Erlangen, the Bio City

1. Promote organic farming, processing, and demand for organic foods with short transportation distances and regional value creation.

For more information about organic food and organic farming, visit the organic farming information portal: www.oekolandbau.de

2. Give priority to organic foods in public institutions, events, and markets, and continuously increase the proportion of organic products.

Read more about organic food in public kitchens and cooking with organic products: www.bio-bitte.info

3. Focus on healthy organic foods, particularly when providing meals for children and adolescents, and continuously increase the proportion of organic foods in meals served at daycare centers and schools.

Learn more about sustainable eating in daycare centers and schools at: www.biokannjeder.de

4. Use a variety of measures—such as outreach, counseling, and educational initiatives—to inspire private consumers, as well as cafeterias, dining halls, catering companies, and restaurants, to embrace organic food.

Schools can, for example, participate in the nationwide “Echt kuh-l!” competition: www.echtkuh-l.de

5. Build a network within the organic sector and establish cooperation with organic farmers and organic businesses.

6. View organic as part of a holistic approach to sustainability and consider aspects such as regional sourcing & Fair Trade, climate & environmental protection, animal welfare & vegetarian/vegan options, and food waste & zero waste. In addition to food, include other product areas such as natural cosmetics, organic drugstore items, organic textiles, and much more.

You can find a brief guide to products and shopping here: www.oekolandbau.de/bio-im-alltag

By law, only food products that meet at least the EU regulations on organic farming may be labeled as “organic.” To qualify, companies must be certified by an organic certification body. Farms are inspected at least once a year by appointment, and unannounced spot checks are also conducted. Imported products may only be marketed as organic if they meet the European standard.

So if it says “organic” on the label, it really is organic!

EU Organic Logo

It is mandatory to label prepackaged organic foods with the EU Organic Logo (+ certification body code + country of origin of the ingredients).

If a product is organic, it always bears this logo!

Organic Seal

The German organic seal may be used in addition to the EU organic logo to label organic foods.

This seal is optional and not required for organic products!

Learn more about the government organic seal and organic labeling: www.bio-siegel.de

Organic Farming Associations

Organic farms can also join one of nine German organic farming associations: Biokreis, Bioland, Biopark, Demeter, Ecoland, Ecovin, Gäa, Naturland, and Verbund Ökohöfe. The guidelines of these associations go beyond EU regulations in some respects; in particular, they are often significantly stricter when it comes to animal husbandry. The products are usually labeled with the trademark of the respective association.

Association logos are, so to speak, the gold standard in organic farming!

Bavarian Organic Seal

The green state organic seal exceeds the legal standards of the EU Organic Regulation and represents a three-tiered inspection system. The blue seal with an indication of origin (the word “Bavaria” + the Bavarian state color in the inner oval) also allows for a complete chain of custody.

The Bavarian seal combines organic and regional!

Learn more about the Bavarian organic seal and proof of origin: www.stmelf.bayern.de/ernaehrung/markt/bio-siegel

Organic farming is a holistic approach to land management. Crop production and livestock farming are closely intertwined in organic farming: The nutrients contained in manure, soil, and feed circulate within a cycle that is as closed as possible. Because the number of animals and the amount of forage land must be precisely balanced, this is referred to as land-based livestock farming. Through this circular economy, organic farming protects soils, water bodies, and the climate. The production of organic products is therefore particularly environmentally friendly and conserves resources in a sustainable manner. Organic foods, for example, contain significantly less nitrate and far fewer residues.

The number of species on organically farmed land is, on average, 95% higher for arable flora, up to 35% higher for field birds, and up to 26% higher for insects than in conventional agriculture. Some organic farms grow heirloom plant varieties or raise livestock breeds threatened with extinction.

According to the EU Organic Regulation, only a very limited number of additives are permitted in food processing. Furthermore, flavor enhancers, colorants, and nature-identical or artificial flavorings are not used. Genetic engineering is completely prohibited. Instead of industrial processing, artisanal production methods—such as those used in bread baking or cheese making—are often emphasized. Organically grown fruits and vegetables have been shown to contain more health-promoting nutrients, and organic milk contains more omega-3 fatty acids.

Crop rotation refers to the practice of alternating the cultivation of different crops that have varying soil requirements. Here’s how it works: Legumes (pulses such as beans, peas, lupins, or clover) enrich the soil with atmospheric nitrogen through their roots, which live in symbiosis with soil bacteria (rhizobia or nodule bacteria); this nitrogen is then used by the subsequent crops. In addition, diseases and pests are less likely to spread in a crop rotation system.

Synthetic chemical pesticides against pests and weeds, as well as industrially produced nitrogen fertilizers—whose manufacture emits CO₂—are not permitted in organic farming. Instead, organic farming uses not only animal manure (liquid manure, slurry, dry manure) but also plant-based fertilizers (compost) to maintain soil fertility and active soil life, promote healthy plant growth organically, and further enrich the soil with humus. To promote soil health, humus management is also practiced through soil aeration and green manuring. Organic soils can store more CO₂ due to their higher humus content!

Strengthening plants’ own defenses as a preventive measure against diseases is a central aspect of organic plant protection. Knowledge of beneficial plant combinations, proper planting times, and the selection of suitable locations and varieties is key to this. But actively promoting beneficial organisms and timely soil cultivation are also important. Weed control without chemicals is achieved through crop rotation and soil coverage with mulch, or by mechanical means.

Every organic animal has the right to space and room to move about, as well as daylight and fresh air. In addition, at least half of the housing area must be solid and bedded with straw, for example. Slatted floors or wire grates, as well as cage and tethered housing, are prohibited. Stocking density is regulated, and organic feed must not contain any growth promoters or genetically modified ingredients. The use of antibiotics is also subject to strict regulations, and animal transport must be kept as short as possible.

Organic farming practices are often much more labor-intensive than those used in conventional agriculture. Along with the often slightly lower yields, this is one of the reasons for the higher price of organic foods. But the marked versatility of these farms also plays a role: To ensure closed-loop farming systems and extensive crop rotations, they generally must raise livestock as well as grow feed crops and market crops. Production is more costly due to larger barns and the required arable land, and it is more labor-intensive because of mechanical weed control and preventive plant protection. At the same time, today’s supermarket prices generally do not include the follow-on costs associated with the use of nitrogen, greenhouse gases, energy, and land-use changes—costs that are usually significantly higher for conventional products. For those who want to afford organic products even on a tight budget, it’s worth buying directly from producers whenever possible—choosing minimally processed, seasonally appropriate items!