Organic and Biodiversity Campaign

SOW FOR MORE BIODIVERSITY

You wouldn’t think so, but biodiversity is of vital importance. All the different types of life on our planet together form a harmonious and balanced nature. The loss of biodiversity and indispensable links in nature such as the bee, directly affect the lives of people and the planet. Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 15 Living on Land commits, among other things, to halting the loss of biodiversity. It is one of the most important SDGs established by the United Nations (UN) because it is critical to the health of our planet.

 

The UN recommends organic farming as one of the five specific forms of sustainable agriculture as part of the solution to SDG 15 Living on land. Indeed, research shows that organic farming contributes significantly to the conservation of existing ecosystems and the preservation of biodiversity. With every seed that is planted for the organic products of the Smaakspecialist, and with every organic product that you buy, we ultimately take care of SDG 15 Living on land together.

 

To bring biodiversity just a little extra attention, the Smaakspecialist is committed as a partner of the National Seed Coalition to the endangered bee; surely the face of endangered biodiversity. Together with The Pollinators we ensure that the whole of the Netherlands starts sowing for the bees and other pollinators. On 22 April it is National Sowing Day, and together we will sow half a million square meters. The more flowers, the happier the bee! Join us too!

SDG 15 LIFE ON THE LAND

ORGANIC AGRICULTURE AS A PROTECTOR OF LIFE ON LAND

SDG 15 is, among other things, about protecting, restoring and promoting sustainable use of our ecosystems, combating and reversing land degradation and halting the loss of biodiversity. Currently, more than 1 million species are threatened. One of the main contributors to land depletion and biodiversity loss is intensive chemical agriculture, which is widely practiced.

The premise of organic farming is that every living organism is highly valued, from micro-organism to tree. In this way organic agriculture contributes to the preservation of existing ecosystems and to the maintenance of biodiversity. The number of (wild) plant species, insects and micro-organisms, both above and below ground, is 30 to 50% more on the land of organic farmers.

WHY IS BIODIVERSITY SO IMPORTANT?

BIODIVERSITY IS INDISPENSABLE IN OUR FOOD SUPPLY

Biodiversity stands for the variety of all the different kinds of life we know, such as animals, plants and other organisms. All these different species together keep nature in balance. Biodiversity ensures, for example, healthy air and fertile soil, but also the pollination of plants such as agricultural crops.

 

About 70% of our agricultural crops depend on pollination by natural pollinators to form edible fruits or seeds. Think of apples, mangos, avocados, zucchini, mustard, but also vegetable oil, nuts, coffee and cocoa. In short, for our food, we as humanity cannot do without biodiversity!

DO YOUR BIT

SAVE THE ROYAL BEE

One of the best known examples in declining biodiversity is the endangered bee. Certainly more than half of the number of bee species are on the Red List of Endangered Species. The loss of biodiversity, such as the bee, directly affects the lives of people and the planet. What can you  do yourself to contribute to biodiversity?

The number of (wild) plant species, insects and micro-organisms is 30 to 50% greater on organic farms. If you choose organic, you automatically contribute to biodiversity. Or participate in the National Seed Day and become a food bank for bees!

De Smaakspecialist is partner of the national seed coalition

TOGETHER WITH THE POLLINATORS WE ARE SOWING MASSES OF FLOWERS

Because the Smaakspecialist likes to contribute to biodiversity, we are partners in the National Seeding Coalition! Together with The Pollinators we ensure that the whole of the Netherlands starts sowing for the bees and other pollinators. On 22 April it is National Sowing Day, and together we will sow half a million square meters. The more flowers, the happier the bee!

 

And we need your help to do this! Would you like to get your hands on a bag of bee seed to fill your garden, balcony boxes or tree corners with flowers? With every order placed in our webshop from April 22 you will receive a free bag of bee-friendly organic flower seeds. In addition, from 22 April you can pick up a free bag of seed at Luchtenburg estate!

Fotografie door: Bor van Gool, Jacqueline Bruinsma & Sacha Tijmstra