Organic farming refers to agricultural production systems used to produce food and fiber without the use of synthetic pesticides or fertilizers. The majority of current farming is conventional and uses these products in order to get larger yields more quickly. All kinds of agricultural products are produced organically, including produce, grains, meat, dairy, eggs, fibers such as cotton, flowers, and processed food products. Some of the essential characteristics of organic systems include: design and implementation of an "organic system plan" that describes the practices used in producing crops and livestock products; a detailed recordkeeping system that tracks all products from the field to point of sale; and maintenance of buffer zones to …show more content…
Muthyam is a library assistant at Fielder Engineering Library in Manhattan, Kansas and is involved in an internship at Advise Technologies. He specializes in computer software and focuses his free time pursuing environmental science as a hobby. His editorial attempts to convince students and young consumers to believe in the validity of this concept. Muthyam uses the above definition of organic farming, specifically noting the absence of the use chemicals or pesticides and the reduction in potential for ground water contamination. He goes on to state, with less cited evidence, that it can feed the world. He generalizes and states it is better for our health and the long term sustainability of our population. Muthyam argues in favor of organic farming and against conventional farming all together. He gives claims, warrants and evidence to prove his points in order to attempt to sway the readers to understand that organic farming is the best choice over conventional farming. He explained the cost effects, and acknowledged concerns that students, and consumers might have. Muthyam was very persuasive throughout his …show more content…
First, according to researchers at McGill, University of Minnesota, “overall, organic yields are 25% lower than conventional.” The study notes that crop yields from organic farming are generally lower than from conventional agriculture. That is particularly true for cereals, which are staples of the human diet – yet the yield gap is much less significant for certain crops, and under certain growing conditions, according to the researchers. Yields of legumes and soybeans and fruits are closer to those of conventional crops according to the study. When best management practices are used for organic crops, overall yields are just 13% lower than conventional levels. Improvements in organic management techniques, or adoption of organic agriculture under environmental conditions where it performs best, may help close the yield gap, they indicate. Professor Foley states “By combining organic and conventional practices in a way that maximizes food production and social good while minimizing adverse environmental impact, we can create a truly sustainable food system.” So, while I agree that the increased cost of organic farming is probably justified I would have to argue it’s more for the points of benefit below than due to its ability to produce higher
Chidambaram, India’s minister for food and agriculture supports the use of technology in agriculture but it leads to many farmers competing for who is best at using the technology (Doc. 4). This is a negative consequence because the competition would lead to conflicts between farmers on resources in their contest to be the better farmer. Dr. Vandana Shiva, an Indian physicist points out that a result of the Green Revolution was that more chemicals were being inputted into the soil which would ultimately hurts the land (Doc. 6). As a physicist, her words have great credibility because as a scientist, she truly understands the damage chemical products can do to the environment. These chemicals include pesticides, hybrid seeds and synthetic fertilizers that could potentially harm the soil. The negative consequences of the Green Revolution can be seen in
Muthyam’s article states, “conventional farming’s dependency on chemical fertilizers destroys topsoil,” (Muthyam 4) and without healthy topsoil we can never produce more antioxidants or carbon. The increased production of these elements could alleviate climate change. The human beings who feel strongly about the climate change issue would be challenged on their “Bt gene” eating habits. Muthyam makes the reader think twice about buying conventional farming products because they are contributing to the problem presented. No one likes to hear about others starving which strikes the reader when they read organic farming can feed masses. The article states “we could feed our entire population through urban agriculture alone” (Muthyam 6). She also refers to the chemicals and synthetic fertilizers as being poison, which gets people double-taking their decisions to consume these conventional products. Consumers of conventional produce wouldn’t consider eating a product if it was directly labeled as
6. "Organic Farming." US Environmental Protection Agency. 29 July 2009. Web. 15 Feb. 2011. .
