Organic? It's good for you
02 August 2018
On 21 July 2018 a contribution appeared on D di Repubblica from the Senator for life Elena Cattaneo entitled: "Organic? It's good for you.
But only if you produce it". At Simonato, based in Due Carrare in the province of Padua, although acknowledging Cattaneo's opinion, we feel obliged to focus some attention on the key points of the paper (overlooking many others worthy of the same attention), namely the use of plant protection products.
Here, we will provide our point of view, leaving it up to the reader to form an informed and well-balanced opinion.
Firstly, we note that an Organic Company must strictly respect European Regulation no. 884 of 2008 and is subject to strict periodic controls by an external Certifier, independent from the producer company so as to avoid any conflict of interest and to protect consumers.
If these controls identify the presence of residues of plant protection products not permitted in the organic protocol, the Company loses its certification and may not supply the product to the distribution chains.
This is a huge guarantee for the health of consumers, both children and adults. With regard, then, to the type of plant protection products permitted in organic farming, we remind Senator Cattaneo that the "weapons" that can be used by a producer to defend against fungi and parasites are limited to a few active ingredients, derived from plants (such as Neem Oil and Pyrethrins) or that leave absolutely no residues in the food eaten by consumers.
Incidentally, it beggars belief that Cattaneo focuses on the use of Copper, allowed in the organic protocol, perhaps ignoring the fact that its use is regulated by a strict rule (4 kg. per hectare per year) and that this metal, used since ancient times, absolutely does not represent a problem for end consumers given that producers cannot distribute it close to the sale, it can be removed by simple washing and any anomalies of use are identified by the external Certifier during routine checks.
On the other hand, what happens and what are the consequences for consumers and for the environment in "conventional" cultivations not subject to the rigidity of Organic Regulation? On this essential point, the Senator, surprisingly, remains silent.
A "conventional" producer is only obliged to respect the pre-harvest intervals (i.e. the days before sale) indicated on the plant protection product packaging: it is unfortunately well-known that external controls on the presence of residues are scarce due to a lack of resources within Public Bodies.
A "conventional" producer, can, as a result, distribute what it sees fit, in the quantities that it deems appropriate, perhaps choosing from the cheapest products, which often leave persistent residues over time.
The result of this indiscriminate use of plant protection products is the distribution on foodstuffs that reach Italian tables, and into the waters that are released into the environment, of about 136,000 tonnes per annum of pesticide molecules.
The consequences were closely monitored by ISPRA (Italian Institute for Environmental Protection and Research) between 2015 and 2016 by taking 35,000 surface and deep water samples. The results revealed the presence of a good 259 extraneous molecules. Surface waters are polluted in Veneto in 90% of cases, in Lombardy in 70% and in Emilia Romagna in 80%. Merely by way of example, atrazine, a dangerous herbicide banned for 26 years, is still present in our waters. Rigorous scientific studies have demonstrated the presence in children's blood of pesticide residues and their contemporary accumulation in the nervous system and glands of the endocrine system.
If examined, even those among us born between the 1930s and 1960s would find in our bones residues of the notorious DDT, as found at one time in the fat of polar bears.
Do we want to continue on this path, Senator Cattaneo?
At Simonato we say no, supported by the certainty of creating a better world towards which we are working every day together with at least another 70,000 Italian producers and consumers (increasing every year in double digit percentages) who, like us, demand a healthy and safe world for everybody.
But only if you produce it". At Simonato, based in Due Carrare in the province of Padua, although acknowledging Cattaneo's opinion, we feel obliged to focus some attention on the key points of the paper (overlooking many others worthy of the same attention), namely the use of plant protection products.
Here, we will provide our point of view, leaving it up to the reader to form an informed and well-balanced opinion.
Firstly, we note that an Organic Company must strictly respect European Regulation no. 884 of 2008 and is subject to strict periodic controls by an external Certifier, independent from the producer company so as to avoid any conflict of interest and to protect consumers.
If these controls identify the presence of residues of plant protection products not permitted in the organic protocol, the Company loses its certification and may not supply the product to the distribution chains.
This is a huge guarantee for the health of consumers, both children and adults. With regard, then, to the type of plant protection products permitted in organic farming, we remind Senator Cattaneo that the "weapons" that can be used by a producer to defend against fungi and parasites are limited to a few active ingredients, derived from plants (such as Neem Oil and Pyrethrins) or that leave absolutely no residues in the food eaten by consumers.
Incidentally, it beggars belief that Cattaneo focuses on the use of Copper, allowed in the organic protocol, perhaps ignoring the fact that its use is regulated by a strict rule (4 kg. per hectare per year) and that this metal, used since ancient times, absolutely does not represent a problem for end consumers given that producers cannot distribute it close to the sale, it can be removed by simple washing and any anomalies of use are identified by the external Certifier during routine checks.
On the other hand, what happens and what are the consequences for consumers and for the environment in "conventional" cultivations not subject to the rigidity of Organic Regulation? On this essential point, the Senator, surprisingly, remains silent.
A "conventional" producer is only obliged to respect the pre-harvest intervals (i.e. the days before sale) indicated on the plant protection product packaging: it is unfortunately well-known that external controls on the presence of residues are scarce due to a lack of resources within Public Bodies.
A "conventional" producer, can, as a result, distribute what it sees fit, in the quantities that it deems appropriate, perhaps choosing from the cheapest products, which often leave persistent residues over time.
The result of this indiscriminate use of plant protection products is the distribution on foodstuffs that reach Italian tables, and into the waters that are released into the environment, of about 136,000 tonnes per annum of pesticide molecules.
The consequences were closely monitored by ISPRA (Italian Institute for Environmental Protection and Research) between 2015 and 2016 by taking 35,000 surface and deep water samples. The results revealed the presence of a good 259 extraneous molecules. Surface waters are polluted in Veneto in 90% of cases, in Lombardy in 70% and in Emilia Romagna in 80%. Merely by way of example, atrazine, a dangerous herbicide banned for 26 years, is still present in our waters. Rigorous scientific studies have demonstrated the presence in children's blood of pesticide residues and their contemporary accumulation in the nervous system and glands of the endocrine system.
If examined, even those among us born between the 1930s and 1960s would find in our bones residues of the notorious DDT, as found at one time in the fat of polar bears.
Do we want to continue on this path, Senator Cattaneo?
At Simonato we say no, supported by the certainty of creating a better world towards which we are working every day together with at least another 70,000 Italian producers and consumers (increasing every year in double digit percentages) who, like us, demand a healthy and safe world for everybody.
