I am perplexed. I like the idea of eating
organic food, because I don't want to eat pesticides. But I am very
concerned about world hunger. Aren't organic farms less efficient?
Don't they produce lower yields? I don't want to expose my body
to poisons and I don't want to contribute to pollution, but I also
don't want to be elitist and eat in a way that only the rich and
privileged can afford.
Norman
Dear Norman,
Thanks for your concerns. It has long been a myth that organic farming
produces reduced yields compared to conventional farming systems,
but that simply isn't true. The latest study on the subject was
published in the April 18, 2001, issue of the scientific journal
Nature. The study was conducted by researchers at Washington
State University from 1994 to 1999, and compared organic, integrated,
and conventional apple orchards.
The organic orchards did not use pesticides or synthetic fertilizers,
and relied instead on Earth-friendly practices such as compost,
mulch, and thinning fruit by hand. The integrated systems used compost
and mulch, but also used herbicides and synthetic fertilizers. The
conventional orchards relied on pesticides, synthetic fertilizers,
and chemical fruit thinners.
As things turned out, all three systems had similar apple yields,
and there were no significant differences in pest or disease damage
across the three apple production systems. But the organic orchards
showed the highest soil quality, environmental sustainability, profitability,
and energy efficiency.
The organic systems not only had the least adverse environmental
impact. Consumer tests found that the organic orchards also produced
apples with the most taste appeal. This preference stood up over
time. Consumers found that organic apples tasted better than either
the conventional or integrated apples, both at harvest and after
six months of storage.
Although the organic system involved higher labor costs, they were
more profitable because the organic farmers did not have to buy
expensive chemicals, and also because they were able to sell their
produce for a higher price.
This study dealt with apples, but similar results have been found
in studies done on a vast array of food crops.
To my eyes, the movement toward organic agriculture is one of the
most promising transitions currently occurring in our society. I
believe that one day people will look back upon these times with
amazement that we ever sought to grow our food with poisons.
Yours for a healthy world in which no human being ever goes hungry,
