March 3rd, 2014 English 112 Sustainable Agriculture The majority of the Unites States Population today buys their food from grocery stores that supply them with their product, most of which has been scientifically modified, produced, and handled to satiate the industrial need for mass production. These foods have been produced using methods which have disrupted and damaged the environment, and have put citizens health and future at risk. Without agriculture there is no civilization. Agriculture is a very large factor in our society ranging from the food we consume to the health of the environment. In recent years the quality and safety of food has diminished due to conventional farming, and has now become detrimental to society and environment. Farmers must start using sustainable methods for agricultural production. The foods at the grocery stores labeled 'Organic' earned the certification by meeting the criteria of the United States Department of Agriculture. There are production process standards, crop standards, livestock standards, and handing standards which have to be practices in order to attain the organic certification. Before farmers can begin their process the land they are working on may not have had any non-organic product applied to it for three years. There cannot be any genetically modified (GM) foods, organisms, or seeds being used at any time during the entire growing and production process. Biodiversity is supported, and the uses of compost, as well as manure are promoted by the methods of crop rotation, and composting. Organic farmers must handle all pests, weeds and diseases with the use of physical, mechanical, and biological practices. (Organic Farming). Conventional methods are an issue mainly due to its destruction. Global warming is now common knowledge, and we've continued to support the behavior, and abuse of technology of corporations with financial priorities. Conventional farming today uses fertilizers, herbicides, pesticides, radiation, and a large portion of farmers also uses GM products to grow their crops. These GM crops include corn, a crop now used to make the ingredient corn syrup, which is now in almost all foods. Conventional farmers also use a nitrogen based fertilizer for the soil which seeps into the ground, and pollutes ground water as well as waterways. This is in addition to producing one of the most powerful greenhouse gas called, nitrous oxide (Roberts). Organic farmers must use natural methods for fertilizing the soil. They have to use compost, or manure for their crops. Compost is derived from kitchen waste, and natural waste such as yard clipping or leaf litter. Once the compost process is completed it provides essential nutritious soil for the crops to absorb and grow. Petleum energy was used to power farm equipment, and petrochemicals were developed into cheap fertilizers and pesticides (Roberts). These are derived from petroleum, which is also used to make oil, and is harmful to the Earths air quality. Farmers have to protect their crops from weeds and insects which compete, and absorb nutrients intended for the planted crop. Conventional farmers use chemical herbicides to kill harmful weeds. "Organophosphates are used in nerve gas, a chemical weapon classified by the United Nations as a weapon of mass destruction. Organophosphates are also used in many insecticides and herbicides. They are found in trace amounts on commercial fruits and vegetables" (Kristof). This means that consumers who purchase, and ingest conventional produce are absorbing a chemical used as a weapon of mass destruction. Although the EPA says that because there are such small amounts of these chemicals on the produce, and that it is not harmful to humans, organic farmers do not use chemical insecticides or herbicides. Instead, organic farmers are required to physically weed out the harmful plants, and promote biodiversity through crop rotation. Crop rotation is when farmers alternate the species of plants grown to return nutrients that have been depleted from previous growing seasons. If a diverse number of plants are grown, the existence of the species of plants planted is prolonged. By alternating plants, farmers are reducing the chance that these plants will become endangered or extinct, which is now becoming an epidemic all in its own. For the problem of invasive insects, organic farmers use other insects, and traps in their favor. Ladybugs and spiders have a mutualistic relationship with crops. Both the crop and the insect are sustaining each other: the plants are no longer terrorized by harmful pests, and in return the good insects are able to find food, and shelter. Thanks to bugs like ladybugs who are natural predators of insects which are harmful to crops, farmers are riding the plants of pests naturally without the risk of harming those who will be eating the produce.. Weeds may also develop an immunity to herbicides, which is why prolonged use of such products are not recommended. Immunity responses in insects are also possible, and have already occurred with insects such as mosquitos and DDT (Kristof). Organic farmers are reducing the chance of creating a super bug which could potentially be harmful to humans and immune to all pesticides by rejecting the use of natural methods. Genetically modified organisms or foods have been scientifically derived to kill invading insects, viruses, and to mass produce. (Kristof) The GM organisms are created by altering the DNA of one plant with the desired trait of another plant. Although there are no recorded side effects to GMO, it has not been extensively researched. "GM crops were first introduced in the United States in 1996."