Life is busy — and I don’t know about you, but right now it feels like it just keeps getting busier and busier. Taking the time to think about the food you eat can be hard enough as it is, and then you have to fight through all the noise to decipher what’s actually good for you. If you’re anything like me, you’re weighing up what’s good for your health, the planet, and your hip pocket.
While I’m obviously biased in my opinion, hopefully I can give those of you sitting on the fence some reasons why buying less meat, but better quality organic meat, is the right choice. And for those of you who are already all-in on organic, maybe a few more reasons to keep going.
So before we dive into the benefits, let’s clarify what “certified organic” actually means — because this part is important.
In Australia, meat labelled certified organic has been independently audited against strict standards set out in the National Standard for Organic and Bio-Dynamic Produce. These standards ensure animals are raised:
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Without synthetic pesticides, fertilisers, or GM feed
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With no routine antibiotics or growth hormones
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On pasture-based diets with humane conditions
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Under third-party verification from audit to farm gate
It’s important to note that certification isn’t legally required to claim “organic” for domestic sale in Australia. But without it, there’s no real way to know whether a producer or retailer actually meets these standards. You’re trusting that what they say is legitimate — but there’s no proof.
For organic meat to be sold through a butcher shop, the butcher, abattoir, and farmer must all be certified. At Hagen’s, we choose certification because transparency matters — especially when you’re feeding the people you love most.
So now that we understand the difference between organic and certified organic, what are the actual benefits?
Your Brain
Organic meat often contains higher levels of omega-3 fatty acids — the “good fats.” I could go on a rant about why fat is better than seed oils (but I’ll leave that for another day). These fats support brain development, cognitive function, and immune health.
Less Exposure to Chemicals
Organic meat is produced without routine antibiotics or synthetic chemicals. As the saying goes, you are a product of what you eat — and guess what? Animals are a product of what they eat too.
Chemicals can build up in animals as they move up the food chain, a process known as biomagnification. Long-term exposure to chemicals and antibiotics can lead to accumulation in the body and contribute to issues such as antibiotic-resistant bacteria.
Fitness and Health
Certified organic meat is a rich, complete protein source — essential for muscle repair and recovery. Beyond omega-3s, organic systems often produce meat with broader nutritional benefits, including higher antioxidant levels and increased micronutrients.
Better for the Environment
This is where the bigger picture comes into play.
You’ve probably heard a lot of people demonising meat or the meat industry, but the issue isn’t what we’re doing — it’s how we’re doing it. Organic farming isn’t just about avoiding chemicals; it’s about caring for ecosystems, soil health, biodiversity, and people.
Organic and regenerative farming encourages pasture access and rotational grazing while minimising external chemical inputs. Soil health is a huge focus for organic farmers because it’s the foundation everything is built on. Many farmers I speak to consider themselves soil farmers first, with animals being a by-product of good land management.
Nature isn’t a binary system, and unfortunately 1 + 1 doesn’t always equal 2. It’s better to think of it as a circle — pull a thread on one side and something unravels on the other, often without us realising how.
Chemicals like glyphosate (commonly known as Roundup) and superphosphate are products of Big Ag. While they deliver short-term results, they come from a mechanical way of thinking about the earth — and that approach comes at a cost.
Nature has a remarkable ability to balance itself. When you focus on biodiversity — plant, animal, and insect — nature can naturally address many of the problems. The result is better ground cover, reduced desertification, lower greenhouse gas emissions from input-heavy systems, and less water pollution from chemical runoff.
Research shows that organic and regenerative systems can improve ground cover, sequester carbon in soils, and reduce agricultural emissions. All of this helps Australia’s food system adapt to increasing climate pressures.
Animal Welfare
Last — but certainly not least — it’s about how animals are treated. Because let’s face it: meat isn’t just meat; it was once a living thing.
Understanding this and truly appreciating it allows us to consume more thoughtfully and waste less.
Certified organic standards require animals to express natural behaviours and live in lower-stress environments. There are limits on stocking density, requirements around feed intake, and minimum age standards at slaughter — many of which are often overlooked in conventional systems.
This ethical layer contributes to both animal welfare and human health.
So there you have it. Hopefully I’ve given you a few reasons to consider shopping organic in 2026. But don’t beat yourself up if you can’t always do it — it’s not about perfection, it’s about gradually moving toward a better way of consuming.
If you’d like to dig deeper, I’ve linked a few resources below to get you started.
https://www.organicseurope.bio/what-we-do/animal-welfare/?utm_source=chatgpt.com
https://www.sxcertified.com.au/
