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Importance of organic agriculture
Importance of organic farming Essay
Importance of organic agriculture
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Organic Diet The definition of organic is when food/animals are grown without the use of fertilizers or pesticides. For many the word organic simply means, healthy. Eating an all organic diet can be extremely beneficial to an individual and the environment. The most well-known claim to why most of the general public chooses to not pursue an organic diet is simply because they can not afford it. The claim can easily be countered because an individual can find ways to incorporate an organic diet into their life. However, this particular diet is not only beneficial to the individual, but also to the animals and the environment. Eating an all organic diet should be prevalent in the daily life of society. The argument that organic foods are not …show more content…
When crops are in season, the produce is always cheaper. This is the case even for organic produce. It is the basic law of supply and demand. During the summer, if someone wanted to go to the farmers market to purchase some fresh, organic strawberries, they would be cheaper than if it was being purchased in a grocery store during the winter. Not only will buying in season save money, the quality of the Rodriguez 2 product is very appealing to the person purchasing. Good quality is a must when it comes to purchasing food. Several studies, including The Organic Center, “... have reported that organic produce stores better and has a longer shelf life than conventional produce. This, of course, positively affects taste” (Theuer). The organic food that is made/harvested naturally is bound to be more satisfying because the quality is noticeably better. Apples, for instance, are one the most preferred organic fruits over conventional. Because organic apples are crisper and firmer after being in storage the flavor tends to noticeably last. The levels of antioxidants that are higher have also contributed to the distinct flavor that the produce is given. When it comes to organic …show more content…
With all this in mind, going organic should no longer be a question. The price of an all organic diet is not only manageable, but it is also kinder to the environment and animals of this planet. Often times when the general public consumes conventional food, they take in a great deal of harmful chemicals. In organic farming, “... there is minimal soil, air, and water pollution; thus ensuring a safer and healthier world for the future generations to live in” (Organic Facts). Everyday harmful chemicals go into the earth by humans who are farming conventional produce. Pesticides are another harmful pollutant that goes into the environment which endangers our planet because it kills the insects and disrupts they way nature works. By going organic a person can eliminate the risk of these harmful chemicals going into the environment and their bodies, causing harm for all. Not only will lack of growth of Rodriguez 3 organic food harm the environment, but it also is dangerous for the animals. On an organic farm, “ ... an organic livestock producer must create and maintain living conditions that accommodate natural behavior and health of the animal” (University of Florida). The way animals are raised
It not only tastes better, but are closer to a maximum of nutrition than store-bought produce (Source D)
Steven Shapin is an expert when it comes to telling people the reality of the situation. In his, article “What Are You Buying When You Buy Organic?” Shapin exposes and explains the truth behind the word organic. He explains that our view on organic is not a reality. The small farms that we picture in our heads are really just big business in disguise and these big businesses are trying to do good by supposedly not using harmful pesticides. Which are supposed to not damage the environment but in reality they are probably not making any sort of difference. Some people care about the environment, while others are buying taste when it comes to organic food but using different pesticides are going to help the taste, only freshness tastes the best.
A gene used for pest control, Bt, has infected these foods. You would never know this gene existed because it’s not included in the label. Organic foods are specifically labeled as organic whenever you may find them at a grocery store or elsewhere. These foods are known as being essentially grown in healthy soil, in other words, a soil that isn’t infected with poisonous, synthetic fertilizers, insecticides, herbicides, or fungicides. Although organic foods are more expensive, it is only the result from the frequent crop rotations completed by the farmers during long, hot hours under the sun. Conventional farming methods destroy topsoil whereas organic farming can improve the overall health of the topsoil. Farmers who partake in organic farming view it as feeding the soil and not the plants. Due to this thinking method, a healthy soil provides healthy plants, healthy people and a healthy environment. Organic farming has the ability to feed an entire population and put an end to starvation. The dangerous pesticides that are added with conventional farming are outdated and risky to mankind. Relying on synthetic fertilizers and chemicals are paralyzing our
Organic refers to the way agricultural products, food and fiber, are grown and processed. “It is an ecological system that at its core relies on a healthy rich soil to produce strong plants that resist pests and diseases. Organic farming prohibits the use of toxic and persistent chemicals in favor of more “earth-friendly” practices that work in harmony with nature. In the case of livestock, antibiotics are prohibited, opting instead for preventative measures for keeping animals healthy and productive. Organic production also prohibits the use of genetically modified organisms (GMO’s).” (Ameriorganic) To find organic products one must only look for the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) seal. The seal certifies the product must be 95%
Eating healthy can be an effective and beneficial way to live a long a vigorous life. Certain foods are considered the key to daily nutrition that every person needs in order to completely function throughout the day. These foods that are considered “healthy”, provides individuals with vitamins, minerals, nutrients and replenishes the necessities that the body needs to stay well. On the other hand, eating healthy foods can sometimes be a long-term obligation and be somewhat expensive. In many case, organic food is considered healthy but has been found to be somewhat more expensive than regular market food. In many instances people do not consider all aspects of
With the world’s population continuing to increase, the demand for food is higher than ever. This increase in food demand also calls for more efficient ways of growing and providing the food. Two methods that are very controversial are the organic and conventional method. While many people support the organic method because of its known benefits, others feel that it is an over inflated industry that cheats consumers out of their money. But recently many studies have disproved those critics. These studies prove that Organic food is a better choice than conventional because it is better for the environment, avoids the use of chemicals, and is generally more beneficial.
