Australia is known for two things: its meat (think beef and lamb) and its beaches (Byron Bay, the reef, Bondi). In our minds, the two have a lot in common — what's better than a day at the beach, throwing some rissoles, steaks or bangers on the barbie to enjoy after a nice swim? There's another, more sinister, link between meat and beaches in Australia that many of us don't know about. 

The nature of traditional agriculture includes having large amounts of animals in concentrated areas, using fertilisers for feed and maintenance of the fields where Australian cattle are kept, and consequently large amounts of animal waste which can include further pesticides, chemicals, GMO interference, medicine and vaccines, and toxins purged from the body. When it rains and potentially floods, run off occurs which picks up all of the nasty things in these fields, running as water does towards other sources of water.

Crop watering and field watering can lead to run off, which is when the soil deposits, animal waste and chemical sprays are picked up by water and runs off, far away from the field it started in.

All of this run off carries chemical pesticides, insecticides, fertilisers, GMO’s and waste right into our important bodies of water. This run off contributes to things like coral bleaching, destruction of coral forests, killing of fish and other sea creatures and water pollution which unbalances ecosystems. Without a secure ecosystem in the ocean many things are put at risk: food security for us and for livestock, accessibility for building materials made from coral rock and sand, and natural rock and coral defence against hazards such as coastal erosion and flooding.

Without proper care, chemical intervention can also enter our drinking water, which poses risk to our dental and physical health. The illusion that all Australians have access to clean water isn’t necessarily true, and low-income and Indigenous communities are more at risk of drinking unsafe water, and with continued agricultural production, could expand this area of unsafe drinking water to urban areas and cities. 

So does this mean you have to give meat up? Not necessarily. Life isn't as black and white at it may seem, there is another option. Can you guess? 

Organic agriculture reduces the consequences for our waterways by removing use of chemicals and finding cleaner ways to supply meat to consumers. As you know, organic farms like Bendele, Gooralie and Elliot’s farm deliver us high-quality, delicious meats without use of pesticides or GMO. They protect our waterways by ensuring any runoff is as natural as it can be, so if it reaches our waterways it is free of damaging chemicals. While removing chemicals, GMO’s and other damaging soil deposits from agricultural farming isn’t the one-and-done solution for water pollution, it is a huge step in assuring clean and pure water for all people, for all parts of life. Your beef, pork, seafood and poultry come guilt-free with Sunshine Coast Organic Meats and allows you to continue enjoying everything our water has to offer.  

Get the most out of our beloved ocean with these these salmon burgers.