Country Plans to Double Organic Farming Strategy

I love my country and am grateful to be an American, but I also recognize we don’t always have a glowing track record when it comes to our farming and food manufacturing industries.

Across the pond a ways however, one country is paving the way for government legislated organic and ethical farming.

The Danish government announced a 67-point plan which will grow their organic food production two fold.

According to Denmark’s Food and Agriculture Minister Dan Jorgensen, this plan goes beyond what is planted in the ground. The country plans to commit itself to offering more organic options on menus in mess halls, hospitals, and daycare institutions.

The plan, known as Okologiplan Danmark, intends to strengthen the cooperation of ministries across the country and implement organic farming awareness programs.

You may think that a country’s Ministry of Defence only concerns itself with weapons and battle strategies, but in Denmark their Defence Ministry acknowledges the importance of good food.

Nearly 1.1 million kilos of food is served in defence mess halls each year and in Denmark they want to make sure their troops are strong and healthy.

Denmark’s Ministry of education feels the same way about their students. Not only will serving organic food promote the healthy development of the brains of hundreds of citizens, it can help to strengthen good habits that will last a lifetime.

As a secondary consequence, it will help improve youth ecological awareness and teach future Dutch generations about organic and natural sciences.

What has been deemed as one of the world’s most ambitious plans for organic food expansion, the projected date to accomplish the growth is 2020.

New Zealand has banned GMOs, and no fresh fruit, vegetables or meat is genetically modified coming out of that island country. Along with Australia, these two countries are home to 38% of the world’s organic farming.

Elsewhere in Europe, Austria, Hungary, Greece, Bulgaria, and Luxembourg have completely banned the sale and cultivation of genetically modified foods.

Why, in a country so prosperous, are Americans deprived of the same standards?

Recent news from a small Himalayan country only adds fuel to my fury fire. Bhutan, a country of less than 1 million people has recently made a move to become completely 100% organic. So why can’t we make a similar move in the healthy direction!

Getting involved makes a difference. Even starting small can influence change in your community.

Despite popular sentiment, change can occur but it is up to each and every person to speak up and contact the powers that be.

Changing the stigma and breaking through the elitism associated with natural and organic foods must happen for any real movement to occur. Pricing and financial profits must not be the shield preventing mindful eating.

Find out more on what you can do to get involved here.