Organic versus Non-Organic Food and Food Production

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Recommended: Literature review on why organic farming is better than conventional farming

Have you ever wondered what the difference is between organic and non organic food? Some may say there aren’t any differences in the food itself, but the real difference lies in the means of producing the food. The controversy here is the environmental effects of different farming methods. Some believe that organic farming methods are better than conventional farming methods and some believe the opposite. There are many factors to determine which method is better but we are here to investigate the environmental aspect of the question. In short organic farming is a method of farming where the techniques used are less damaging to the environment by not using synthetic chemical fertilizers and herbicides and limiting the amount of pesticides. Conventional farming is the method of farming that uses synthetic fertilizers pesticides and herbicides to ensure the production of higher yield crops. Conventional farmers often use genetic mutated seeds to cut the cost of chemical pesticides and increase the size of the fruit to be harvested. There are many pros and cons to both sides of this issue but after researching I will say that I believe that organic farming is definitely the way to go. Not only is it better for your own personal health through the consumption of the products derived from the methods used, it is also less damaging to the environment in many ways. First, let’s look at the big picture and the motives behind each type of farming methods. In the book Organic Foods by Debra A. Miller, she states that “organic farming is perhaps best understood by comparing it to conventional farming, which is the method used to produce the vast majority of the foods found in local supermarkets and eaten by most Americans and... ... middle of paper ... ...ganic farming is the way to go even if it costs more time and money to maintain a better environment for us all. Works Cited Dimbleby, Jonathan. "Organic Farming Is Good for the Environment." Conserving the Environment. Ed. Debra Miller, John Woodward, and Jennifer L. Skancke. Detroit: Greenhaven Press, 2006. Current Controversies. Rpt. from "Down on the Farm." The Ecologist 3 (Feb. 2001): 44. Gale Opposing Viewpoints In Context. Web. 1 June 2012. Miller, Debra A. Organic Foods. Farmington Hills, MI: Lucent 2008 Print Singer, Peter, and Jim Mason. "Organically Produced Food Improves Human, Animal, and Environmental Health." Food. Ed. Jan Grover. Detroit: Greenhaven Press, 2008. Current Controversies. Rpt. from "Why Buy Organic?" The Way We Eat: Why Our Food Choices Matter. Emmaus, PA: Rodale Press, 2006. Gale Opposing Viewpoints In Context. Web. 1 June 2012

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