Organic-plus quality
We source our seeds from various seed producers in Germany and the Netherlands. Before we add a new variety to our range, we test the different seeds extensively so that they grow well and deliver a good yield.
Conventional organic quality is a thing of the past – today it's hyper-local organic-plus quality.
With the smart indoor gardens from urbanhive you reach a new level of organic quality. Conventional organic quality with a plus in nutrients, flavour, sustainability and transparency.
On this page you'll learn why we offer a plus in organic quality – and why we still can't be certified as organic.
1. Healthier
Growing directly at home removes the transport, which makes our plants fresher, richer in nutrients and healthier. You harvest and eat at the same time. That preserves vitamins and antioxidants, maximising freshness and nutrient content. Thanks to the optimal, protected growing conditions in the hydroponic system in your home, you always get healthy plants that grow without any soil.
For comparison: the average transport distance from field to supermarket for lettuce and the like is between 200 and 450 km (source: ifeu (2013)). What's more, dangerous bacteria quickly develop in supermarket products (sources: Verbraucherzentrale NRW (2020); Nagel (2020)).
2. More flavourful
When hand-picking our seeds we look for organic seed that provides a full-bodied flavour and is very easy to digest. We focus on the best seed quality and on regional sourcing.
For comparison: storing fresh plant products increasingly leads to anaerobic metabolic processes that encourage off-flavours to develop (source: Gruber (2014)).
3. More sustainable
Lower water consumption and fewer transport routes reduce the CO₂ footprint and make a significant contribution to protecting the environment – an advantage that traditional organic products don't offer. Our smart indoor gardens rely on resource-saving growing methods: the hydroponic process uses between 90 and 95% less water.
To put that in context: agriculture uses 237 l of water per kg of lettuce (sources: Mekonnen and Hoekstra (2011); Federal Statistical Office of Germany (2020)).
4. More transparent
You know exactly how and where your food grows. Without middlemen or the uncertainties that can arise in traditional organic supply chains, you have complete control over and confidence in the quality.
Why no organic certification?
Although we actually offer more advantages than classic organic quality, we cannot be officially certified as organic, because we grow hydroponically and growing in soil is a criterion for organic certification. Our urbanhive experience and our smart indoor gardens set new standards and go beyond the familiar "organic quality", as they are healthier, more sustainable and more flavourful. On top of that you enjoy full transparency.
More than organic
We stand for organic-plus quality.