interacts beneficially.
- Ethics and principles: Draws inspiration from natural ecosystems to create sustainable environments.
Permaculture encompasses a broader approach to designing sustainable systems, while organic farming is a specific method of food production that adheres to certain standards. Organic practices can be integrated into a permaculture system, but permaculture goes beyond simple agricultural production.
