Background Of Organic Agriculture

According to The Atlantic Magazine, organic means, “Organic means crops are grown without artificial pesticides, fertilizers, GMOs(genetically modified organisms), irradiation, or sewage sludge, and animals raised without hormones or antibiotics”(The Atlantic, Defining Organic: The Difference Between Sustainable and Local). The industrial organic food chain does not use harmful chemicals such as pesticides or herbicides. In The Omnivore’s Dilemma, Michael Pollan says, “Organic farming rules do not allow chemical weed killers, so Greenway has to use other methods to fight weeds”(Pollan 140). The fields are watered to get any weed seeds to grow before the plants are to be grown. Then, the farmers uses a tractor to plow the weeds. The farmers do this several times. Later, the farmers use propane torches to burn any remaining weeds. “The result of all this hard work is fields that look just as clean as if chemical weed killers had been used"(Pollan 140). When Michael Pollan says this, he is explaining that, because they plow the fields and do not use toxic chemicals, there are no harmful chemicals which can seep into the food and water supply and poison the consumers. Also, industrial organic farmers are changing. They are drifting away from the industrial way of only growing one or two crops per farm and are slowly starting to grow many crops per farm. “"The efforts of organic farmers to

As an alternative to the industrial food chain which is now prevail in the US, the organic food chain emphasis that “nature rather than the machine should supply the proper model for agriculture” (Pollan 131). The idea of “organic” is best demonstrated by farms that raise diversified species in a traditional way and target at the local market. However, most of the “organic food” people consume today is produced from the “industrial organic” farms which belong to the industrial food chain instead of the ideal organic food

The new idea of organic food involved many farmers in agricultural practices to learn about grow better products and livestock, farmers were making conclusions and trying to learn the most possible for be part of the new success. “Their goals were to grow the most nutritious food possible, while protecting the soil for future generations,”

The rise of organic farming in the United States came about following the general push to return to a more natural way of life in the late 1960s and 1970s. This was really a return to the traditional farming methods that were used exclusively until the rise of industrial farming in the 1920s. A major force behind this movement was science writer, Rachel Carson who published Silent Spring in 1962 (History). In this work, she focused on the loss of songbirds due to the widespread use of DDT and the otherwise “indiscriminate use of chemical pesticides, fertilizers, and weed killers” (History). The label “organics” sprung from consumer pressure

The history of organic foods is controversial. When consumers hear the term "organic", many expect foods that are treated with fewer or no "bad chemicals", foods that are more nutritious, or "natural", and those that are less processed or may entail closer care and attention to crops and livestock. However, this is a long list of expectations that are difficult to meet, so the question is actually whether or not the certification process and benefits are worth the hassle. When it comes to health, there is no difference between organic and conventional produce. Both offer the same nutrient benefits. While choosing to eat fresh produce is better for your health than processed food, choosing organic does not lead to any additional benefits. This

Organic farming is becoming an increasingly popular market throughout the world. (Adam, 2004, p. 666). The aims of organic farming are, to decrease pollution, maintain soil fertility and biodiversity, be more sustainable, and have increased nutritional benefits than conventionally grown foods (Yaping et. al., 2003, p. 298). While the aim of conventional farming is to provide safe, proficient supplies of food, in abundance and at low prices (Trewavas, 2001, p.409). Since 1996, the amount of land in the UK dedicated to organic farming has risen tenfold (Adam, 2004, p. 666). As well, from 1992 to 1997, the amount of certified organic cropland in the US more than doubled (Tafel et al, 2007, p.182 ). The main difference between organic and

One of my bones of contention is that the consumer reads the 'organic ' term so frequently that marketing has inadvertently diluted the 'organic ' term 's validity. For a starter, soil has to be fertile to grow produce - apparently, fertile soil benefits from even greater quantities of chemical fertilizer; of the premise, organic matter isn 't available en mass, to facilitate our inflated populace; hence, it 's pure ignorance to systematically take the view organic produce hasn 't been treated and claim it has more superior qualities. Oh yes, the imperialist Supermarkets dictate the tune to which our farmers ' 'grange ' dance to, due to authoritative policies ridding advertising standard powers to watchdogs meaning the supermarkets are allowed to use every trick in the book to capitalise on sales; affirmation, why the organic label is 100% marketing.

