Organic Guayusa Tea - What does organic cultivation mean?

Introduction

Again and again we are asked whether our Guayusa is organically grown. Yes GUYA Guayusa tea is organic Guayusa!

But what does it actually mean to grow organically? After all, organic is not just organic. We want to bring light into the darkness and explain to you what we pay attention to so that our guayusa is really organic - because there are big differences in organic cultivation.

Our cultivation method for organic guayusa, for example, is fundamentally different from other organic cultivation methods such as those of yerba mate, coffee and cocoa and we even exceed the standards of organic associations such as Bioland and Demeter !

On our YouTube channel you will find detailed documentation and interviews with farmers about the cultivation of guayusa , lemongrass , coffee and our reforestation project in Ecuador .

Contents:

1. What does organic actually mean?
2. The problem of organic monocultures - deceptive appearance!
3. Cultivation methods and their differences
1. Conventional cultivation
2. Integrated production, not organic but efficient
3. State-controlled organic cultivation
4. Organic association cultivation - What does organic mean in associations?
5. Organic Permaculture - Organic Guayusa Tea Cultivation
4. Cultivation of Organic Guayusa
5. Organic Guayusa - Our organic certificate

1. What does organic actually mean?

Organic means biological or ecological production, in which no artificial elements flow into the value chain - the production and raw materials are therefore natural. It is important to know, however, that there is no precise definition  There is what is "natural" and what is "artificial". In the cultivation of Bio Guayusa, the use of copper-containing fungicides would be permitted. In the cultivation of organic apples, for example, the application of copper-containing fungicides is standard.

Copper is of course of natural origin, but it is not particularly nice to spray the plants and the soil with copper year after year.

2. The problem of organic monocultures - deceptive appearances!

It is now common knowledge that organic cultivation is not necessarily sustainable and environmentally friendly. Organic coffee comes, for example, just like yerba mate, cocoa, green tea, bananas, coconuts... mostly from huge monoculture plantations. In organic monocultures, fertilization is carried out according to organic guidelines, but the incision in the natural landscape is enormous.

Animal and plant diversity cannot be found in this type of organic culture tour. The soil in these areas is polluted and at risk of erosion. It is only inhabited by one species of plant and smaller crops that could grow under the cocoa trees or mate trees, for example, are usually removed.

The use of pesticides is also not prohibited in organic cultivation. It is only heavily regulated and limited to a few funds. In organic monocultures, the use of such agents is significantly higher than in organic permaculture due to the susceptibility of many plants to fungi.

Organic does not necessarily mean creating a natural environment. The organic seal "guarantees" only the omission of chemical organic (artificial) pesticides and fertilizers. However, whether the rainforest is cut down or the animal and plant diversity in the cultivation area is wiped out or reduced is irrelevant according to the guidelines!

3. Cultivation methods and their differences

There are different organic cultivation methods with different seals. Below you will find detailed explanations of each method.

3.1. Conventional cultivation

Conventional agriculture is still the most widespread form of economy. In arable farming, it uses fertilizers and pesticides approved by the responsible authorities. We act according to agricultural law and EU regulations. Residue levels on food are set centrally by the EU. As a consumer, you can pay attention to seasonal and regional products with regard to a better ecological balance, these also have a lower CO2 and water footprint. Of course, it is important to note the origin, because during the potato season there may well be imports from Africa that are cheaper than products from Europe!

3.2. Integrated production, not organic but efficient

IP cultivation is, so to speak, the link between conventional cultivation and organic cultivation. Pesticides and fertilizers are used much more strictly here. On the one hand, IP cultivation pays more attention to natural and animal-friendly cultivation, on the other hand, it integrates technological progress.

Many products, such as tomatoes, peppers, courgettes, cucumbers and salads, come from "integrated production". This often takes place in greenhouses that are designed for efficiency. The recycling of water, heat and plant residues is a major advantage of integrated cultivation. The degree of recycling in modern greenhouses is in the high double-digit percentage range, as they work with almost closed circuits! In this way, fertilizers, even if not necessarily of ecological origin, do not come into contact with the soil in the first place and thus cannot grow into the groundwater.

3.3. State-controlled organic cultivation

Organic farming goes one step further. The use of chemical-systemic pesticides and mineral fertilizers is prohibited here. Organic fertilizers and insecticides, herbicides and fungicides specifically approved for organic cultivation are used. There are also separate and stricter regulations for the means to strengthen the plant. These foods are marked with the EU organic seal.

