LABEL? On the Part 1

ese certi cations are known as ‘ecolabels’ and are a form of sustainability measurement displayed on a product to allow consumers to take ethical or environmental concerns into account when shopping. You have likely also seen Fairtrade and Rainforest Alliance stamps on imported goods, but what do they actually mean? Should we always buy them or are there better ways to vote with our wallets? is two part article will explore some of the most common ecolabels, starting closest to home.

In Ireland, the Origin Green programme was launched by Bord Bia in 2012 in response to numerous global studies on the environmental impacts of livestock on the environment. It claims to be the world’s rst third-party veri ed national sustainability programme and brand for food production. According to their website 90% of our food and drink exports and over 70% of our domestic retail market are ‘Origin Green compliant’.

As part of regular audits, farms are measured on their production e ciency and environmental performance. Each audit generates a sustainability feedback report on the farm’s performance, highlighting where farmers can improve farm e ciency and environmental outcomes. e programme also applies to food retailers and businesses where things like sustainability of supply chain, manufacturing, processing and social factors are measured.

e assessment scheme was initially voluntary but is now required as part of the Bord Bia’s Sustainable Quality Assurance certi cation, so when you see the label on your food, you know that the producers have gone through the auditing process.

Organic

Another ecolabel o en associated with healthier, environmentally-friendly food is ‘organic’. In organic farming, instead of using synthetic pesticides or fertilisers, farmers must rely on more traditional methods such as crop rotation, companion planting and agroecological approaches to improve soil fertility and reduce pests and disease. Naturally derived pesticides can be used as a last resort, but the exact amount must be justi ed and recorded.

Farmers are also encouraged to save seed in order to foster genetic resources adapted to organic production and local conditions, improving genetic diversity and reducing the monopoly of large seed companies. When it comes to animal welfare, livestock must be fed on an entirely organic diet, have access to the outdoors and antibiotics are given only as a last resort, as opposed to prophylactic use in conventional farming.

e EU Leaf, the Organic Trust, the Irish Organic Association, and the Global Trust Certi cation (seafood) labels ensure that a product meets both International and European Organic standards.

Impacts

Given the uptake of Origin Green, it could be expected that greenhouse gases and environmental pollution from agriculture have decreased, yet the Environmental Protection Agency's 'State of the Environment Report 2020' states that:

• e agriculture sector is responsible for approximately one-third of national greenhouse gas emissions and over 99% of national ammonia emissions. Biodiversity is also under pressure from land use changes and intensive farming.

• Ireland has seen a continuing decline in high status water bodies and an increase in the number of water bodies in poor ecological health…driven primarily by nutrient pollution coming from agriculture and wastewater systems.

• Economic growth in the agri-food sector in recent years is happening at the expense of the environment, as evidenced by trends in water quality, emissions and biodiversity all going in the wrong direction. Improved e ciency will not necessarily result in better environmental outcomes. e cleanest diesel engine is still worse than a wind turbine. What is required is a total shi in our food system, one that moves away from intensive animal and cereal production to a more holistic agroecological approach.

Being a part of Origin Green does not mean a producer is having minimal impact on the environment, it simply means that they are regularly audited by a third party and are continuously asked to improve. ough quality assurance for the purpose of marketing continues to be an essential aspect of Origin Green, there is an increasing focus on meeting regulatory requirements, so as the EU continues to legislate changes to help meet climate and biodiversity targets, having a pre-established audit scheme that can incorporate them is an asset. It should not be abandoned or accused of having failed, but adapted. Are Bord Bia’s sustainability ambitions in line with global targets for climate and biodiversity? If not, why? Could they play a role in improved country-wide ecological farming audits similar to those carried out in the Bride Project in Co. Cork?

Similarly, the organic label does not guarantee that a product is more nutritious or better for the environment than a conventional alternative. Organic agriculture can even have higher environmental impacts, as it o en requires more land than higher-yielding conventional farming. What the label does ensure is that a minimum set of internationally agreed environmental and animal welfare standards were followed in its production. e EU’s Farm2Fork Strategy outlines the objective to have 25% of Europe’s farmland under organic agriculture by 2030.

Ecolabels are an indicator that a particular set of sustainability standards has been followed, not that a product is sustainable. We do not need to all start shopping organic but we do need to consider all that goes into producing our food and making small changes where we can a ord to. What is real value: a bargain price for a packet of chicken thighs, or the knowledge that some e ort has gone into reducing harm at all the stages between you and the egg? If you wish to reduce your impact on the environment, eat more plants and fewer animal products.

As Hannah Ritchie of Our World in Data puts it: “if your primary concern is whether the potato accompanying your steak is conventionally or organically produced, then your focus is arguably misplaced from the decisions which could have the greatest impact”.

In our second part, we will look at some of the international labels on products that we all use, including palm oil, timber and tropical foods.If any readers would like to ask about a label that they’re not sure of, please do email billy@iwt.ie.