Organic food may be a little more expensive than conventional products produced by industrial agriculture, but paying that little extra money is far worth it, and it may even be cheaper in the long run.
Let’s take a look at 10 reasons why buying organic is a smarter option:
1-It’s better for your HEALTH
Conventional fruits and vegetables are sprayed with massive amounts of pesticides and other toxic synthetic chemicals that have been proven to be linked to cancer, damage of the nervous system and other serious illnesses.
“It has been observed that their long-term, low-dose exposure are increasingly linked to human health effects such as immune-suppression, hormone disruption, diminished intelligence, reproductive abnormalities, and cancer”.
What would you rather do, pay a little extra money for organic products, or pay medical bills for cancer or fertility treatments?
2-It’s better for preserving WILDLIFE
Pesticides are responsible for killing birds, amphibians, fish and bees (among other animals).
Rachel Carson was a pioneer in researching pesticide impact on wildlife, showing some of its dangerous consequences ( a major decline in bird population).
3-It’s better for our WATER supply
Pesticides enter surface and ground water primarily as runoff from pesticide treated crops.
Approximately 50% of the U.S. population obtains its drinking water from groundwater sources and as much as 95% of the population in agricultural areas uses groundwater as its source of drinking water.
4-It’s better for the SOIL
Synthetic chemicals (such as herbicides and pesticides) not only kill the pests, but also kill the microbes living in the soil. Without microbes working in the soil (eg. nitrogen fixing) plants are unable to take from the nutrients they need from the soil.
Unhealthy soil looses its hability to grow plants which leads to erosion and desertification.
5-It’s better for small FARMERS
Large industrial agro-business are the major pesticide consumer. The usually use large plots of land and plant only one herbicide and pesticide resistant crop to produce maxium yield at minimum cost.
They only seek the largest economic gain with no consideration for the environment, local communities or consumer’s health.
Local and small farmers who own a plot of land want and need to take care of it using the smarter and better long-term practices that will also provide them with a stable income.
6-It’s better for local RURAL communities.
Industrial agro-business are usually not local, if they destroy the soil or water supply they just move to another area and exploit it all over again.
They usually bring their workers with them and don’t create many new jobs in the community.
7-It promotes sustainable agricultural RESEARCH
If we invest in organic foods, we are promoting new environmentally friendly agricultural practices.
8-Organic products TASTE much better!
The shinny “fake” industrial apples may look better, but the organic apples taste soo much better, just try them!
9-Organic farming promotes BIODIVERSITY
Biodiversity in farm lands is shrinking fast due to modern plant-breeding programs and GMO’s (Genetically modified organisms) which increase the productivity and economic gain of industrial farm operations-these crops respond better to industrial agricultural methods such as monocrops (only one kind of crop in a large plot of land) and heavy use of fertilizers.
These GM crops can invade organic farms, since their seeds can travel long distances, and easily replace the “weaker” non genetically modified crops.
10-Organic produce has more NUTRIENTS.
Organic products contain higher amounts of nutrients and antioxidants that are essential parts of our diet.
“Organic milk contains 80% more antioxidants -substances which reduce the risk of tumors and life threatening diseases- and organic produce have at least 20% more antioxidants than conventional fruits and vegetables”
Organic farming is the future, are you gonna be part of it?
If your supermaket doesn’t provide organic produce there are usually organic farmers cooperatives that may sell products in your area.
EcoToaD 