Research suggests that organic farming is a sustainable system of agriculture because it builds a toxin free biologically diverse ecosystem, controls soil erosion, and enhances the quality of air and water by reducing the hazardous chemicals.

The term organic itself is primarily a labeling term that is used on a broad spectrum of foods that have been grown through particular methods and practices, which have been approved by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the National Organics Program (NOP). Organic foods are not limited to just fruits and vegetables other entities include: poultry, grains,milk, eggs, and wheat. The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) defines and regulates the use of “organic” food labels. According to the USDA, the term organic is described as unprocessed/raw agricultural products and ingredients that have been carefully farmed, while complying with the USDA organic standards. Organic farmers depend on many factors: soil quality, natural substances, mechanical, physical or biological farming techniques. In order for produce to fall under the organic standards, there are several specific requirements that have to be met.

Organic Farming is the practice of producing food without the use of harmful chemicals that can cause great damage to the environment. Their production is natural and is done without the use of things like pesticides, herbicides or growth hormones in order to protect the surrounding areas. They are produced without synthetic chemicals and no genetic modification can be used for these particular plants. These plants are supposed to have higher nutritional quality without artificial fertilisers or synthetic chemicals. Organic Farming falls within the Agriculture and Fisheries sector as it involves cultivating of land to grow foods.

Organic foods are defined as products “generally grown without synthetic pesticides or fertilizers and without the routine use of antibiotics or growth hormones” (Brandt). Health conscious consumers have driven up the demand for organically grown foods from a $3.6 billion industry in 1997 to over $24.4 billion in 2011. According to Consumer Reports, organic foods can cost anywhere from 47% more in price to 300% in some

Organic food promotes a healthy way to live along with improving one?s overall health. This commitment in changing lifestyle has an alternative name known as alternative farming. This movement began to improve the lives of rule farming communities. To eventually conserve natural resources such as soil and water in that area. The term organic farming tries to follow the practices of not using pesticides to begin the process to transfer conventional fields into organic it takes approximately three years. There is a common myth that organic food is healthier and lacks the toxicity of conventional foods. All there is no proof regardless of higher cost many prefer organic due to better tasting

In recent years, there has been a huge conversion by farmers from conventional to organic farming due to the increased demand by consumers for products that are produced with fewer synthetic chemicals and hormones. The Center for American Progress estimated an increase of approximately 17 billion dollars from 23 billion dollars in 2002 to 40 billion dollars in 2006 (Center for Progress, 2008). As opposed to conventional farming, which uses chemical fertilizers, pesticide sprays, and herbicides, organic farming requires that farmers comply with the regulations and standards set by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) such as requiring the crops be produced and handled without synthetic, prohibited non-synthetic, and non-agricultural substances and ingredients as well as unapproved vaccines, ionizing radiation, and sewage sludge (USDA Code of Federal Regulations). Table 1 includes a list of what practices are permitted in conventional and organic farming as stipulated by the USDA.

The word Organic can be defined in multiple ways but what the word basically means that the product is derived from living matter. Organic farming produces organic food. The goal is to encourage soil and water conservation, reduce pollution, and constrain conventional methods to fertilize and control weeds. According to the U.S Food and Drug Administration “The term "organic" is not defined by law or regulations FDA enforces.”

The National Organic Standards Boards defines organic agriculture is ìan ecological production management system that promotes and enhances biodiversity, biological cycles and soil biological activity. It is based on minimal use of off-farm inputs and on management practices that restore, maintain and enhance ecological harmony. The primary goal of organic