The EU organic seal stipulates that 95 percent of the ingredients in a product must be of organic origin, not 100 percent. The guidelines also do not define the extent to which natural habitats must be preserved. Monocultures are therefore also the norm in organic farming!

3.4. Organic association cultivation - What does organic mean in associations?

In addition to the state organic certificate, there are a number of associations that follow separate and stricter regulations. The best-known associations in Germany are Demeter, Bioland and Naturland .

The difference between these associations lies in the approval of certain additives, fertilizers and feedstuffs. Animals must be treated much better in these associations and grow up in a "largely" natural environment. The general perception of the importance of organic is more likely to be fulfilled by the associations. This is of course also due to the fact that associations such as Demeter and Bioland, which are pioneers in the field of organic and existed long before the EU organic seal.

But here, too, monocultures are the order of the day, with the handling of the soil and the size of the monocultures being strictly regulated. Fields must be planted with other crops annually and left fallow or planted with legumes every 5 years. These legumes enrich the soil with nitrogen.

3.5. Organic Permaculture - Organic Guayusa Tea Cultivation

Permaculture is a special kind of biological cultivation. It is based on the idea that in nature there is always a combination of plant species sharing a habitat, so that several plant species can grow in a small space.

This combination is chosen in such a way that the plants protect each other from parasites and diseases, preserve the soil quality and allow for a regional natural biodiversity of animals.

This type of cultivation is cheaper in the long run and, in terms of yield, is just as efficient as conventional monocultures. Depending on the intensity of the permaculture, pesticides and fertilizers are hardly or not at all necessary. If fertilizers or pesticides are needed, they are made from plants of the same permaculture, at least in the case of our organic Guayusa tea.

You can fertilize, for example, by cutting off grass, branches, leaves or whole plants and leaving them lying around. Fungal or parasitic infestation is produced by producing pesticides from the roots and leaves of special plants. These plants grow all over the place in permaculture.

A detailed interview of our founder, together with our employee in Ecuador, on the subject of permaculture can be found here .

4. The cultivation of organic Guayusa

Our organic Guayusa tea plays a special role in organic cultivation. Our Guayusa comes from the depths of the Amazon rainforest, where it is grown in permaculture systems that mimic or are integrated directly into the rainforest.

The Kichwa natives , with whom we cooperate for organic guayusa cultivation, know every part of their forest gardens. In these so-called chakras, bananas, cassava, corn, cocoa, herbs, coffee and tobacco, for example, grow in these so-called chakras, as well as dozens or hundreds of other plants that attract birds and bees, produce special soil qualities or keep pests away.

No pesticides and hardly any fertilizers are required, since the cycle of life takes place so quickly due to the temperatures that short-lived plants are quickly available again as nutrients for longer-lived plants.

In this way, the Kichwa natives have the opportunity, in addition to the income from the sale of Guayusa, to generate additional income through the sale of organic cocoa, organic bananas, etc., as well as to provide themselves with food.

5. Bio Guayusa - Our organic certificate

GUYA's organic Guayusa is traditionally grown in the chakras according to EU organic guidelines. However, the cultivation far exceeds the EU organic standards, since we work holistically in the sense of a permaculture.

In addition, the farmers are paid 30 percent more for their guayusa than the official fair trade price. We even pay 3 times as much for our lemongrass and 4 times as much for our coffee. You can find interviews with farmers and documentaries about growing Guayusa on our YouTube channel .

However, after guayusa was certified in Ecuador, it cannot yet be distributed as organic food everywhere. The importing company, in this case GUYA, must also undergo an inspection. This control ensures compliance with guidelines for storage and processing. The controlling body for GUYA is the ABCert .

If you have any questions about organic cultivation or the sustainable and fair production of our organic guayusa tea, just write to us via Facebook, email or Instagram.

If you want to buy organic GUYA Guayusa , check out our online shop or Amazon . If you would like to find our products in your local supermarket, speak to the local store manager and give them the contact details you can find.

Sources:

• https://www.ucsusa.org/food_and_agriculture/our-failing-food-system/industrial-agriculture/hidden-costs-of-industrial.html#.WuXInS_5xuU
• https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Integrated_Production
• https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Integrated_Production
• http://www.kob-bavendorf.de/arbeitsbereiche/Lagerung/systemvergleich-bio-ip
• http://www.daserste.de/information/wissen-kultur/w-wie-wissen/permakultur-100.html