Organic food is healthy food that is grown using methods meeting the requirements of natural agriculture. Organic farming involves practices that recycle soil, maintain biodiversity, restore ecological balance, and balance mineral nutrients. Organic food sources must be certified as “organic” to prove that they are in fact as natural as conventional crops. Organic food does not use synthetic pesticides and chemical fertilizers and other artificial materials or man made hormones in order to grow. Organic food does not contain any genetically modified organisms.
Today, there is an increasing demand for organic food because of its health benefits. These benefits include lower incidence of allergies, reduced levels of heart disease, reduced risks for colon cancer, and others. Because organic growing methods do not use synthetic pesticides and other man made chemicals, they provide a healthier alternative for consumers. Organic food also provides dietary variety and significantly extends the human life span.
Organic farming methods require careful planting and cultivation techniques that are used to prevent contamination of land, water, air, and the crop produce. For organic food growers, insects such as lady bugs and bees are important since they help in pollinating crops and prevent soil erosion. Farmers can control these insects through use of pesticides and other synthetic substances that may harm both humans and their natural resources.
Most people have the option of buying fruits and vegetables at their local grocery store rather than at the farmer’s market. In most cases, they are unaware that the produce on the grocery store shelves do not meet the highest organic standards. The produce that does pass the test has been grown using organic methods with strict guidelines. This is why buying produce from your local grocer is a good idea if you want the freshest and best tasting foods available.
Because organic food does not contain synthetic pesticides and other synthetic materials, it is not as harmful to our health as traditional produce. On the other hand, it does carry with it its own risks especially when weeds are introduced to the crop. Weeds are able to feed off of the nutrients found within the vegetable producing material which means the pesticides that are applied will also be absorbed into the plant as well. The weeds in turn will feed off of the pesticides that are absorbed by humans and ultimately this means people become exposed to too much synthetic chemicals without healthy nutrients for their bodies. This is why weeds must be carefully tended to by farmers and controlled with chemical pesticides.
Organic farmers who choose to use genetically modified organisms (GMOs) in their organic food production have seen a drop in their profits. However, these farmers have noticed a different result when it comes to their animals. With the introduction of GMOS, many of their conventional animals have been replaced with those that do not have the potential to develop illnesses associated with pesticides and other synthetic chemicals. Studies have shown that many diseases have been reduced or eliminated completely in areas where organic farmers utilize GMOS.
Another benefit of organic food production is the fact that the produce does not need to travel very far from its natural state in order for it to mature. This means the farmer can save both fuel costs and water when utilizing these types of foods. There are other benefits as well including the fact that the produce has greater nutritional content than that produced with conventional methods due to the lack of antibiotics and chemicals used to keep pests out. Also the soil association is correct when they point out that crops grown with organic methods do not require nearly the amount of water needed when compared to those grown with conventional methods. Lastly, when it comes to organic foods, consumers have greater control over which crops go into their foods.
However, some experts point out that organic agriculture is not without its own issues. For instance, critics argue that the lack of chemicals used during organic agriculture creates an environment that is more susceptible to insects and other pests. Additionally, the lack of fertilizers and pesticides has led to an increase in landfills filled to capacity with conventional crops. In addition, many argue that the lack of synthetic fertilizers and pesticides poses a threat to human health, leading to higher levels of asthma and similar diseases.