Benefits

 

Health Benefits

Environmental Benefits

Social Benefits

 

Health Benefits:

ü      Organic food, particularly fresh, locally grown organic food, has been found to contain higher levels of certain vitamins, minerals, anti-oxidents, phyto-nutrients, and fibre than non-organic food.  See Nutritional Benefits of Organic Food for more information.

ü      Organic agriculture and food reduces our exposure to synthetic pesticides, and nitrate and heavy metal contamination from synthetic fertilizers. 

§          Pesticides have been found to have many negative effects on our health, from headaches to neurological disorders and cancer.  For more information see our Pesticide information page.

§          Nitrogen run-off caused by applications of synthetic fertilizers contaminates ground water with cancer causing nitrates and toxic heavy metals. 

ü      Organic food reduces our exposure to antibiotics and hormones. 

§          Antibiotics are used in industrial agriculture to prevent the disease and infection that is inherent due to the sheer number of animals raised in confined spaces.  Animals are also treated with antibiotics to hasten growth and weight gain.

§          Hormones are given to cattle to increase muscle (meat) development and milk production.

§          The extensive use of antibiotics in food production has resulted in antibiotic resistant bacteria.  Studies have shown that synthetic hormones may cause cancer, and may also be linked to the early onset of puberty in girls

ü      Organic food reduces our exposure to Genetically Modified Organisms (GMO’s).

§          Genes are modified by inserting DNA, often from an unrelated species, in order to serve a purpose, for example cold water flounder genes make tomatoes more frost resistant.  The DNA is inserted together with antibiotic-resistant viruses, which infect cells and ensure that the invading DNA “sticks”.  Antibiotic resistance provides a way to determine which cells are normal and which are modified.  This process has raised questions and controversy in part because of health concerns like antibiotic resistant viruses in the food system, allergic reactions to GMO foods, and the toxicity of food containing insecticides and pesticides in the genes.  The genetic engineering of our food began relatively recently in the early 1990’s, and GMO’s were released into the environment and the food system with little testing and no mechanism in place to track food containing genetically engineered ingredients.

ü      Organic food reduces our exposure to the many disagreeable and potentially toxic substances that are allowed in conventional food production. 

§          In the US, poultry litter (which includes feces) is used as a source of protein in cattle feed and plastic pellets may be used as roughage.

 

Environmental Benefits:

 

 

ü      Organic agriculture eliminates the use of synthetic pesticides and fertilizers, which contaminate our soil, water, and air, and persist through the food chain.

ü      Organic agriculture eliminates the use of Genetically Modified crops. 

§          Because of the lack of long-term testing of genetic engineering related to agriculture, we don’t know how GM crops will affect the environment in the long term.  

§          GM varieties are new species that don’t fit into the natural eco-system.  They are a potential threat to wildlife, eco-systems, and biodiversity.  For example, transgenic Bt corn pollen was found to be harmful to monarch butterfly larvae under laboratory conditions and transgenic Bt cotton has been found to harm beneficial parasites that control the Bollworm pest.

§          GM seeds and pollen have been found to drift and contaminate non-GM crops. 

§          While GM crops are marketed as a way to reduce overall herbicide use, GM ‘super-weeds’ are becoming resistant to typical weed-killers and need to be treated with stronger, more toxic herbicides.

ü      Organic agriculture eliminates runoff and contamination from chemical fertilizers.

§          Nitrogen contamination causes algae blooms, dead zones, and the depletion of oxygen in lakes and oceans, threatening eco-systems and bio-diversity.

§          The application of synthetic fertilizers contributes to nitrate and heavy metal contamination in soils and groundwater.

ü      Organic agriculture uses less fossil fuel overall than conventional agriculture because petroleum-based synthetic pesticides and fertilizers are not used.

ü      Locally-grown organic foods use even less fossil fuel because they are not transported long distances.

ü      Organic agriculture is based on regenerative soil-building techniques, the recycling of resources, water conservation, and the reduction of ground, water, and air pollution.

ü      Organic agriculture encourages bio-diversity through crop rotations, the introduction of beneficial insects, the growing of heritage and open-pollinated varieties of plants, and often the incorporation of land stewardship and wilderness and wetland conservation on the farm.  

 

Social Benefits:

ü      Food Security

§          Purchasing organics, we connect to verifiable sources of our foods, especially if we buy locally-grown products.  Certified organic products even from far away can be traced back to the producer through certification documentation.  Organic consumers can be more involved and have more confidence in their food system.

§          By supporting local (organic) producers, we invest our money in our local economy, making it stronger and more diverse.  More food growing here for local consumption makes us better able to handle increased fluctuations in the food distribution system potentially caused by climate change and high oil and transportation costs.

§          Buying Fair Trade organic products for imported necessities like coffee, sugar, fruit, chocolate and so on, supports small scale, sustainable agriculture and sustainable development globally.  A fair trade market ensures that smallholder farmers receive a fair price for their products. Human and labour rights are respected on larger farms, and the environment is protected for local communities.

§          Biotechnology experts claim that Genetically Engineered foods and chemical pest control is needed to feed the growing world population.  Organic and sustainable agriculture advocates argue it’s not that there’s a food shortage, but a very unbalanced distribution problem.  Supporting local (organic) producers makes communities stronger and healthier economically, environmentally, and socially.  Encouraging fair distribution systems and small scale organic and other sustainable methods of farming will achieve a balance in distribution that will reduce poverty and increase local food security.      

ü      Economy

§          While Big Organic is taking some organic farms in the same direction as the industrial agriculture model, in general organic farms tend to be smaller, family-run, and more viable than many large scale industrial farms.

§          A higher percentage of organic farm families produce the majority or all of their income from the farm, compared to conventional farm families who often produce the majority of their income from off-farm jobs.  Globally, there is a high incidence of poverty among farmers and farm workers in the industrial farming system.

§          Organic producers tend to purchase farm inputs locally, contributing to their local economies.

§          Organic agriculture can provide higher yields, more diversity, and a better return on producers’ investment.  In developing countries and industrial nations, this is better for small-scale farmers, as it reduces the need for loans and increases net income.

§          The decision to purchase more locally produced organic food positively affects our local economy. 

§         Organic food prices illustrate the true cost of our food.  Farmers receive a fair price that covers their costs and compensates for the effort required to produce high quality products.  For more information go to Why Does Organic Food Cost More?

ü      Community

§          The high-impact, maximum production industrial farming model relies on large farms that displace small farmers and rural communities.

§          By purchasing local organic food, we directly and positively contribute to the number of acres under organic production, the number of new farmers settling in rural areas, and the health and social fabric of those communities. 

§          Organic food brings people together to create networks and organizations, develop projects and programs, and celebrate with events and gatherings. 

§          Relationships develop between urban and rural communities and people.  Urban and suburbanites are drawn to rural farm gates to purchase food, or volunteer, learn, or become organic farmers themselves. 

ü      Emotional/Spiritual

§          Fresh, locally produced organic food is vibrantly flavourful and deeply satisfying. 

§          Organic food and farming evoke a strong feeling of connectedness to our rural roots.  Many farmers draw on the knowledge and skill of our great-grandparents and the values and spiritual understanding of the world’s indigenous peoples. 

§          There is a sense that organic and sustainable farming practices are more meaningful and fulfilling methods of farming, allowing producers to be creative, independent, and true to their calling.

§         Both producers and consumers of organics can feel satisfaction knowing that their food is more nourishing and their farming methods are more sustainable than industrially-farmed food.