With more farms getting the 'sustainable' label, do the labels really matter?
Demand for food-bearing labels like ‘organic’ or ‘sustainable’ is soaring, but some growers question whether the name is really worth the pain. While some industry groups say that labels help consumers make choices, and getting the right credentials can offer manufacturers a valuable point of difference, others worry that the labels present a barrier to those wishing to adopt some of the practices associated with them. Consumers push the urge, but when they buy organic, natural, regenerative or conventional agricultural products, do they really know what that means? Stay out of the label box Labels such as “certified organic” require farmers to meet certain production standards, which can limit chemical use and regulate farm management. Herders Peter and Nikki Thompson use mostly natural practices such as multi-species planting and reduced input use on their 4,000 hectare Echo Hills property, 80 kilometers northeast of Rome in Queensland. But they haven’t found a label that reflects th