Organic Farming Summary

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Organic Farming Summary

What is organic farming? Organic farming is farming is defined by the USDA as: “...Organic agriculture produces products using methods that preserve the environment and avoid most synthetic materials, such as pesticides and antibiotics.”(USDA) This means that organic farmers have jump through a certain amount of hoops to get certified in the United States. These hoops include; must preserve natural resources, support animal health and welfare, provide access for animals to go outside, only use approved material, no use of genetically modified ingredients, annual onsite inspections, and to keep organic food separate from non-organic food. This process is expensive and difficult because they are such high standards (Organic agriculture).

For countries that are in developing countries organic farming is normal way of farming there is no other choice for them. The conventional “synthetic materials” such as; fertilizers and pesticides, are not affordable or even available for farmers in developing countries to purchase making organic farming a better option. Naturally they are organic but are not getting the price break that US organic farmers are getting for the same organic produce (Current Price Issue).

Key Points

Organic Farming is becoming a bigger topic for debate in the United States. Organic produce/food is becoming more popular by the year. People say that organically grown food is healthier than conventional. There are no facts or data that show organic provides more nutrients than conventional produce. Many people who are against the use of pesticides and water soluble fertilizers support the companies that are stating these facts. Only problem with this is the public does not know what to beli...

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Health Benefits of Organic Food | Organic Facts. (n.d.). Organic Facts. Retrieved April 27, 2014, from http://www.organicfacts.net/organic-food/health-benefits-of-organic-food.html

FAQ. (n.d.). Organic Agriculture: Can organic farmers produce enough food for everybody?. Retrieved April 27, 2014, from http://www.fao.org/organicag/oa-faq/oa-faq7/en/

Spotlight: Organic farming. (n.d.). Spotlight: Organic farming. Retrieved April 27, 2014, from http://www.fao.org/ag/magazine/9901sp3.htm

United Nations Environment Programme. (n.d.). Organic agriculture in Uganda. Retrieved April 27, 2014, from http://www.unep.org/greeneconomy/SuccessStories/OrganicagricultureinUganda/tabid/2986

Organic Agriculture. (n.d.). U.S. Department of Agriculture. Retrieved April 30, 2014, from http://www.usda.gov/wps/portal/usda/usdahome?navid=organic-agriculture

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