Is it really organic? - Multi-isotopic analysis as a tool to discriminate between organic and conventional plants

K. H. Laursen; A. Mihailova; S. D. Kelly; V. N. Epov; S. Berail; J. K. Schjoerring; O. F. X. Donard; E. H. Larsen; N. Pedentchouk; A. D. Marca-Bell; U. Halekoh; J. E. Olesen; S. Husted

doi:10.1016/j.foodchem.2013.05.068

Is it really organic? - Multi-isotopic analysis as a tool to discriminate between organic and conventional plants

K. H. Laursen, A. Mihailova, S. D. Kelly, V. N. Epov, S. Berail, J. K. Schjoerring, O. F. X. Donard, E. H. Larsen, N. Pedentchouk, A. D. Marca-Bell, U. Halekoh, J. E. Olesen, S. Husted

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Abstract

Novel procedures for analytical authentication of organic plant products are urgently needed. Here we present the first study encompassing stable isotopes of hydrogen, carbon, nitrogen, oxygen, magnesium and sulphur as well as compound-specific nitrogen and oxygen isotope analysis of nitrate for discrimination of organically and conventionally grown plants. The study was based on wheat, barley, faba bean and potato produced in rigorously controlled long-term field trials comprising 144 experimental plots. Nitrogen isotope analysis revealed the use of animal manure, but was unable to discriminate between plants that were fertilised with synthetic nitrogen fertilisers or green manures from atmospheric nitrogen fixing legumes. This limitation was bypassed using oxygen isotope analysis of nitrate in potato tubers, while hydrogen isotope analysis allowed complete discrimination of organic and conventional wheat and barley grains. It is concluded, that multi-isotopic analysis has the potential to disclose fraudulent substitutions of organic with conventionally cultivated plants.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	2812-2820
Number of pages	8
Journal	Food Chemistry
Volume	141
Issue number	3
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foodchem.2013.05.068
Publication status	Published - 1 Dec 2013

Keywords

Authenticity testing
Compound-specific
Denitrifier method
Fertilisers
Organic agriculture
Plants
Stable isotopes

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10.1016/j.foodchem.2013.05.068

Cite this

Laursen, K. H., Mihailova, A., Kelly, S. D., Epov, V. N., Berail, S., Schjoerring, J. K., Donard, O. F. X., Larsen, E. H., Pedentchouk, N., Marca-Bell, A. D., Halekoh, U., Olesen, J. E., & Husted, S. (2013). Is it really organic? - Multi-isotopic analysis as a tool to discriminate between organic and conventional plants. Food Chemistry, 141(3), 2812-2820. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foodchem.2013.05.068

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title = "Is it really organic? - Multi-isotopic analysis as a tool to discriminate between organic and conventional plants",

abstract = "Novel procedures for analytical authentication of organic plant products are urgently needed. Here we present the first study encompassing stable isotopes of hydrogen, carbon, nitrogen, oxygen, magnesium and sulphur as well as compound-specific nitrogen and oxygen isotope analysis of nitrate for discrimination of organically and conventionally grown plants. The study was based on wheat, barley, faba bean and potato produced in rigorously controlled long-term field trials comprising 144 experimental plots. Nitrogen isotope analysis revealed the use of animal manure, but was unable to discriminate between plants that were fertilised with synthetic nitrogen fertilisers or green manures from atmospheric nitrogen fixing legumes. This limitation was bypassed using oxygen isotope analysis of nitrate in potato tubers, while hydrogen isotope analysis allowed complete discrimination of organic and conventional wheat and barley grains. It is concluded, that multi-isotopic analysis has the potential to disclose fraudulent substitutions of organic with conventionally cultivated plants.",

keywords = "Authenticity testing, Compound-specific, Denitrifier method, Fertilisers, Organic agriculture, Plants, Stable isotopes",

author = "Laursen, {K. H.} and A. Mihailova and Kelly, {S. D.} and Epov, {V. N.} and S. Berail and Schjoerring, {J. K.} and Donard, {O. F. X.} and Larsen, {E. H.} and N. Pedentchouk and Marca-Bell, {A. D.} and U. Halekoh and Olesen, {J. E.} and S. Husted",

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Laursen, KH, Mihailova, A, Kelly, SD, Epov, VN, Berail, S, Schjoerring, JK, Donard, OFX, Larsen, EH, Pedentchouk, N, Marca-Bell, AD, Halekoh, U, Olesen, JE & Husted, S 2013, 'Is it really organic? - Multi-isotopic analysis as a tool to discriminate between organic and conventional plants', Food Chemistry, vol. 141, no. 3, pp. 2812-2820. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foodchem.2013.05.068

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T1 - Is it really organic? - Multi-isotopic analysis as a tool to discriminate between organic and conventional plants

AU - Laursen, K. H.

AU - Mihailova, A.

AU - Kelly, S. D.

AU - Epov, V. N.

AU - Berail, S.

AU - Schjoerring, J. K.

AU - Donard, O. F. X.

AU - Larsen, E. H.

AU - Pedentchouk, N.

AU - Marca-Bell, A. D.

AU - Halekoh, U.

AU - Olesen, J. E.

AU - Husted, S.

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AB - Novel procedures for analytical authentication of organic plant products are urgently needed. Here we present the first study encompassing stable isotopes of hydrogen, carbon, nitrogen, oxygen, magnesium and sulphur as well as compound-specific nitrogen and oxygen isotope analysis of nitrate for discrimination of organically and conventionally grown plants. The study was based on wheat, barley, faba bean and potato produced in rigorously controlled long-term field trials comprising 144 experimental plots. Nitrogen isotope analysis revealed the use of animal manure, but was unable to discriminate between plants that were fertilised with synthetic nitrogen fertilisers or green manures from atmospheric nitrogen fixing legumes. This limitation was bypassed using oxygen isotope analysis of nitrate in potato tubers, while hydrogen isotope analysis allowed complete discrimination of organic and conventional wheat and barley grains. It is concluded, that multi-isotopic analysis has the potential to disclose fraudulent substitutions of organic with conventionally cultivated plants.

KW - Authenticity testing

KW - Compound-specific

KW - Denitrifier method

KW - Fertilisers

KW - Organic agriculture

KW - Plants

KW - Stable isotopes

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DO - 10.1016/j.foodchem.2013.05.068

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