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%
The farm uses a cycle of animals, which include cows, chickens, turkeys, bunnies, and pigs, in order to keep the land fertile which allows for little use of external human made input. Polyface farm also takes hours of work everyday to upkeep unlike factory farms where it’s mostly automated. The farm also makes use of forested areas and other non-farmed resources, which forces them to protect that land from being cut down to receive those benefits. However, organic farming’s limiting factor is human population growth and the resources needed by the growing population.
Well to start Organic food is grown by farmers who use renewable resources, and this is to keep soil and water from being over used while also hopefully enhancing the environment around them for future generations of farmers. Organic produce is food that has been grown without the aid of most of the conventional pesticides, synthetic federalizers, GMO’S (genetically modified organisms), ionized radiation, or sewage sludge, Organic animals that produce meat, eggs, poultry, or any dairy products are not given any antibiotics or GMOS. Farmers that want to have their produce or animals to be “organic” They must meet all necessary rules and regulations made by the USDA (Untied States Department of Agriculture) and their farm must be inspected by a certified government inspector. The main differences between organic and conventional food is basically just the way that it is grown or handled by farmers. Not to mention the things that are used to help the plants or animals grow, while organic has a strict guideline to follow. conventionally grown foods have much less guide lines to follow such as the pesticides, GMO or fertilizers used in the aid of growth of plants or
Organic foods are those grown without the use of growth hormones, antibiotics, synthetic pesticides, or chemical fertilizers. Genetically modifying crops is also not preformed in organic farming. Soil fertility can be maintained using crop rotation, cultivation practices, and cover crops. Natural fertilizers and pesticides are still considered to be included in organic farming (Winter & Davis, 2006). Products that are controlled with cultivation conditions rather than chemical-synthetic pesticides include organic products (Woese, Lange, Boess & Werner Bogl, 1999). The use of synthetic pesticides and materials falls under conventional farming. If the materials are on the National List of Allowed and Prohibited Substances, it can, however, be considered organic. A process that chemically changes a substance extracted from naturally occurring sources is considered a synthetic material (Winter & Davis, 2006).
A. A. The “What's So Great About Organic Food?” Time. 176.9 (2010): 30-40. Online.
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.
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.
Sup Point B: Organic food is different from conventional food in several ways. Organic food uses natural resources like manure and compost in to enrich the soil where food is being grown. Any form of chemicals such as pesticides are not permitted to be used in any form. Organic farmers use crop rotation to preserve the soil. Organic farmersdo not ...
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
Conclusion: Now a day’s organic food is getting popular and people are getting aware about the health promoting benefits of having organic food and it is easily available in the grocery store labeled as organic. The main reason most of the people don’t opt for organic food is it is higher in price, we have a false sense that conventional food comes at lower price, the price does not include the government spending on cleaning of pollution caused by producing such conventional produces, and government subsidies on agriculture, these are all tax payers money and ultimately goes from our pocket, thus why thing on short term benefits of conventional food, when organic food has long term benefit on our health , environment and future.
Thirty years later, organic farming was in high demand, but suffered developing pains. Although there was agreements being made, there was no regulations put forth towards organic farming. Fast forwarding to present time, many consumers are starting to purchase organic food products even making it a trend. Written in Inouye, Alena, and McCauley’s 2006 article “Organic Farming Should Be Pursued”, “organic farming is gaining in popularity due to Americans ' increasing concern about food safety and environmental protection.” This quote assumes the reasoning behind the sudden popularity in organic farming is society’s attraction towards the idea of a cleaner food industry and environment. The article also mentions, “As a result, sales of organic foods in the United States have increased by more than 20 percent every year since 1996, reaching $7.8 billion in 2000.”(Inouye, Alena, McCauley) The fact that popularity towards organic farming grows at a rate of 20 percent every single year further proves how its movement has such an impact towards the consumers of
they can increase choice of organic foods. Nevertheless, for the majority of people, they need cheaper food, and they should regard conventional foods as their first choice. No matter what people choose organic or conventional foods, their main purpose is to get a healthier body. If people focus on changing their eating habits, not comparing organic foods with conventional foods, they will be healthier. As long as people can change their eating habits like eating more vegetables and less meat, they will get a healthier body whether they eat organic or conventional foods.