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Soil. Soil building practices such as crop rotations, inter-cropping, symbiotic associations, cover crops, organic fertilizers and minimum tillage are central to organic practices. These encourage soil fauna and flora, improving soil formation and structure and creating more stable systems. In turn, nutrient and energy cycling is increased and the retentive abilities of the soil for nutrients and water are enhanced, compensating for the non-use of mineral fertilizers. Such management techniques also play an important role in soil erosion control. The length of time that the soil is exposed to erosive forces is decreased, soil biodiversity is increased, and nutrient losses are reduced, helping to maintain and enhance soil productivity. Crop export of nutrients is usually compensated by farm-derived renewable resources but it is sometimes necessary to supplement organic soils with potassium, phosphate, calcium, magnesium and trace elements from external sources. Getting organic certification isn’t easy; when you see a product with the organic symbol, you know you’re buying a product you can trust. What's the difference between 'organic' and 'natural'? According to a newer review, studies found adverse effects of certain pesticides on children's cognitive development at current levels of exposure. [57] Many pesticides show neurotoxicity in laboratory animal models and some are considered to cause endocrine disruption. [57] These ingredients must be approved by an independent certification body, like Soil Association Certification.
Organic Foods: What You Need to Know - HelpGuide.org Organic Foods: What You Need to Know - HelpGuide.org
In the industrial era, organic gardening reached a modest level of popularity in the United States in the 1950s. In the 1960s, environmentalists and the counterculture championed organic food, but it was only in the 1970s that a national marketplace for organic foods developed. [16] Chandran, Nyshka; Eunice Yoon (2 January 2015). "China goes organic amid food scandals". CNBC . Retrieved 28 April 2015.Tober, D; Barański, M; Seal, C; Sanderson, R; Benbrook, C; Steinshamn, H; Gromadzka-Ostrowska, J; Rembiałkowska, E; Skwarło-Sońta, K; Eyre, M; Cozzi, G; Krogh Larsen, M; Jordon, T; Niggli, U; Sakowski, T; Calder, PC; Burdge, GC; Sotiraki, S; Stefanakis, A; Yolcu, H; Stergiadis, S; Chatzidimitriou, E; Butler, G; Stewart, G; Leifert, C (March 2016). "Composition differences between organic and conventional meat: a systematic literature review and meta-analysis". The British Journal of Nutrition. 115 (6): 994–1011. doi: 10.1017/S0007114515005073. PMC 4838835. PMID 26878675. Water. In many agriculture areas, pollution of groundwater courses with synthetic fertilizers and pesticides is a major problem. As the use of these is prohibited in organic agriculture, they are replaced by organic fertilizers (e.g. compost, animal manure, green manure) and through the use of greater biodiversity (in terms of species cultivated and permanent vegetation), enhancing soil structure and water infiltration. Well managed organic systems with better nutrient retentive abilities, greatly reduce the risk of groundwater pollution. In some areas where pollution is a real problem, conversion to organic agriculture is highly encouraged as a restorative measure (e.g. by the Governments of France and Germany). a b Caroline Scott-Thomas for FoodNavigator-USA.com, 24 April 2012. US organic market continues to outpace conventional food sales growth Recent Growth Patterns in the U.S. Organic Foods Market
Organic vs Non Organic - Does It Make a Difference? | Food Organic vs Non Organic - Does It Make a Difference? | Food
Pests are controlled using natural methods (birds, insects, traps) and naturally-derived pesticides. For the vast majority of its history, agriculture can be described as having been organic; only during the 20th century was a large supply of new products, generally deemed not organic, introduced into food production. [8] [ failed verification] The organic farming movement arose in the 1940s in response to the industrialization of agriculture. [9] The National Organic Program (run by the USDA) [2] is in charge of the legal definition of organic in the United States and does organic certification. The Environmental Protection Agency maintains strict guidelines on the regulation of pesticides by setting a tolerance on the amount of pesticide residue allowed to be in or on any particular food. [107] [108] In 1939, Lord Northbourne coined the term organic farming in his book Look to the Land (1940), out of his conception of "the farm as organism", to describe a holistic, ecologically balanced approach to farming—in contrast to what he called chemical farming, which relied on "imported fertility" and "cannot be self-sufficient nor an organic whole". [10] Early soil scientists also described the differences in soil composition when animal manures were used as "organic", because they contain carbon compounds, whereas superphosphates and Haber process nitrogen do not. Their respective use affects humus content of soil. [11] [12] This is different from the scientific use of the term "organic" in chemistry, which refers to a class of molecules that contain carbon, especially those involved in the chemistry of life. This class of molecules includes everything likely to be considered edible, as well as most pesticides and toxins too, therefore the term "organic" and, especially, the term "inorganic" (sometimes wrongly used as a contrast by the popular press) as they apply to organic chemistry is an equivocation fallacy when applied to farming, the production of food, and to foodstuffs themselves. Properly used in this agricultural science context, "organic" refers to the methods grown and processed, not necessarily the chemical composition of the food.
Why does organic food and farming matter?
Organic produce contains fewer pesticides.Chemicals such assyntheticfungicides, herbicides, and insecticides are widely used in conventional agriculture and residues remain on (and in) the food we eat. This section needs to be updated. Please help update this article to reflect recent events or newly available information. ( December 2021) In the 21st century, the European Union, the United States, Canada, Mexico, Japan, and many other countries require producers to obtain special certification to market their food as organic. Although the produce of kitchen gardens may actually be organic, selling food with an organic label is regulated by governmental food safety authorities, such as the National Organic Program of the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) [2] or the European Commission (EC). [3] Ley de Productos Orgánicos". www.cnpo.org.mx. Consejo Nacional de Producción Orgánica . Retrieved 9 December 2016. The use of toxic herbicides like Roundup (glyphosate) has increased 15 times since GMOs were introduced. While the World Health Organization announced that glyphosate is “probably carcinogenic to humans,” there is still some controversy over the level of health risks posed by the use of pesticides. Are GMOs safe?
Organic vs Non-Organic Food Labels and Differences Understanding Organic vs Non-Organic Food Labels and Differences
Under the Soil Association’s organic standards, all weedkillers are banned, and farmers are only able to use a very limited number of naturally-derived pesticides as a last resort (like citronella and clove oil), but only under very restricted circumstances.Organic agriculture has higher production costs and lower yields, higher labor costs, and higher consumer prices as compared to conventional farming methods. Daniells, Stephen. "US organic food market to grow 14% from 2013 to 2018" . Retrieved 14 April 2014. Krieger RI; etal. (2006). "OP Pesticides, Organic Diets, and Children's Health". Environ Health Perspect. 114 (10): A572, author reply A572–3. doi: 10.1289/ehp.114-a572a. PMC 1626419. PMID 17035114.
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