| Within the food industry, defining the | | | | are claimed to be reasons for higher |
| benefits of organic food is largely left | | | | nutrient density of organic foods. In |
| to word of mouth, media coverage, and | | | | some cases, this has happened, generally |
| the promotional efforts of organic | | | | due to conventionally grown produce |
| advocates. Major food and beverage | | | | being higher in water. |
| corporations, like Kraft Foods, Heinz, | | | | Organically grown potatoes, oranges, and |
| Coca-Cola, Pepsi, Cargill, Unilever, | | | | leafy vegetables have more vitamin C |
| General Mills, and Campbell Soup, have | | | | than conventionally grown products. |
| rapidly moved to acquire significant | | | | Phenolic compounds are also found in |
| stake in both fresh and processed | | | | significantly higher concentrations in |
| organic products. Still, the specific | | | | organic foods, and these may provide |
| sales points of "organics" go largely | | | | antioxidant protection against heart |
| unmentioned on product packaging and in | | | | disease and cancer. |
| mainstream media advertising. Claims of | | | | Still isolated bits of research suggest |
| improved food quality are regularly used | | | | that conventional agricultural practices |
| in conventional food marketing, with | | | | are degrading food quality. A study in |
| "low fat", "low sodium", "whole grain", | | | | the Journal of the American College of |
| "high fiber", "vitamin enriched", "no | | | | Nutrition in 2004, entitled Changes in |
| trans-fat" and other commonly advertised | | | | USDA Food Composition Data for 43 Garden |
| benefits. By contrast, "certified | | | | Crops, 1950 to 1999, compared vegetables |
| organic" is generally left to stand on | | | | analysed in 1950 and in 1999, and found |
| its own as self-explanatory, assisted | | | | noticeable decreases in six of 13 |
| only by general terms like "natural". | | | | nutrients examined (the six were: |
| Meanwhile, consumer surveys have | | | | protein, calcium, phosphorus, iron, |
| consistently identified food quality as | | | | riboflavin and ascorbic acid). |
| the main reason for purchasing organic | | | | Percentage reductions ranged from 6% for |
| food. Higher nutritional value, no toxic | | | | protein to 38% of riboflavin, although |
| residues from pesticides, and better | | | | when evaluated on a per-food or |
| taste are often cited, as is the | | | | per-nutrient level, usually no |
| positive impact of organic production on | | | | distinguishable changes were found. |
| the environment. Whether organic food | | | | Reductions in calcium, phosphorus, iron |
| actually delivers on these desires and | | | | and ascorbic acid were also found. The |
| beliefs is controversial and the subject | | | | authors suggested that the differences |
| of scientifically inconclusive debate. | | | | probably reflect changes in cultivated |
| The debate centers on a variety of | | | | varieties between 1950 and 1999, in |
| specific and supposedly demonstrable | | | | which there may have been trade-offs |
| characteristics which proponents claim | | | | between yield and nutrient content. |
| make organic food superior to the | | | | However, whether organic foodstuffs have |
| product of conventional farming and | | | | a higher nutrient content is still |
| processing. | | | | debatable. Studies have shown no clear, |
| Food safety Organic food proponents | | | | consistent results, and those that have |
| express concern over the potential | | | | suffer from significant experimental |
| negative effects of various chemical | | | | design flaws, according to the United |
| cultivation methods and genetic | | | | Nation’s Food and Agriculture |
| modification techniques used in modern | | | | Organization (FAO). Further, the FAO |
| conventional agriculture. The effect of | | | | found that in some crops, such as wheat, |
| pesticide residues from crop spraying, | | | | there appears to be a trade-off: in |
| the presence of veterinary drugs in meat | | | | conventionally farmed wheat the levels |
| products, and the entirely unknown | | | | of protein are higher, but the lower |
| impact of genetically modified varieties | | | | levels in organic materials are offset |
| and breeds are all encompassed. | | | | by gains in alpha-amylase and sugar |
| Organic food is seen as avoiding | | | | contents. |
| relieving these concerns by prohibiting | | | | Taste Many claim that organic food |
| such practices. At present, there are no | | | | tastes better. This is primarily |
