Biocity Erlangen

1. promote organic farming, processing and demand for organic food with short transportation routes and regional added value.

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

2. give priority to organic food at public institutions, events and markets and continuously increase the proportion of organic food.

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

3. focus on healthy organic food, especially when providing food for children and young people, and continuously increase the proportion of organic food in daycare centers and schools.

You can find out more about sustainable eating in nurseries and schools at: www.biokannjeder.de

4. get private consumers as well as canteens and cafeterias, catering companies and restaurants interested in organic food through a variety of measures such as information, advice and educational work.

Schools can take part in the nationwide "Echt kuh-l!" competition, for example: www.echtkuh-l.de

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

6. take a holistic view of organic as part of sustainability and consider aspects such as regionality & fair trade, climate & environmental protection, animal welfare & veggi/vegan and food waste & zero waste. In addition to food, include other product areas such as natural cosmetics, organic drugstore goods and organic textiles and much more.

You can find a small product and shopping guide here: www.oekolandbau.de/bio-im-alltag

By law, only foods that at least comply with EU legislation on organic farming may be labeled as "organic". To do so, companies must be certified by an organic inspection body. The companies are inspected at least once a year after prior notification, and there are also unannounced spot checks. Imported products may only be marketed as organic if they meet the European standard.

So if it says organic, it really is organic!

EU organic logo

The labeling of pre-packaged organic food with the EU organic logo (+ inspection body code + indication of origin of the ingredients) is mandatory.

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

Organic seal

The German organic seal can be used in addition to the EU organic logo for the labeling of organic food.

This seal is optional and not a must for organic products!

More about the state organic seal and organic labeling: www.bio-siegel.de

Organic farming associations

Organic farms can also join one of nine German farming associations: Biokreis, Bioland, Biopark, Demeter, Ecoland, Ecovin, Gäa, Naturland and Verbund Ökohöfe. The guidelines of these associations go beyond the EU regulations in some respects; they are often much stricter, especially 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 supreme discipline in organic!

Bavarian organic seal

The green state organic seal is higher than the legal standards of the EU Organic Regulation and stands for a three-stage control system. The blue seal with indication of origin (Bavarian lettering + Bavarian state color in the inner oval) also provides complete proof of origin.

The Bavarian seal combines organic and regional!

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

Organic farming is a holistic concept of land management. Plant cultivation and animal husbandry are closely linked in organic farming: The nutrients contained in the fertilizer, soil and feed are in as closed a cycle as possible. Because the number of animals and forage area must be precisely coordinated, this is referred to as area-based animal husbandry. Through the circular economy, organic farming protects the soil, water and climate. The production of organic products is therefore particularly environmentally friendly and conserves resources sustainably. Organic food, for example, contains 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 on conventional farms. Some organic farms breed old plant varieties or keep livestock breeds that are threatened with extinction.

Only a very limited number of additives are permitted in food processing according to EU organic regulations. In addition, flavor enhancers, colorants and nature-identical or artificial flavorings are not used. Genetic engineering is completely prohibited. Instead of industrial processing, the focus is more often on artisanal production methods, for example when baking bread or making cheese. Organically grown fruit and vegetables have been proven to contain more health-relevant ingredients, and organic milk contains more omega-3 fatty acids.

Crop rotation is the alternating cultivation of different crops that place different demands on the soil. It works like this: regularly cultivated legumes (pulses such as beans, peas, lupins or clover) use their roots, which live in association with soil bacteria (rhizobia or nodule bacteria), to accumulate atmospheric nitrogen in the soil, which the following crops then consume. In addition, diseases and pests have less chance of spreading during crop rotation.

Synthetic chemical pesticides against pests and weeds and industrially produced nitrogen fertilizers, the production of which generates CO2, may not be used in organic farming. Instead, in addition to animal manure (slurry, liquid manure, dung), organic farming also uses plant-based fertilizers (compost) to maintain soil fertility and active soil life, promote good plant growth organically and further enrich the soil with humus. Humus management with soil loosening and green manuring is also practiced for soil health. Organic soils can store more CO2 due to their higher humus content!

Strengthening the plant's own defenses to prevent disease is a key aspect of organic plant protection. Knowledge about favorable plant neighborhoods, correct sowing times as well as site and variety selection helps here. However, the active promotion of beneficial insects and timely soil cultivation are also important. Weed control without chemicals is achieved through crop rotation and soil cover with mulch or mechanically.

Every organic animal has the right to space and exercise, daylight and fresh air. In addition, at least half of the stable area must be solid and littered with straw, for example. Slatted floors or gratings as well as cages and tethers are prohibited. The stocking density is regulated and the organic feed must not contain any performance enhancers or genetically modified ingredients. The use of antibiotics is also subject to strict regulations and animal transportation must be kept as short as possible.

The methods used in organic farming are often much more complex than in conventional agriculture. This is one of the reasons for the higher price of organic food, in addition to the often somewhat lower yield. However, the distinct versatility of the farms also plays a role: in order to ensure closed farm cycles and wide crop rotations, they usually have to keep animals as well as grow fodder and crops for sale. Production is more cost-intensive due to larger barn areas and the arable land required, and more labor-intensive due to mechanical weed control and preventative crop protection. At the same time, today's prices on supermarket shelves generally do not include the consequential costs of using nitrogen, greenhouse gases, energy and land use changes, which are usually significantly higher for conventional goods. If you want to be able to afford organic products on a smaller budget, it is worth buying directly from the producers, minimally processed and seasonally adapted!