Organic Farming vs. Organic Foods

Organic Farming vs. Organic Foods

Introduction

This report sets to critically discuss various aspects of organic farming, such as the reason why organic agriculture is thought to be superior to conventional farming in the protection of the environment and ecological balance and determine whether organic farming methods are sufficient to sustain the world population. The report will also analyze some of the benefits of organic farming as opposed to the hype associated with organic foods and whether organic foods are better for health when compared to conventional foods, suggest some of the possible ways of managing the excellent attribute of organic farming and explain the terms provided.

The superiority of Organic Farming to Conventional Farming

One of the reasons as to why organic farming is thought to be superior to conventional farming in the protection of the environment and ecological balance is its ability to support water conservation and water health. It ensures that no harmful chemicals contaminate the water sources (Kremen and Albie 2). Secondly, unlike conventional farming, organic farming helps in building up healthy soils by creating helpful bacteria. For instance, in recent research conducted by Agricultural Research Service, one teaspoon of compost-rich organic soil may host as many as 600 million to 1 billion helpful bacteria from 15,000 species while, on the other hand, one teaspoon of soil treated with chemicals may carry as few as 100 useful bacteria. Moreover, organic farming manages to maintain ecological balance by combating erosion issues that affect land, humans, and food supply, unlike conventional agriculture (Kremen and Albie 2).

The ability of Organic Farming Methods to Sustain World Population

It is evident that when compared to inorganic farming techniques, organic farming methods are sufficient enough to sustain the world population in terms of food production. For instance, a recent study comparing adjoining organic and chemically treated wheat fields showed that the organic field featured eight more inches of topsoil than the chemically treated field (Sandhu, Stephen, and Ross 2). That means that organic farming is capable of maintaining healthy and fertile soil that can support the maximum production of food crops that can be used to sustain the world population.

Benefits of Organic Farming

There are several benefits of organic farming, as opposed to the hype associated with organic foods. For example, organic farming helps in replenishing natural ecosystems for cleaner water and air. Moreover, organic farming has a smaller carbon footprint, thus reduces the risks associated with the emission of poisonous gases that may destroy the ozone layer and cause global warming (Verbruggen et al. 969).

Whether Organic Foods are Better for Health than Inorganic Foods

There exists significant evidence that shows that organic foods are, to a great extent, better for health in comparison with conventional foods. For instance, organic farming promotes human health by ensuring that the food crops produced are free of toxic pesticide residues. Conventional foods from conventional agriculture are always at a high risk of possessing harmful chemical compounds or elements whose intake may have taken place during their growth (Kremen and Albie 3).

Ways of Managing and Improving the Good Attribute of Organic Farming Maintaining a Good Unpolluted Environment

One of the strategies that can be used to ensure organic farming continues to have the excellent attribute of maintaining an unpolluted environment during the production of enough food to feed the teeming world population is through encouraging biodiversity by using compost manure and rotational farming instead of the use of farming chemicals (Hoque 10). This strategy helps in ensuring that the environment is protected from pollution and that chemical-free produce is produced from organic farming (Hoque 10). Another approach that can be used involves the farmers using manure from animals such as goats, pigs, donkeys, cows, horses, and sheep. Animal manure does not pollute the environment, and it also increases soil fertility, thus facilitating increased production.

Explanation of Terms

Organic food or products is that food that is usually produced using farming methods that increasingly comply with the organic farming standards sets by the United States Department of Agriculture. These organic farming standards are aimed at promoting ecological balance and conservation of biodiversity (Forman and Janet 1417). The 100% organic products that are entirely free of any chemical substance. Organic food products are typically made using organic ingredients whereby these ingredients are completely natural and do not possess any chemical substances.

Conclusion

In conclusion, as it has been supported by evidence provided in this report, organic farming is more widely supported when compared to conventional agriculture as it produces organic foods that are healthy for consumption. Organic farming also reduces pollution of the environment, unlike conventional agriculture.