If people are conscious about their health and what they put inside their bodies, they should consider refraining from animal products, or if that is not reasonable for their lifestyle, consider reducing the amount of animal products in their diets. Finding a local farm and ensuring that the farmer endorses organic products can also serve as an alternative. According to the United States Department of Agriculture, organic food is defined as “food produced by farmers who emphasize the use of renewable resources and the conservation of soil and water to enhance environmental quality for future generations. Organic meat, poultry, eggs, and dairy products come from animals that are given no antibiotics or growth hormones”(National Agricultural Library). A “comprehensive meta-analysis on organic foods” done by Carlo Leifort, PhD at Newcastle University, tested 343 studies and confirmed that organic foods have an increased amount of antioxidants and a reduced amount of toxic pesticides, thus confirming that organic food has several health
For years organic farmers and conventional farmers have feuded over which is superior. Organic farmers argue that their product is more eco-friendly because they do not use the synthetic chemicals and fertilizers conventional farmer’s use. Conventional farmers argue that their product is healthier and yields more. People tend to have stereotypes regarding the two types of farmers. Organic farmers are usually thought of as liberal, hippy, tree-huggers while conventional farmers are usually thought of as right-wing, industrialists. Obviously, some do adhere to this stereotype, but a majority of these farmers are normal, hardworking people. Although these farmers, both believe in their methods, one is no better than the other. There are advantages and disadvantages to both, but there is no true superior method of crop farming.
I try to eat healthy and purchase fresh produce. I am aware of a lot of chemicals that get pumped through fruits and vegetables, even the meat we buy. These are all factors that influence my purchases when it comes to groceries. I will admit that I do not buy totally organic, but that is also heavily related to the cost. Organic items are priced much higher than products that are not. I do try to find sales, and stick to organic, hormone free products as often as I can. I believe that a lot the chemicals being used to mass produce, and produce faster crops is not only harmful to ourselves, but it also can’t be good being put back into the environment. Many of the pesticides used will end up in groundwater and from there it is anyone’s guess. Having these chemicals sink deep beneath earth cannot be good. We also need to consider where these chemicals will end up and how that can affect us. I am also always hearing that organic is better because it’s better to support local farmers rather than the huge corporations that are contributing to the environmental
A study of 362 datasets found that organic agriculture produces 80% of conventional yield with 21% standard deviation (Tomek et al. 2012). Second, organic farming requires less energy input which equates to less money spend from the farmers in addition to lowering carbon emissions. A study by the Department of Environment shows that organic agriculture uses 25 percent less than energy than their chemical counterparts, and certain crops like organic leeks and broccoli use 58 and 49 percent less, respectively (Bialis et al. 2013). Third, organic farming does not use pesticides. According to the World Health Center, 20,000 people die annually from the exposure of pesticides (Costa et al. 2014). Fourth, the methods that organic farmers use are better for the environment in the long run. And lastly, organic farming creates more jobs. A study done in United Kingdom shows 93,000 jobs could be created if Britain were to make a full scale shift to organic farming (Herro 2006). Although conventional agriculture is the primary producer for food currently, a large scale shift to organic agriculture is better suited to feed the world because organic agriculture can produce at adequate yield, requires less energy input, do not use
The term “organic” is almost everywhere in modern society, whether it’s used to promote a product or it’s debated on whether it really benefits the human diet. Organic food is heavily debated on as it appears more and more in local grocery stores and farmers markets begin to populate, it raises questions such as “Is organic food better than food grown with pesticides and biologically engineered genes?” and “Are there benefits to eating organically over foods grown in any other way?” In terms of what data and results show in research may help lead to answers to most of the heavily debated issues throughout discussions on organic food.
First of all, the main reason that people choose organic food is that people think organic foods have less chemical residue, such as pesticide, and fertilizer. In the article “Organic foods contain higher levels of certain nutrients, lower levels of pesticides, and may provide health benefits for the consumer”, Crinnion indicated that organic foods just had 33 percent of the amount of pesticide and fertilizer residues that found in conventional foods, and conventional foods contain two or more types of chemical residues than organic foods (Crinnion, 2010). In addition, Crinnion used a study of Seattle preschoolers as an example to demonstrate organic foods have less pesticide residues. The study of Seattle concluded that children who ate more conventional foods had six times higher level of pesticide resi...
They present a healthy, ecofriendly alternative to commercial retail food stores. Supermarkets buy in bulk, and naturally, that may lead to the assumption that they also sell cheaper. According to a study by Jake Robert Claro, a graduate student at Bard College's Center for Environmental Policy, the opposite is true. For strictly conventionally grown produce items, farmers’ market prices tend to be lower than grocery store prices.
stores such as Sam’s Club or Costco is huge. It is economical to buy frequently used
As we stroll the aisles of our local supermarkets we see all kinds of food products, but does it ever occur to you how fresh or natural these products maybe. Organic farming prohibits any use of artificial chemicals, growth hormones, or antibiotics in the production of its crops and livestock. Organic farming has existed for centuries, but after the industrial revolution factory farming was arising. Organic farming does not allow the use of any pesticides in its crops or livestock production, but also helps sustain a good economic flow in rural communities. Although there are many benefits of organic farming, there is a lack of credibility some farmers provide within the distribution of their products and some argue that there’s no difference