Fact number 1 - organic food production
eliminates soil and water contamination. Since organic food
production strictly avoids the use of all synthetic chemicals, it
does not pose any risk of soil and underground water contamination
like conventional farming which uses tons of artificial fertilizers
and pesticides.
Fact number 2 - organic food production helps
preserve local wildlife. By avoiding toxic chemicals, using of mixed
planting as a natural pest control measure, and maintaining field
margins and hedges, organic farming provides a retreat to local
wildlife rather than taking it away its natural habitat like
conventional agriculture.
Fact number 3 - organic food production helps
conserve biodiversity. Avoidance of chemicals and use of alternative,
all natural farming methods has been shown to help conserve
biodiversity as it encourages a natural balance within the ecosystem
and helps prevent domination of particular species over the others.
Fact number 4 - organic food production helps the fight against global warming. Most organically produced food is distributed locally. As a result, less energy is used for transportation which automatically reduces carbon dioxide emissions which are believed to be the main cause of global warming.
Fact number 5 - organic food production reduces erosion. Organic crop production methods do not foresee elimination of all vegetation except for crops. As a result, more soil is covered with vegetation preventing the wind to carry away the topmost fertile soil layers.
Despite the lack of scientific
studies and existence of a few which even deny the environmental
benefits of organic food production, there is no doubt about which
food production methods cause the greatest harm to the environment.
The fact alone that organic farming methods strictly forbid the use
of all synthetic chemicals is enough to reject allegations about
organic food production not being any more environmentally friendly
than the conventional farming practices. The effects of pesticides
and artificial fertilizers have been scientifically proven seriously
damaging to both the environment and human health. Pesticides do not
only kill pests but many beneficial insects too including honey bees,
while some are even lethal for small mammals and birds. But their
effect on the environment does not end here. Pesticides and
fertilizers penetrate deep into the soil reaching the underwater
which is the main source of drinking water in many parts of the
world.
Organic food production is by
some accused to use more land to produce equal amounts of food. This
may be true but unlike conventional agriculture, organic farming is
significantly less disturbing for the environment because it often
supports the local wildlife rather than striping it of its natural
habitat. In fact, many organic farmers encourage wildlife species
such as birds, bats and other predatory animals to live on their
farmland and assist them in pest control.
