AGRICULTURE AND ITS INFLUENCE ON FOOD NUTRITION AND TASTE
WHAT SCIENCE SAYS
How does the type of agriculture practiced influence the taste, nutrition of our food, and consequently our health?
In today's world, knowing what to eat tremendously influences our choice of certain foods produced in specific agricultural systems. Due to the expansion of hyper-intensive agriculture types, the quality of food from this type of agriculture is no longer as nutritional and doesn't have as pleasant a taste as food produced using agroecological techniques. According to scientific studies, the quality of soils and their respective microbiomes is essential for obtaining nutritious and flavorful foods. In mono-intensive agriculture, the microbiome and the corresponding soil take a back seat due to the intensive application of cultural practices, pesticides, and a lack of biodiversity. Now, since this community of microbes (fungi, bacteria, protozoa, etc.) is related to nutrient production, and if it is weakened through unnatural agricultural practices, the produced food will obviously be affected.
This theme has been extensively studied in vineyards to understand the microbiome's influence on the development of aromas and flavors in grape berries. (1) In other studies, it has been concluded more generally that food produced in organic agriculture is more flavorful. (5)
It has also been studied that soil microbiomes directly affect our own microbiome and, consequently, the quality of our health. (2) (3) Ecologically cultivated foods themselves are nutritionally richer. They contain a far greater number of antioxidants and a lower amount of pesticide residues than conventional foods. (4) (5)
The influence of the microbiome on our food doesn't only apply to its production. Even in its processing, specifically in fermented products like wine, choosing wild and native cultures will create products with more interesting and complex flavors instead of using laboratory-cultivated yeasts. (6) (7)
Therefore, it's important for consumers to be well aware of where their food comes from because it indeed has a significant impact on their health and the entire sensory experience of eating.
by
Tiago Cartageno
Owner of Quinta Vila Rachel
(1) https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmicb.2019.01607/full
(3) https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5962619/
(4) https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5658984/
(5) https://news.wsu.edu/2014/07/11/major-study-documents-benefits-of-organic-farming/#.U8AkH41dXA3