The term “organic” refers to how certain foods are produced. Organic foods have been grown or farmed without the use of:
- Artificial Chemicals
- Hormones
- Antibiotics
- Genetically Modified Organisms
The benefits of organic food and their impact on the environment
How your food is grown or raised can have a major impact on your mental and emotional health as well as the environment. Organic foods often have more beneficial nutrients, such as antioxidants, than their conventionally-grown counterparts and people with allergies to foods, chemicals, or preservatives may find their symptoms lessen or go away when they eat only organic foods.
Organic produce contains fewer pesticides. Chemicals such as synthetic fungicides, herbicides, and insecticides are widely used in conventional agriculture and residues remain on (and in) the food we eat.
Organic food is often fresher because it doesn’t contain preservatives that make it last longer. Organic produce is sometimes (but not always, so watch where it is from) produced on smaller farms nearer to where it is sold.
Organic farming tends to be better for the environment. Organic farming practices may reduce pollution, conserve water, reduce soil erosion, increase soil fertility, and use less energy. Farming without synthetic pesticides is also better for nearby birds and animals as well as people who live close to farms.
Organically raised animals are NOT given antibiotics, growth hormones, or fed animal by-products. Feeding livestock animal by-products increases the risk of mad cow disease (BSE) and the use of antibiotics can create antibiotic-resistant strains of bacteria. Organically-raised animals tend to be given more space to move around and access to the outdoors, which helps to keep them healthy.
Organic meat and milk can be richer in certain nutrients. Results of a study show that levels of certain nutrients, including omega-3 fatty acids, were up to 50 percent higher in organic meat and milk than in conventionally raised versions.
Importance of Organic Fruits and Vegetables
Demand of vegetables in the domestic and global market is very high because of rich nutrition
value (high amount of minerals, fiber, vitamins, carbohydrate and calcium). India has been
producing 11.4% vegetables of the total world production and placed at second larger producer of
vegetables (Rai and Pandey, 2005).
According to research data, 250 million tones vegetables will
be required to fulfill the per capita need by 2020. Increasing the productivity is very necessary
because of agricultural land has been reducing with continuous growth of population. For
removing the feeding problem and getting healthy vegetables without exploiting the water
resources, environment and soil health, organic farming is the most sustainable and eco friendly
vegetable production method. The market of organic farming is spreading at the rate of 20%
instead of 5% in the case of conventional farming. For India, growing of organic vegetables has a
large scope in the sense of export market demand
Demand of vegetables in the domestic and global market is very high because of rich nutrition value (high amount of minerals, fibre, vitamins, carbohydrate and calcium). India has been producing 11.4% vegetables of the total world production and placed at second larger producer of vegetables (Rai and Pandey, 2005). Increasing the productivity is very necessary because of agricultural land has been reducing with continuous growth of population. For removing the feeding problem and getting healthy vegetables without exploiting the water resources, environment and soil health, organic farming is the most sustainable and eco-friendly vegetable production method. The market of organic farming is spreading at the rate of 20% instead of 5% in the case of conventional farming. For India, growing of organic vegetables has a large scope in the sense of export market demand
Advantages for Farmers
- PGS can be adapted to local conditions (e.g. processes can be defined to fit cultural habits and the capabilities of the producers) and involve ongoing farmer-to-farmer exchange.
- Low-cost certification with much less bureaucracy compared to third- party alternatives. This gives farmers access to organic markets they could otherwise not sell their produce at.
Advantages for Consumers
- A credible guarantee that the food they are buying has been grown organically. As there are no high third-party certification costs, the price remains affordable for the consumer and fair for the farmer.
The chance to become more involved in the food-growing process e.g. by visiting farms and participating in the peer review process to make sure the farmer is complying with organic standards.
