The Pros And Cons Of Organic Farming

In order for farmers to label their products as USDA Organic they must adhere to the strict standards outlined in the organic certification program of the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The article, “Organic foods: Are they safer? More nutritious?” explains that these standards include how food is “grown, handled and processed”. Rather then using pesticides, organic farmers use methods such as beneficial insects and microorganisms and special disease resistant crop selection to protect their crops. They may use crop rotation and mulch to manage weeds. They do not use or include food additives, fortifying agents or preservatives in their products.

The topic of being healthy is currently trending in our world right now. Everyone wants to follow the idea and live some form of a healthy lifestyle. Along being healthy, there is the demand of eating healthy; which is not always easy. There are so many types of food to consider, that it is almost overwhelming to search for healthy options. These options can range from yogurt to granola or even the type of carrots we choose, especially when there are different forms of farming methods for our vegetables. These methods of farming include conventional farming or organic farming. The difference? Simple, one requires the use of harmful fertilizers and pesticides; the other does not. Therefore, when it comes to deciding on the right vegetables for your health, organically grown food is your best option, here’s why.

Traits of organic food can also be misconstrued in the sense of the ingredients and how it is different from the way processed food is produced. “In reality, certified organics have lower levels of chemical residue, Roethal argues, which is positive for consumers, farm workers and the land itself, but organic growing practices have no impact on how many nutrients, calories or grams of fat are in anyone's favorite foods”(SFGate). As mentioned previously in the quote, often times organic food can benefits one’s health because of the little amount in which chemicals and calories are in the substance. The concern about organic food is that it is substantially more expensive than non-organic food. However,“Organic food sales are increasing by double digits annually, and more than 80 percent of parents reported buying organic food for their families last year”, according to Batch. With the high-price of organic food, this could also be a reason on why people tend to lean more towards the less healthier items, all because of the low cost. Even though there are different and confusing standards on what organic really is, the ideal description would typically be foods that do not have the same producing process as non-organic food.

When considering differences between organic and conventional foods often the first thing people comment on is the nutritional value. Organic foods have grown in popularity due to the perception that they are better nutritionally. Barbara Hey (2009), health reporter and author of the article, “A Different Health Debate: Conventional versus Organic Food” and Smith-Spangier, Crystal, et al. (2012), emphasize that the benefits of organic foods and farming are important to society. That organic food can help protect what’s most valuable to people, their health. They suggest that eating a healthy diet rich in vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants is a good investment in preventative care. Jeff Gillman (2008) agrees and states, “ …preventing disease is much more cost effective than treating disease. Organic foods can play a vital role in keeping people healthy” (139).

Organic foods are those which are grown without hormones, pesticides, or synthetic fertilizers. Organic farming does have its advantages. It conserves water and soil resources, recycles animal waste, releases fewer chemicals, improves soil fertility, promotes diversity of crops, and protects farm workers, livestock, and wildlife from potentially harmful pesticides (AG). Are organic foods safer than conventional foods though? After all, they do claim to be better for consumers, which is a tactic to be avoided (Pollan). Not only can organic foods be contaminated with bacteria and synthetic pesticides, they are also more expensive than

Using the Mayo Clinic as a reference, I have developed the following opinion on organic foods that takes into account the financial aspects as well as the health ramifications of eating or not eating organic foods.

Organic farming began in the late 1940’s in the United States, and in recent years it has seen a dramatic increase in popularity (Rubin 1). The sales of organic food have been increasing by about 20 percent a year over the past decade (Marcus 1). That is over ten times the rate of their conventional counterparts (Harris 1). There are 10 million consumers of organic food in the United States, yet organic food represents only one percent of the nation’s food supply. This year organic food sales are expected to rise to six billion dollars (Rubin 1). So what is organic food? Organic food is that which are grown without hormones, pesticides, or synthetic fertilizers. Also, the soil in which organic food

Kip Pester, the author of the In Organic We Trust movie, suggests that people have to use organic food, because it is healthier, and it has more nutrients. It is made in a natural environment, and organic food is without pesticides. Organic food is healthier food; this gives a better health, and gives better quality. Organic foods have more nutrients. His interview and film is effective in convincing people that organic food is better for them. His film information is very good and helpful, but in contrast, he is not a researcher or a scientist.