| definitive scientific conclusions on any | | | | referred to regarding fresh food. |
| of these matters; individual studies are | | | | It is possible that organic food taste |
| cited on both sides of the debate. | | | | better simply because it is fresher. |
| Chemical contamination Organic food | | | | Because organic farms tend to be |
| proponents cite the existence of reduced | | | | smaller, they often sell their products |
| levels of pesticides and herbicides as a | | | | closer to the point of harvest. Thus, |
| way to reduce the long term risk of | | | | organic fruits and vegetables taste more |
| chemical consumption. A study published | | | | "farm fresh" than comparable |
| by the National Research Council in 1993 | | | | conventional produce. |
| determined that for infants and | | | | However, organic foods might also have |
| children, the major source of exposure | | | | more flavor because organic farmers |
| to pesticides is through diet. | | | | often breed with taste instead of |
| A recent study in 2006 measured the | | | | marketability as the primary factor. |
| levels of organophosphorus pesticide | | | | Conventional tomatoes, for example, are |
| exposure in 23 school children before | | | | often bred to be perfectly red and |
| and after replacing their diet with | | | | round, to match the ideal appearance of |
| organic food. In this study it was found | | | | a tomato. They are also bred to resist |
| that levels of organophosphorus | | | | damage in transport and storage, for a |
| pesticide exposure dropped dramatically | | | | longer shelf-life. This means that taste |
| and immediately when the children | | | | is an attribute that has a lower |
| switched to an organic diet. | | | | priority. In addition to crop diversity |
| The degree of risk posed by pesticide | | | | and selection practices, organic farming |
| residues remains uncertain. Pesticide | | | | emphasizes soil nutrition, which can |
| use in conventional food products is | | | | positively influence the taste of the |
| heavily regulated, with established, | | | | food. Tests by the United Nations FAO |
| research-based maximum residue levels | | | | demonstrated that some apples, |
| (MRLs) below which residues are | | | | specifically the "Golden Delicious" |
| considered safe for human consumption. | | | | variety, have higher flavonoid counts |
| Also, many pesticides are not cumulative | | | | when grown organically. This suggests |
| in the body, and are regularly | | | | that they do have more flavour. |
| eliminated. Notable exceptions include | | | | Some foods, such as bananas, are picked |
| heavy metals such as lead or mercury | | | | when unripe, then artificially induced |
| which are sometimes found in foodstuffs | | | | to ripen using a chemical (such as |
| in countries which have lax food | | | | propylene or ethylene) while in transit, |
| production standards. The U.S. and most | | | | possibly producing a different taste. |
| of Europe prohibit the use of inorganic | | | | The issue of ethylene use in organic |
| compounds containing heavy metals in any | | | | food production is contentious; |
| type of agriculture including | | | | opponents claiming that its use only |
| conventional. | | | | benefits large companies, and opens the |
| One area where organically produced food | | | | door to weaker organic standards. |
| is demonstrably different is in the | | | | Environmental impact Every food purchase |
| reduction of nitrates, which are | | | | supports the system that delivers it, |
| commonly used to stimulate production of | | | | and if large-scale chemical production |
| conventionally farmed agricultural | | | | methods are damaging to the environment, |
| products. Nitrates reduce the | | | | then purchasing these foods supports |
| transmission of oxygen in the | | | | this damage. A main goal of organic |
| bloodstream or may under certain | | | | farming is minimizing impact to the |
| situations become nitrosamines, which | | | | environment. |
| are carcinogens. | | | | Sustainability Proponents of organic |
| Organic foods do not use nitrates as a | | | | farming say that "conventional" farming |
| fertilizer, and so present a reduced | | | | is unsustainable, because it relies on |
| nitrosamines risk, although the use of | | | | artificial inputs(synthetic fertilizers |
| nitrates and the nitrate content of the | | | | and other chemicals, machinery, etc.) |
| final product in conventional foods is | | | | that ultimately requires energy in the |
| regulated by region. [citation needed] | | | | form of fossil fuels, and because the |
