Sustainability and quality of organic food

{Tool} Sustainability and quality of organic food. [Nachhaltigkeit und Qualität biologischer Lebensmittel.] Creator(s): Kretzschmar, Ursula; Schleiffer, Mirjam; Curran, Michael; Dierauer, Hansueli; Frehner, Anita; Leiber, Florian; Oehen, Bernadette; Speiser, Bernhard; Mäder, Paul and Cezanne, Marie-Louise. Issuing Organisation(s): FiBL - Research Institute of Organic Agriculture, Bio Suisse. (2021)

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Document available online at: https://www.fibl.org/en/shop-en/1405-lebensmittelqualitaet

Summary

This dossier covers a wide range of topics, from a contemporary, holistic concept for assessing food quality to a sustainable food system. It highlights selected aspects of sustainability and quality and discusses the differences between organically and conventionally produced foods. It also shows the measures the organic industry is taking to meet high-quality expectations. In this dossier, the term “conventional” is used synonymously with “non-organic.” However, the term does not refer to production or processing according to old traditions or “grandmother's methods.”

Summary translation

Das Dossier spannt den Bogen von einem zeitgemäßen, ganzheitlichen Konzept zur Beurteilung der Lebensmittelqualität hin zu einem nachhaltigen Ernährungssystem. Es beleuchtet ausgewählte Aspekte der Nachhaltigkeit und Qualität und argumentiert Unterschiede zwischen biologisch und konventionell produzierten Lebensmitteln. Zudem zeigt es auf, mit welchen Maßnahmen die Biobranche die hohen Qualitätserwartungen zu erfüllen versucht.

EPrint Type:	Practice tool
Teaser:	A holistic view of food quality, sustainability, and organic versus conventional production.
What problem does the tool address?:	The natural production methods used in organic farming and the careful processing of organic foods suggest that organic products differ in quality from conventionally produced foods. Consumers' expectations of organic foods are correspondingly high and far-reaching. The organic label is a guarantee of quality and safety.
What solution does the tool offer?:	Studies confirm significant differences in quality between organic and conventional foods. However, offering healthy and sustainably produced foods in the desired quality, variety, and processing poses a number of challenges. For example, organic foods can only be as healthy as the environment, because pesticides can now be detected almost everywhere. To ensure that organic products are truly organic, reliable control instruments are needed in the rapidly growing organic market. And last but not least, consumers' purchasing behavior and eating habits determine how sustainable (e.g., seasonal) and healthy (e.g., needs-based) their diet is.
Country:	Switzerland
Type of Practice Tool:	Leaflets & guidelines
Keywords:	sustainability, climate change, climate-smart agriculture, resilience, food wuality, product quality, quality assurance, standards
Agrovoc keywords:	Language Value URI English sustainability http://aims.fao.org/aos/agrovoc/c_33560 English processed products http://aims.fao.org/aos/agrovoc/c_15742 English food processing http://aims.fao.org/aos/agrovoc/c_37969 English food technology http://aims.fao.org/aos/agrovoc/c_3030 English resilience http://aims.fao.org/aos/agrovoc/c_1374480530924 English food quality http://aims.fao.org/aos/agrovoc/c_10965 English product quality http://aims.fao.org/aos/agrovoc/c_13591 English quality assurance http://aims.fao.org/aos/agrovoc/c_35287 English standards http://aims.fao.org/aos/agrovoc/c_7367 English packaging http://aims.fao.org/aos/agrovoc/c_5495 English food traceability http://aims.fao.org/aos/agrovoc/c_92369 English food hygiene http://aims.fao.org/aos/agrovoc/c_3019 English life cycle analysis http://aims.fao.org/aos/agrovoc/c_9000105 English regulations http://aims.fao.org/aos/agrovoc/c_6493 English agricultural value chains http://aims.fao.org/aos/agrovoc/c_1d043b89 English agricultural trade http://aims.fao.org/aos/agrovoc/c_8682 English product labelling http://aims.fao.org/aos/agrovoc/c_6199
Subjects:	Food systems > Food security, food quality and human health Food systems > Processing, packaging and transportation Food systems > Markets and trade Food systems > Produce chain management Environmental aspects
Research affiliation:	European Union > Horizon Europe > OrganicTargets4EU > selected tools Switzerland > Bio Suisse Switzerland > FiBL - Research Institute of Organic Agriculture Switzerland > Sustainability European Union > Organic Farm Knowledge
Horizon Europe or H2020 Grant Agreement Number:	101060368
Related Links:	https://organic-farmknowledge.org/tool/56610, https://organictargets.eu/, https://organic-farmknowledge.org/tool/53618, https://organic-farmknowledge.org/tool/53375
Project ID:	OFK
Deposited By:	Rüger, Madelaine Lea
ID Code:	56610
Deposited On:	26 Jan 2026 16:20
Last Modified:	26 Jan 2026 16:20
Document Language:	English, German/Deutsch, French/Francais, Romanian/Română, Russian/Russkiy
Status:	Published

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