The following are the reasons to choose certified organic over conventional products:
- Persistent Pesticides: Organic farming produces healthy food without the use of toxic pesticides. The use of insecticides, fungicides, fertilizers and weed killers are strictly monitored in organic food production. Organic farmers use pesticides that are primarily derived from natural substances and are approved by NPOP.
- Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs): The use of GMOs is prohibited in organic products. Eating organic is the best way to avoid GMO foods, ingredients and contamination.
- Health: In conventional packaged foods, thousands of chemicals can be added including preservatives, flavours and colours linked to health problems. No artificial colours, flavours or preservatives are allowed in organic food. Cleaner food means cleaner diets which leads to a good health.
- Soil Health: Healthy soil is the basis for organic agriculture. When food is grown in healthy soil, crops are better able to resist disease, survive drought, and tolerate insects. Organic farmers use natural organic fertilizers and soil amendments like organic matter, compost, green manures (legumes), and animal manures (with safety restrictions) to build healthy soil. Healthy soil creates healthy food and a healthy environment.
- Nutrition: Several studies implied that, Organic food contains more vitamins, minerals, enzymes and micronutrients than conventionally raised food. There is a growing body of evidence documenting how farming methods can influence the nutritional content of foods.
- Food Future: The more consumers demand organic, the more readily it will be made available in larger supply. Spending money in the organic sector is a direct vote for a sustainable future for the many generations to come. As consumers we have three votes (breakfast, lunch, dinner) per day for our food future. Eat organic because supply meets demand.
- Sewage Sludge: Sewage sludge contains numerous known and unknown hazardous materials. When sewage sludge is applied to agricultural cropland as fertilizer, full of toxic compounds, nanomaterial, hormones and dangerous pathogens, are applied to the very food we eat. But Organic farming never uses sewage sludge.
- Irradiation: With food irradiation, radiant energy (electrons, gamma rays or x-rays) breaks chemical bonds and the intention is to reduce microorganisms. The concern is that radiation is known to cause cancer. Foods that have been irradiated, no matter how they are grown or produced, cannot be labelled as a USDA certified organic product. Organic food is never irradiated and therefore, safe.
- Climate Change: Organic farming focused on soil-based production with underlying principles of maintaining or improving soil quality. Healthy soil counteracts climate change by pulling carbon out of the atmosphere. Recent studies on farming systems and pasture trials around the globe show that we could sequester more than 100% of current annual CO2 emissions with a switch to regenerative organic agriculture practices.
- Pollinators: Scientific research demonstrates that the use of toxic synthetic pesticides, destruction of native habitat, and a decrease in nutritious forage due to extensive use of mono-cropping are detrimental to pollinators. Organic producers manage their farms in a manner that fosters biodiversity and improves natural resources. Organic farms and crops are pollinator-friendly and protect bees, pollinators and wildlife from toxic chemicals.
- Farmworkers: Pesticide drift is a threat to human health as well as to wildlife and ecosystems. Farmworkers are at great risk for exposure to agricultural pesticides resulting the adverse health impacts. Neighbours are also at risk for exposure through pesticide drift if they live near a conventionally managed farm. Organic farming doesn’t expose neighbouring communities and farmworkers to dangerous persistent pesticides.
- Environment: Organic farming practices result in numerous environmental benefits. Organic farming rebuilds soil health and stops harmful chemicals from getting into our water supplies. Organic farming practices result in numerous environmental benefits. Organic farming results in greater biodiversity. Organic farming releases fewer greenhouse gas emissions. By choosing Organic food, we can support a healthy environment for all of us.
- Contamination: GMO contamination is a reality, but you have the power to reject GMOs by choosing organic.
- Water: Many byproducts of conventional farming threaten watersheds and pollute drinking water. Runoff from farms carries soil and farm inputs, like fertilizer and pesticides, into nearby creeks and streams. But by choosing organic protects the streams and lakes downstream from toxic runoff that conventional farming produces. Composting of plant and animal materials, and the use of manure as fertilizer results in higher rates of nitrogen recycling. Crop rotations prevent nutrient stripping from the soil. Cover cropping helps prevent soils from washing away, and help recycle nutrients.
- Cancer: Eating organic can reduce your risk of cancer. A new study in JAMA Internal Medicine found that those who ate organic foods frequently lowered their overall risk of developing cancer. Specifically, those who primarily eat organic foods were more likely to ward off non-Hodgkin lymphoma and postmenopausal breast cancer compared to those who rarely or never ate organic foods.
- (Source: www.onlyorganic.org)
