Stephanie Moe, Food and Beverages, Bord Bia – Irish Food Board

This week has seen considerable media coverage concerning very positive research findings for the organic farming sector. An extensive meta-analysis study coordinated by Newcastle University in the UK and published by the British Journal of Nutrition has found that organic meat and milk contain considerably higher levels of beneficial omega-3 fatty acids than their non-organic equivalents.

The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has identified that Western diets are deficient in this beneficial lipid, known to reduce cardiovascular disease, improve neurological development and contribute to better immune function. Chris Seal, Professor of Food and Human Nutrition at Newcastle University points out that the EFSA recommendation is for us to double our intake of Omega 3. With both organic meat and milk shown by this research to contain 50% more Omega 3 than non-organic meat and milk, Professor Seal points out that the “study suggests that switching to organic would go some way towards improving intakes of these important nutrients’’

Professor Carlo Leifert, who led the study, indicated that the difference could be attributed to the largely grass-based diet of organic cattle. Coupled with research conducted by the same team in 2014 (which found significantly higher levels of antioxidants in organic fruit and vegetables), this report contributes to increasing evidence of the benefits of eating food produced organically.

Although other academics challenge the research, urging caution on the importance attributed to the results, the organic sector in the UK has embraced the findings. CEO of the Soil Association, Helen Browning, stated that “the research confirms what many people have always thought was true –what you feed animals and how you treat them affects the quality of the food –whether it’s milk, cheese or a cut of meat.”

Organic food has been showing steady growth in the UK despite an overall grocery market decline in 2015. Bord Bia will host a Debrief on the UK Organic market in Bord Bia Dublin on Thursday 3rd March. Attendance is free of charge.

For more information and to register your attendance please click here.

In addition, Bord Bia is coordinating an organic market study visit to London in April 2016.

To express your interest, please contact Stephanie.moe@bordbia.ie