Essay about Organic Agriculture - 991 Words

The origins of organic agriculture can be traced back to northern Europe in the 1920’s, however it was not until recently that the movement gained attention and the debate between organic verses conventional agriculture began. The organic movement started because of increasing concern about the environment and food quality which are still the two main topics of the debate today. Unfortunately, in terms of food quality, it is difficult to prove that organic products are healthier than conventionally grown products. This is not because of a lack of information since there have been many studies conducted about: the health effects of eating genetectly modified produce, consumption of chemical residue and the nutritional value of†¦show more content†¦The fertility of soil is dependent on the amount of topsoil which contains most of the nutrients and organic matter. Erosion leads to runoff that washes away the topsoil and organic matter forcing farmers to use synthetic nitrogen fertilizers to increase the soils fertility. The runoff then carries these fertilizers and other dangerous chemicals which can contaminate local bodies of water. Synthetic fertilizers, herbicides and pesticides cannot be used in organic agriculture so organic fertilizers such as manure and compost and natural processes are used for soil management. Some organic soil management techniques include mulching, cover cropping and crop rotation. According to Scialabba, using these techniques will â€Å"improve soil structure and therefore increase the soils water infiltration and retention capacity, substantially reducing the risk of erosion† (34). The use of organic fertilizers and less erosion means that the soil on organic farms has more topsoil and organic matter making them more fertile and better for the environment. Biodiversity is essential to environmental health because it ensures sustainability and there are many free biological benefits that can be gained from a large variety of species. Biodiversity creates sustainable agriculture because it allows the system to perform independently of external recourses. There exists many natural phenomenon that farmers can take advantage of and incorporate into all aspects of agriculture.Show MoreRelatedOrganic Vs. Organic Agriculture1376 Words   |  6 PagesObservers of agriculture have noted the increase in popularity for organic products. However, is it possible for this growth in the organic industry to be sustainable and profitable? Some notable studies include, yield, price premium, demand, cost, etc. In this paper, organic to conventional agriculture will be investigated. Given that organic agriculture is still in its infancy, demand for organics will continue to grow despite for lower yield and higher premium cost. 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