The clear conclusions drawn from numerous studies targeting organic food are that organic food does not equal safe food, does not have clear nutritional advantage and does not have reduced level of naturally occurring toxins over conventional plants or livestock (80, 81). Fertilization enriches soils and provides nutrients in food, regardless of it being organic or chemical fertilizer. Risk of exposure to microbial contamination is not lower in organic food (82). Level of naturally occurring toxins such as aflatoxins in peanuts and grains, solanine in green parts of potatoes, goitrogens in some raw vegetables, and other poisons in mushrooms and herbs is not affected by the method of growing (81). Pesticides usages are monitored and will not pose harm to health when applied in regulated manner. However, the amount of pesticides residue is usually lower in organic food (82). One observational study and one systematic review found no protective value of organic food over eczema or atopy diseases (83, 84). Hence the claims being made over benefits of organic food can be concluded as misleading at best, and there is a pressing need for proper public education on this issue

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 food is food that comply with the standards of organic farming, this allows biodiversity among food. So far Europe, the US, Canada, Japan, Mexico. The standards of this practice for vegetables and other crops is to meet all of these following goals, enhance soil and water quality, reduce pollution, provide safe, healthy livestock habitats, enable natural livestock behavior, and promote a self-sustaining cycle of resources on a farm. But that not all, you need to restrain from using any of these following materials or practices, synthetic fertilizers to add nutrients to the soil, sewage sludge as fertilizer, most synthetic pesticides for pest control, irradiation to preserve food or to eliminate disease or pests, genetic engineering, used to improve disease or pest resistance or to improve crop yields, and antibiotics or growth hormones for livestock. Green manure, livestock manure, soil quality-improving compost, plant rotation, covering crops, usage of mulch, keeping of predatory insects, certain natural pesticides, healthy living conditions and access to the outdoors for cows, and proper vaccinations are accepted for organic farming. One health benefit for eating organic foods is that we will live longer than normal people. It will also affect your mental and emotional health Unfortunately the phrases “natural” and “organic” do not interchange and people do try to mix the two, natural means it was made with no artificial flavors, preservatives, or

Video “ Infact: Organic Food Myths” by Brian Dunning (DATE). Dunning two main points are: what is organic and is it healthier. According to Dunning what makes food organic is how it is farmed. Organic farming rejects modern agriculture development. To my surprise I found out that organic products are grown with fertilizer and pesticides, just as nonorganic products. The word organic is use as a marking tool to get individual to buy their products. Dunning also bring up that yes you may find a few study that says organic is healthier, but there are more study that show their no different. Each individual has the choice to believe what we want. Education is key knowing more about organic food is beneficial so am not fouled into spending

“Organic Foods: Health and Environmental Advantages and Disadvantage” describes that consumers suppose that farming organics is more benign to the environment since “organic farms do not use or release synthetic pesticides into the environment, some of which have the potential to harm soil.” Consumers get a sense of security knowing that their food is safe from toxins like pesticides, as well as a sense of responsibility for improving the earth’s welfare. This has become an increasingly important factor for purchasing organic foods, as the push for more environmentally friendly options has been increasingly prominent in this day and

Well yes it is because a healthy body means a healthy life. Healthier food contains less nutrients, but the organic food is mostly free of pesticide residue and antibiotic-resistant bacteria. According to the standards of the US United States Department of Agriculture, organic farms cannot use chemical pesticides and fertilizers, antibiotics and hormones. Animals grown for organic meat or milk must also spend some time in the pastures during grazing season. There is a huge amount of research on the effects of pesticides and hormones on human health. The effects range from various cancers to non-cancer dermatologic, reproductive, neurological and genotoxic

If we go to a supermarket around the corner, we can see several organic food products displayed on the shelves. It is also observed that many consumers prefer buying organic groceries over conventional foods to stay healthy. Also, many a times we hear people consuming organic dietary supplements daily for overall wellbeing. Why do the majority of people favor organic foodstuffs? Are they really nutritious and healthier? We tried finding answers and clarified controversies about the organic foods through this article.