(2 nd book) Similar to the chemical herbicides and pesticides, viruses and insects may build immunity, and present a risk of wiping out the entire supply of a certain crop forever. Organic farmers are required to grow organic seeds only, and do not use any genetically modified food or organisms in any of their practices or methods. Conventional livestock farmers are just as harmful to the environment and citizens as conventional agriculture. Their practices include the use of antibiotics, growth hormones, medications, and more often than not, confine the animals in closed building for the majority, if not the entirety of the animals existence. Unfortunately the only time the animals that have been confined only see sunlight when they are being transported to a slaughter factory to be killed and sold. They also make the mistake of feeding them GM feed even though it is not their natural diet. Take cows for example, they are natural grazers, but are feed GM corn when raised through conventional methods. This feed is designed to fatten cows for the purpose of mass production, and unfortunately also produces larger portions of methane, one of the most harmful greenhouse gases. In addition to the lack of proper food, there have been numerous videos which have submerged showing the mistreatment through physical and mental abuse of animals such as chickens, cows, and pigs. These videos display the misery, stress, and sickliness these animals endure for consumers due to the great numbers of animals in one space, and lack of proper medical, and moral care. Since the 1950s, it has become routine practice to add low levels of antibiotics to the feed or water of healthy poultry, cattle, and swine to promote faster growth and prevent infections that tend to occur when animals are housed in crowded, unsanitary, stressful conditions (Saving Antibiotics). Illnesses within these farm animals are common and thus, the farmer's animals are given medications and antibiotics for the entire duration of their lives. Organic livestock farmers are not authorized to use antibiotics, hormones or medication. In the event that an animal becomes ill, the farmer is required to tend to it, and get authorization from the EPA for use of any medication before treating. Their animals are also required to have access to the outdoors and pastures to graze and live naturally, as well as a clean quarters for the livestock to reside in. At the Organic Valley Farm in Oregon Ben Bensen, a dairy farmer is on a first name basis with his 230 milk cows, 200 heifers, and calves. His methods include the moral treatment of his farm animals. He explains mutualism when he talks about how he wants his cows to be happy because he knows that if his cows are happy and healthy, he will be too. It has been ten years since Bensen switched to organic methods of farming. He expresses his only concerns at the time being the health of his cows without the antibiotics, as pharmaceuticals have been pushing regular treatments as essential for the animals well-being. Indeed, about 80 percent of antibiotics in the United States go to farm animals leading to the risk of more antibiotic- resistant microbes, which already cause infections that have killed some 100, 000 Americans annually (Kristof) Organic farming has been growing in popularity for a reason. More and more people are realizing that eating food which has been produced through conventional methods is unhealthy, and bad for the environment. Those who wish to save money take a step further and begin their own edible gardens, and make their own compost. This is exactly what needs to continue. After a while it becomes a domino effect of good outcomes, and endless possibilities. Take at home composting for example. If at home composting took place, it would reduce kitchen waste, the trash would not have to be taken out as often, garbage trucks wouldnt have to stop as much, the compost would produce naturally nitrous fertilizer and soil for a garden, which would cut down on grocery bills, and if all goes well even trips to the grocery store would be reduced resulting in a savings in car emissions being released, and polluting the air. All of these outcomes are beneficial for human health, as well as the environment. When it comes to Organic versus Conventional methods there is no denying that organic is the smarter way to go. Supporting organic farmers and producers would be a vote for change in the way food is grown and produced. Although the number of organic farmers is growing, conventional farming still dominates the majority of the way the worlds food is produced. This needs to change, and there is only one way to change it in this consumer driven world: by buying USDA certified organic products.
Works Cited
Kristof, NIcholas D. How Cows Are Happy and Food Is Healthy. The New York Times Company, 2013. Web. 3 March 2014. Miller, Deborah A. Farming and the Food Supply. Farmington Hills, MI: Greenhaven Press, 2011. Print. Organic Farming. epa.gov. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. 27 June 2012. Web. 3 March 2014. Roberts, Jack L. Organic Agriculture. Minneapolis: Twenty-First Century Books, 2012. Print. Saving Antibiotics NRDC.org. Natural Resources Defense Council. 7 Feb. 2014. Web. 3 March 2014.