| Organic methods of fertilization are not | | | | land is degraded through soil erosion, |
| necessarily free from risk. Critics | | | | salinization, and other processes that |
| claim that using manure to fertilize | | | | eventually render the soil infertile. |
| organic crops might increase the risk of | | | | Many claim that without cheap fossil |
| contamination by dangerous microbes like | | | | fuels and government subsidies, |
| E. coli.[citation needed] However, | | | | conventional agriculture would not be |
| organic animal manure, typically that of | | | | possible, and that despite technological |
| cattle, is manure from animals that eat | | | | advancements, there will eventually be |
| mainly hay and other organic, primarily | | | | an agricultural crisis as a result of |
| non-grain materials. This is seen as a | | | | depleted soil[citation needed]. The |
| way to reduce the amount of E. Coli | | | | cultivation of monocultures, many acres |
| bacteria present, and the feces of | | | | planted with the same crop year after |
| organically-raised cattle have only 1% | | | | year, increases susceptibility to pests |
| of the E. Coli present in non-organic | | | | and diseases and depletes the soil, |
| manure. Still, when using primarily | | | | while eliminating most native flora and |
| manure to grow organic crops, the risk | | | | fauna. |
| for mycotoxin contamination is | | | | In contrast, organic farming often |
| significantly increased. Mycotoxins are | | | | utilizes intercropping, crop rotation, |
| the result of molds found in some | | | | fallow periods, and integrated pest |
| varieties of cow feed, and even in very | | | | management to promote biodiversity and |
| small amounts they can induce liver | | | | preserve the health of the soil while |
| cancer if consumed over a long period of | | | | minimizing the risk of diseases. The |
| time. It is important to note that | | | | main goal of organic farming is |
| conventional farms also use manure as | | | | sustainability, so organic farms seek to |
| fertilizer but in much smaller | | | | minimize dependance on outside resources |
| quantities.[5] It should also be noted | | | | and be self-sufficient. |
| that many organic farmers consider using | | | | Pollution Modern agricultural practices |
| manure directly as fertilizer to be an | | | | often result in large amounts of |
| unsound practice, and instead the manure | | | | nitrogen runoff from the heavy use of |
| should be composted first. | | | | fertilizer, which pollutes watersheds. |
| Hormonal contamination Organic | | | | In addition to posing a threat to human |
| proponents cite evidence that some | | | | health and disrupting aquatic |
| chemicals used in conventional farming, | | | | ecosystems, this sometimes results in |
| including pesticides and herbicides, | | | | algal blooms which deplete the water of |
| mimic hormones - usually estrogen - when | | | | oxygen resulting in fishkills. Pesticide |
| inside a person. They claim that this is | | | | runoff also causes many problems. |
| significant even at the minute levels | | | | Transportation Claims that eating |
| that the average person is exposed to. | | | | organic food is better for the |
| The US government states that these | | | | environment are, however, frustrated by |
| chemicals are safe when used correctly, | | | | the fact that most of the organic food |
| but proponents claim such tests are only | | | | sold today travels the same great |
| done on healthy adults - and that | | | | distances as conventional food. A UK |
| children and fetuses might be at risk to | | | | study published in 2005 in the Journal |
| even small amounts of these chemicals. | | | | of Food Policy found that maximum |
| In Australia, the Government sponsored | | | | environmental benefit would result from |
| Australian Total Diet Survey measures | | | | purchasing food produced within a |
| pesticide residues found in typical | | | | 12-mile radius. Therefore, buying local |
| Australian diets. The 2004 survey found | | | | food that is not organic could be |
| all estimated dietary exposures to | | | | environmentally "better" than buying |
| pesticide residues were below 16% of the | | | | organic food that has travelled hundreds |
| respective Acceptable daily intakes and | | | | or thousands of miles. Many small |
| therefore all exposures are well within | | | | organic farms, however, sell much or all |
| the applicable health standards. | | | | of their produce locally. |
| Transgenic contamination Certified | | | | Efficiency Studies have show organic |
