Why choose organic coffee?
(This is a nice feature video from a recent trip to a 100% organic coffee farm in Santander, Colombia)
So, Why choose organic coffee?
• Organic coffee has higher levels of antioxidants than non-organic coffee, and may actually reduce the risk of type 2 diabetes.
• Organic coffee farming does not use pesticides (or if any they would be organic), therefore reducing the risk of possible pesticide-related illnesses.
• Organic coffee farming also helps in conserving land and water resources and biodiversity.
Organic coffee is a type of specialty coffee that is grown as close to nature intended, without the use of synthetic fertilizers or pesticides. Instead, they sometimes use organic fertilizer, like chicken manure, compost, coffee pulp, etc. It is also well-known for its distinct taste and health benefits, such as having more antioxidants than non-organic coffee. According to a study, the high antioxidant levels in organic coffee could be possibly related to the use of organic manure in farming organic coffee.
Organic coffee also shows higher levels of chlorogenic acid, which is instrumental in lowering blood pressure, and in some cases, lowering blood sugar and possibly leading to weight loss. I'm not personally recommending coffee as a way of lower blood pressure but it's an interesting study to read (see references on this page)
Because they don't use synthetic pesticides and fertilizers when farming organic coffee, farmers and the local ecology can avoid long-standing public health problems that may be caused through conventional farming. Aside from cases of acute poisoning, products of conventional farming may also have high levels of carcinogens. Pesticide use may also leave residue, which was explored in a 2003 study, finding that 73% of the produce they assessed contained pesticide residue. Even at "recommended levels" there may be potentially devastating human and environmental consequences of the heavy use of pesticides. This is often the case in non-organic coffee farming because of the potential financial gain.
Aside from reducing personal risk and the potential health benefits of going organic, the production of organic coffee may actually be beneficial for the environment. According to an Oxford study, the use of organic technologies in farming may help “conserve soil moisture and water resources,” a large contrast to the consequent environmental degradation that conventional farming often causes.
Organic coffee farmers are known to respect nature, supporting and working with the ecosystem (including local water supplies, animals and of course the soil), whereas conventional coffee farming often practice the clearing of forest–not good for anybody short or long term.
There are actually studies exploring the benefits of eco-certified organic coffee farms showing how the practice of organic farming “reduces chemical input use” and “increases adoption of environmentally friendly practices”. These organic farmers actually help to protect the environment and ensure its protection for the future generations.
As a consumer, by drinking organic coffee you are helping yourself, the farmers, the families in coffee growing regions and the whole ecology around. I've seen it in action with my own eyes, this is very real. So, when you buy your next cup of coffee take a millisecond to consider the consequences, especially because it's you along with 400 000 000+ (yes, that's 400million+) people EVERY DAY–just in the USA.
References:
1) https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2841576/
2) http://www.scielo.br/pdf/jbchs/v21n8/09.pdf
3) https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21523414
4) http://www.beyondpesticides.org/assets/media/documents/documents/pimentel.pesticides.2005update.pdf
5) https://academic.oup.com/bioscience/article/55/7/573/306755/Environmental-Energetic-and-Economic-Comparisons
6) https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19183744
7) https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4347062/
8) https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3898757/