Environmental Benefits Of Organic Farming

Humans initially began farming organically when European farmers began to notice a decrease in soil quality and crop health due to the use of chemical fertilizers (UCSC). This problem that presented itself to crop farmers left no other alternative than to cease the use of chemical fertilizers and begin implementing less harmful supplements in order to improve crop quality, otherwise known as organic farming. Organic agriculture takes into account “the medium and long-term effect of agricultural interventions” (“What are the environmental benefits of organic agriculture” 1), by taking preemptive measures, whereas industrial farming addresses problems as they arise. Organic agriculture is carried out by several soil building practices such as

These organic produce are spotted next to a less expensive nonorganic alternative at your local organic grocery store. Unlike organic produce, nonorganic produce is grown with chemicals that “cause produce to mature faster, thereby eliminating many of the nutrients that the natural ripening process would create” (1). By disrupting the natural rhythm of the ripening process, chemical fertilizers and pesticides eliminate the development of many micronutrients that are beneficial to the health of the consumer (CITE). This health advantage that is created by eating organic produce motivates consumers to buy organic produce over nonorganic produce regardless of the price

The pesticides used by industrial farmers usually kills off all the nutrients within the soil that the soil can not adequately yield the same quantity of produce as before, resulting in the clearing of new land for future harvests. Every time land is cleared for industrial farming purposes, habitats are being destroyed and soil nutrients are being deleted. Alternatively, organic farming is the equivalent of reforestation. Organic farms provide an excellent habitat for many insects and other organisms thereby increasing biodiversity within the environment. If you’ve ever walked within fifty feet of an organic farm, you might remember the pungent smell of manure. Even though the smell isn’t so pleasing to the human senses, manure is used as natural fertilizer for the growing of fruits and vegetables consequently eliminating chemical fertilizers and their health