| organic foods are not substantially | | | | farms to be more energy efficient than |
| genetically modified. The health risks | | | | their conventional counterparts. One of |
| surrounding genetically modified foods | | | | these studies as done with apple farms |
| remain highly contentious. | | | | in the state of Washington. In that |
| In the USA, a small admixture of a GM | | | | study, the organic farms were found to |
| variety is compatible with organic | | | | be at least 7% more energy efficient. |
| certification, as long as it is | | | | And although some critics of organic |
| unintentional. The USDA regulates the | | | | farms cite evidence that organic farms |
| organic production process, and does not | | | | produce less yield than conventional |
| verify the actual composition of the | | | | farms, they also found a much more |
| final product. So as long as the farmer | | | | substantial decrease in resources used. |
| complies with the rules of organic | | | | Critics of organic farms cite evidence |
| farming, he cannot lose his organic | | | | that organic farms produce less yield |
| certificate solely because of random | | | | than conventional farms; one prominent |
| presence of transgenic variety. In most | | | | 21-year Swiss study found an average 20% |
| European countries, certification rules | | | | lower organic yields over conventional |
| are much stricter. Basically, any | | | | methods. However, that came with |
| confirmed detection of transgenic plant, | | | | consumption of 50% less fertilizer, and |
| seed or feed can result in a loss of | | | | 97% less pesticide. |
| organic status and cosenquent | | | | In comparing yields, a US survey |
| substantial economic losses for the | | | | published in 2001 analyzed 150 growing |
| farmer. | | | | seasons of data on various crops and |
| Other issues surrounding GMOs may also | | | | concluded that organic yields were |
| concern consumers, such as the ownership | | | | 95-100% of conventional yields. Because |
| of biological intellectual property by | | | | organic farms don't use toxic pesticides |
| corporations, and reduction in crop | | | | and herbicides, there is more |
| varieties. | | | | biodiversity in the soil. Besides higher |
| With estimates that pollen of some crops | | | | soil quality - more life in the soil |
| (eg. canola) can travel more than 5 | | | | allows for higher water retention. This |
| kilometers per year, we can be certain | | | | helps increase yields for organic farms |
| that the technology and marketing of | | | | in drought years where there is less |
| organic foods will clash with the | | | | rain. During drought years, organic |
| technology and marketing of GMO foods. | | | | farms have been found to have yields |
| In many countries, however, public | | | | 20-40% higher than conventional farms. |
| awareness is limited and the battles | | | | Large scale organic farms Many advocates |
| seem to take place with a small elite in | | | | of organic farming view large scale, |
| the GMO industry and the NGOs that | | | | corporate owned "organic farms" as being |
| oppose them. | | | | against the spirit of organic farming, |
| Nutritional value Some organic advocates | | | | since they tend to use unsustainable |
| claim that organic food is more | | | | practices similar to conventional farms. |
| nutritious. It is important to note that | | | | Summary Without exception, the |
| the main objective of organic | | | | fundamental claims of benefit are |
| agriculture is to produce food that does | | | | contentious and well-contended by |
| not degrade soil and the surrounding | | | | various supporters of conventional |
| environment over long periods of time | | | | agriculture, regardless of the fact that |
| (known as sustainability). The goal has | | | | the food industry establishment also has |
| never been to produce food that is | | | | a significant stake in organic food. The |
| higher in specific nutrients, but | | | | hot button issue seems to be the effect |
| producing more wholesome food in general | | | | of pesticides on people, animals, and |
| is often cited as one reason for farming | | | | the environment. This is still being |
| organically. Increased soil quality, | | | | debated by experts in toxicology. There |
| greater attention to quality, and | | | | are research reports, expert opinions, |
| selection of crop varieties for | | | | and anecdotal evidence both supporting |
| nutrition and taste instead of size, | | | | and rebutting them. The same holds true |
| appearance, and shipping characteristics | | | | for the other claimed advantages. |