Organic farmers use natural fertilisers that derive from plant and animal waste, with a strong focus on preserving the organic matter and microbial life in the soil. Farmers can accomplish this by taking matters into their own hands and recycling the biomass of their very own farm composting , or by using plants like legumes as cover crops for the soil, which may supply over pounds of nitrogen per acre.
But they can also purchase fertilisers that follow organic standards and are certified by the Soil Association. These options are far better for the soil and the environment than artificial fertilisers that are synthesised from petrol or natural gas rather than organic material. And because these are soluble, they can be washed away by rainwater into lakes and oceans, polluting the water with excess nutrients that cause the overgrowth of plants and, consequently, the death of fish and other aquatic life.
According to the Soil Association, organic farmers are permitted to use 20 pesticides , all of which derived from natural ingredients like clove oil or citrus and used only under restricted circumstances, whereas almost artificial pesticides can be routinely used in non-organic farming.
Organic farming promotes quality over quantity, encouraging farmers to produce food free from man-made pesticides. Organic food bans the use of synthetic plant growth regulators , which are used to influence the speed and size of crops and growth hormones that are used to speed up the growth of farm animals.
Other growth hormones have been outright banned by the EU for potential carcinogenic effects. The use of GMOs in organic food is strictly prohibited as well.
GMO labelled produce implies that some sort of genetic modification has been pursued, where genes from one plant have been incorporated into another. Oftentimes, this is to create crops that are resistant to certain herbicides. Other times, GMO is done to create fruit that is virus-resistant. But while the GM industry believes modified crops will revolutionise farming by creating super-resistant crops, the biotechnology behind it is regarded as flawed and potentially dangerous by organic farmers, and with good reason.
In a study by the Soil Association , not only were traces of GM crop material found in milk, eggs, and meat from GM-fed animals, but it was also established that these genetic alterations can be too unnatural, and create biochemical compounds that could be allergenic or toxic which explains why GMOs have been associated with allergic reactions.
Organic food regulations set out by the EU, DEFRA, and the Soil Association specify that the additives used for organic produce must be attained by natural means from material with vegetable or animal origin. When it comes to organic animal products, the key distinguishers are animal welfare and antibiotic usage. Animals are not stressed or overworked, they get to live long, healthy lives, and are given the space and freedom to explore their surroundings by being completely free-range.
Horton House Farm has an organic dairy herd that lives on a diet of organic pasture and produces antibiotic free milk. These herds are never pushed too hard or overworked, and in some cases are milked only once a day, prolonging their life from 3 years in non-organic farms up to To put this into context, an intensively milked cow can be expected to give an average of 11, litres of milk per year, whereas Berkeley Farm , for example, milks an average of 6, litres from their cows.
Organic dairy herds also have an excellent diet. But one of the most shocking components of the conventional dairy industry is that the use of antibiotics remains more than twice as high in animals as humans. Chickens under an organic farm get to see the light of day for much longer as well: around 81 days instead of These hens can be seen roaming around the luscious pastures, such as the one of Wood Green Farm in the Devon countryside, foraging for insects and grubs, and are also fed a supplementary diet of GM-free organic produce, like corn.
The important message is this: When you consider the amount of research that has been done pinpointing the specific dangers associated with eating conventional, pesticide-ridden foods, why would anyone purposely choose non-organic food if they were able to choose organic? The potential health effects of pesticides include asthma, allergies, and hypersensitivity, and pesticide exposure is also linked with cancer, hormone disruption, and problems with reproduction and fetal development.
Children are at greater risk from exposure to pesticides because of their small size: relative to their size, children eat, drink, and breathe more than adults. Their bodies and organs are growing rapidly, which also makes them more susceptible; in fact, children may be exposed to pesticides even while in the womb. Because of modern landscaping and farming practices, pesticides are so invasive that virtually no one is safe from them. How many of the above health conditions can be directly caused by eating non-organic food?
No one knows. A report from the Greater Boston Physician for Social Responsibility emphasizes that using organophosphates, especially around the home and at school, can put children in a dangerous situation. Just imagine the consequences if we added non-organic foods to the mix!
These are just the side effects of kids being exposed to pesticides on their playgrounds. Since it is impossible to avoid pesticide exposure entirely, it is very important to limit the exposure in our food supply. Apples 2. Strawberries 3. Grapes 4. Celery 5.
Peaches 6. Spinach 7. Sweet bell peppers 8. Imported nectarines 9. Cucumbers Cherry tomatoes From making healthy lifestyle choices to trying out the latest celebrity diet, our health has become a priority. If you visit any supermarket, you will come across a section specially dedicated to organic food. The popularity of organic food is on the rise. The term "organic" refers to the process of how certain foods are produced.
Organic foods are grown or farmed without the use of artificial chemicals, hormones, antibiotics or pesticides. Whereas, non-organic foods are produced in the conventional way which includes the use of artificial chemicals, fertilizers, pesticides, drugs, etc. Aesthetics Organic fruits and vegetables look different from non-organic. They look more real and resemble the fresh fruit and veggies in your garden with varying shapes and colours.
They also have blemishes and look imperfect. Non-organic fruits and vegetables look perfect due to chemicals and artificial fertilizers. Taste In general, organic food tastes better than non-organic food because it produced naturally and the soil used is well nourished and free of any artificial chemicals.
Making organic fruits and vegetables more concentrated retaining the flavor. When you eat organic, be prepared to be delighted by the taste and freshness. Not to mention, the fragrance is also better than non-organic fruits and vegetables.
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