Blog 9: Can Organic Farming Feed the World?

Can Organic Farming Feed the World?

http://berkshiregrown.blogspot.com/2008/09/can-organic-farming-feed-world.html

This article contends that, despite its critics, organic farming can feed the world, and feed it in a healthier, natural way.

As the article points out, “Organic food is often portrayed by its critics as a low-yielding farming method that undercuts the main goal of food production – feeding the world.”

However, Ivette Perfecto, a professor at University of Michigan's School of Natural Resources and Environment points out that "My hope is that we can finally put a nail in the coffin of the idea that you can’t produce enough food through organic agriculture,"

Organic farming was once the territory of hippie farmers or older traditional farmers. It was looked at as freakish and certainly not economically viable in this world.

Today, even mainstream corporations like Wal-Mart have embraced organic goods. If a company such as Wal-Mart is involved, then other companies will follow. I’ve noticed in my local grocery stores (I don’t shop at Wal-Mart, I still feel they have poor labor practices), a dramatic drop in prices for organic goods.

According to Wal-Mart:

Wal-Mart’s first green initiatives began “as a marketing campaign and nothing more,” according to Mark Hughes, director of the Martin Agency, Wal-Mart’s ad firm. However, Hughes told Advertising Age that in his observation, “Wal-Mart has become a true believer in sustainability.”

The main article references a study with the following results:

Over eight years of data, here's the average corn yield in the various methods:
* Conventional corn, soybeans rotation, 160 bushels per acre of corn
* Organic corn, soybean, oats mixed with alfalfa rotation, 150-1/4 bushels/acre corn
* Organic corn, soybean, oats mixed with alfalfa, alfalfa rotation, 160-1/4 bushels/acre corn

My personal feelings are that organic farming is the wave of the future. It is good for the planet and good for our health


References:

Organic Agriculture Wrongly Accused As Prominent Cause Of Heavy Metal Accumulation In Soil

http://www.treehugger.com/files/2008/09/organic-agriculture-heavy-metals.php

Are Wal-Mart’s Changes Enough to Quiet Critics?

http://www.findingdulcinea.com/news/business/October-08/Are-Wal-Mart-s-Changes-Enough-to-Quiet-Critics--.html