It doesn’t take a whole lot of horticultural knowledge to figure out that food grown without the interference of chemicals is not only better for our health but also for the environment. Until recently though, the UAE seemed to be lagging behind in the race for all things organic, which has been gathering pace around the rest of the globe. But scratch the surface here in Abu Dhabi and you might be surprised.
Set between ocean and desert, the capital might not seem the obvious place for an agricultural revolution to be taking place. However, ingenuity, skill and innovation are not only creating thriving farms in the sand, free from all chemical additives, but a host of small businesses are springing up to get the produce from the fields to the people demanding it.
By opting to buy food produced organically we’re choosing food free from chemicals, pesticides, herbicides and fungicides. We’re saying no to genetic modification and actively encouraging local biodiversity. We’re respecting the fragile marginalised ecosystems that survive on a farm’s borders, normally decimated by conventional commercial farming practices.
Not only that, but organic farming supports local communities, respects local seed diversity and, most important of all, it’s just down-right delicious.
Let’s meet four of the food heroes bringing organic to the masses.
First class farmers
Etihad, the Emirates’ national airline, is leading the race to bring organic produce to our skies. This summer the airline joined forces with Abu Dhabi Organics Farms to establish their very own organic 200-egg laying chicken farm. The eggs are to be used for the airline’s Diamond First Class dishes. It’s also hoped three new bee hives will produce organic honey from the land around the farm for the company’s extensive in-flight menu.
For more information visit www.etihadairways.com.
Catering for nature
Back in 1997 Khalid Al Shamsi created Abu Dhabi Organics Farms and this Emirati national remains as passionate today about all things organic as he was then. Khalid produces an organic treasure trove of more than 60 different types of vegetables, fruit, herbs and livestock from the desert sand without the need for chemicals. Abu Dhabi Organics Farms is recognised for its work and has received awards from the United Nation’s Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO) and gained International Federation of Organic Agriculture Movements (IFOAM) accreditation.
Natural selection
It’s all very well growing the food and serving it in the skies, but what if you want an organic dining experience here in the city? Time to try Slices – a small café-style eatery in two convenient locations, serving sandwiches, soups and salads, all of which boast an average 80 percent organic content. Chef Gavin Mitchell works daily to devise an imaginative yet simple menu from the very best of what’s in season and the freshest that day. Locations: Al Nahyan Camp and Zayed University Campus.
www.slices.ae (02 491 8599).
Nourishing nosh
Ripe has one agenda: to bring the best local produce and imported goodies from certified organic suppliers to the doorsteps of Abu Dhabi. Sourcing fresh fruits and vegetables from numerous farms across the UAE, the company distributes via its door-to-door box scheme and from a weekly farmers’ market. With a new venue to be confirmed this season, market aficionados will have to monitor the Ripe website for further information. There’s a Ripe farm shop in Al Manara, Dubai, for those who can’t wait, stocking organic produce and other treats from local, regional and international gourmet food companies.
To order weekly door-to-door deliveries visit www.ripeme.com
Organic sense
• Organic produce requires high quality soil and more good bacteria, both of which feed plants naturally – significantly increasing the nutrients the plants contain.
• One study found organic food contains significantly more calcium, iron, potassium and zinc than the average conventional crops, as well as 25 percent less of the toxic element mercury.
• Our bodies now show that after four generations of exposure to toxic agricultural chemicals, babies today have a toxic load before they are even born. This can affect the nervous system, increases the risk of cancer and decreases fertility.
Veg alert
You might be surprised at what makes our list of the fruits and vegetables with the highest average pesticide levels:
• Apples
• Peppers
• Carrots
• Celery
• Cherries
• Grapes
• Lettuce
• Nectarines
• Peaches
• Pears
• Strawberries – which can receive 500 pounds of pesticides per acre
