The vegetables and fruits that a young farmer collects from the field and send or sell them with his own hands are sold in markets and stalls. At the same time, while traveling somewhere, the expressions that say “ecological market” and “ecological product” are definitely encountered. Well, do these terms have the same or different meanings? Is the natural product also ecological?
We need to examine the terms well in order to clarify these concepts and to be conscious of purchasing products. According to the statement made by Biology Lecturer from a famous university of England, natural and ecological concepts have completely different meanings and these concepts should not be confused. The concept of ecological agriculture is explained as follows:
“Agriculture, which does not harm the nature and the environment, does not spoil the habitat of the natural environment, protects the soil, water and climate, cultivates healthy products for the future by making healthy agriculture, supports biodiversity and is made without the use of chemical drugs.
The differences that distinguish between ecological expression and natural expression lie in the production process and nature of the work. In ecological agriculture, there are definitions such as wide product variety, socioeconomic and renewable energy. Therefore, in some markets, natural product sellers prefer to be called ecological rather than natural.
There are hormone-free expressions on the products when walking around the street markets or neighborhoods. Not every hormone-free expression means natural product. In order for a product to be truly natural, it must have a certificate of natural and good farming under the Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Livestock.
At the same time, there are some principles to be considered in order to better distinguish the natural and ecological expressions that are constantly mixed. When it comes to ecological products, first of all, the expression of biological agriculture comes to mind. The reason that ecological agriculture is biologically based is that the ecological product has biodiversity. In addition, important expressions such as product name, certificate of product, logo, code number, farmer code, harvest year, production date, expiry date, weight, who it belongs to, the origin of the product should be included on the label printed on the ecological product.
By consuming ecological products, there are many benefits both for our own health and environmental health. If we list these benefits as follows;
- By consuming ecological products, not only our body health, but also our mental health is protected.
- We support sustainable life models and employment produced in rural life.
- By protecting biodiversity, we increase the chances of any local species and diversity to find a place in the market.
- By consuming ecological products for our children and future generations, we give a chance to live in a healthier world and defend the right to health.
- By consuming ecological products, we both protect the ecosystem and help ensure that the ecological production-consumption cycle is not disrupted.
Is the slogan "From Farm to Table" Used for Natural Product Real?
We conserve the balance of both today and the future by consuming ecological products. But should we stop eating natural product by consuming only ecological products?
In response, of course we will say "no". Because while expressing ecological and natural words with similar features, they differ only in terms of production conditions, variety and arrangement. Vegetables and fruits that we collect from our garden, carefully grown from the hitter with their own means, are natural products and their consumption is extremely healthy. Only in this way can we say “from field to table” for the product we grow, buy and consume without any chemical additives.
Consequently, consuming both natural and ecological products is healthy if the reality is determined by certain procedures and has been proven by various certificates. It may be necessary for the continuity of the cycle to show a little more sensitivity to only ecological products in order to protect the balance of nature and to allow biodiversity to increase.
