Organic Food

Organic Food - Hype or Hope?

The big debate on organic food is still ongoing. 

Story at-a-glance

• “Organic Food — Hype or Hope?” analyzes the benefits of organically grown foods. A problem common to many organic farmers is pesticide drift from neighbors growing their crops using conventional methods
• Pendimethalin keeps showing up in organic produce sampled in Germany, and has become a particularly difficult problem as organic farmers whose wares test positive for it cannot meet Germany’s strict organic rules
• If the European Union decides to impose even stricter limits on pesticide residues in organics, drift will prevent many organic farmers from qualifying for organic certification altogether
• Hundreds of studies have shown organic foods contain fewer detectable pesticides than conventional and higher levels of certain nutrients, especially antioxidants, which are important for health and disease prevention
• Studies have also shown organic farming is better for the environment and human health, provides unique social benefits and is more profitable for the farmer

Go Organic

Benefits Of Eating Organic Food


 Having previously been a bit sceptical about the organic food and whether it really has been grown according to the label, I now acknowledge that organic vegetables for example do taste a lot better.

Story at-a-glance

• Choosing organic foods lowers your exposure to pesticides linked to cancer, damage to children’s IQ and neurobehavioral development and other health problems
• Organic foods are produced without genetically modified organisms (GMOs), and the use of antibiotics for preventive purposes is prohibited — both major benefits to human health and the environment
• Organically grown foods contain significantly higher levels of antioxidants and healthy fats than conventionally grown varieties
• Organic products are now available in close to 20,000 natural food stores and 3 out of 4 conventional grocery stores in the U.S.

Documentary Investigates Family Farming Practices Around the World

Family Farming Practices

 This documentary is encouraging when you consider how much of our food is mass produced.  More and more people are seeking out organic foods and often grow their own.  Home grown food just tastes better and we are secure knowing the exact fertilizers that are being used. 

•  Eighty percent of the world’s food supply still comes from small family operated farms. These farms also employ about 40 percent of the global workforce
• As custodians of a majority of the global agricultural resources, family farms are essential players in efforts to strengthen food security and improve the global ecology
• To investigate the diversity, challenges and benefits of family farming around the world, a group of agronomists visit farmers in India, France, Ecuador, Cameroon and Canada

Four Foods You Must Buy Organic

Buying organic is expensive but it pays off in the end as the article shows:

• One of the strongest selling points for eating organic food is the fact that doing so can significantly lower your exposure to pesticides and other harmful chemicals used in conventional agriculture
• Both the International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics and a US Endocrine Society task force warn that pesticides pose a major threat to human health, and should be avoided by everyone
• Recent studies confirm that eating an organic diet can significantly reduce your toxic load