Pros and Cons of Organic and Conventional Agriculture
From Science Online
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What REALLY Makes Our Food Grow?
The Pros and Cons of Conventional and Organic Agriculture
Conventional and organic agriculture are two methods that farmers employ to do their farming. Conventional agriculture uses techniques that utilize various pesticides, growth hormones, and other chemicals to help produce their various products faster and larger (Pollack, 2006). In comparison, organic agriculture does not use any chemicals to grow produce or raise cattle. Organic farmers use all natural feeds and fertilizers and even though this type of agriculture is more expensive, more people are drawn to organic products than they are to inorganic ones (Goodman, 2000).
Conventional Agriculture
Opposed to what many scientists and farmers say, conventional agriculture has many pros. Conventional agriculture is a way for farmers to mass produce various vegetables as well as meat, such as beef and chicken. By feeding animals growth hormones and treating their fields with pesticides, farmers insure that their animals and produce are growing rapidly enough and are free of harmful pests to make the deadline in the present market. Farmers must make a living too and by restricting their growing seasons by avoiding the use of pesticides and other means to "make their garden grow" farmers must use the tactics that will give them the results they are looking for. Not only is conventional agriculture less expensive than organic but it has a good price market and as long as people continue to buy produce grown the conventional way, conventional agriculture will continue to thrive (Goodman, 2000).
Problems
Conventional agriculture has been a standard around the United States and the world for centuries. Yet, scientist have noted the harmful effects of conventional agriculture on the environment and surround ecosystems. Not only do conventional farms employ chemical and synthetic pesticides or fertilizers to cut down on nasty critters they also use genetic-engineering and modification to make their crops grow faster and larger (Om Organics).
Harmful Effects
The harmful impact that conventional agriculture farmers reek on the environment include a myriad of things. The main issue is the degradation of soil. By farming a single crop year after year and using harmful agents, such as pesticides and synthetic fertilizers, can diminish the nutrient rich soil. This act then makes it almost impossible to grow anything in that area, let alone sustain the ecosystem and the organisms that rely on the surrounding habitat (Om Organics).
Lastly, many of the artificial pesticides that farmers use to cut down on their pest population may kill the weeds and pest but also leave a harmful residue on our food. The USDA conducted a study that showed that the most commonly eaten produce items were 73%-90% contaminated with disease causing pesticides. Soon many of these pests grow resistant to the the pesticides and actually help breed more numerous and stronger pest communities. Pesticides not only kill the targeted pests but their natural predators as well causing an imbalance in the entire environment (Om Organics).
Summing up Conventional Agriculture
Conventional agriculture is not the agriculture of our grandparents and great-grand parents. It is a harmful and detrimental way of growing produce and raising cattle. By feeding our cattle various amounts of growth hormones and treating our produce with harmful pesticides, our health is at great risk. Conventional agriculture is quick and easy but has very detrimental effects on our health and the environment. By growing a single crop year after year and continually using chemicals and synthetics deteriorates the healthy ecosystem and instead creates a bleak environment to try to grow healthy agriculture. Over time, the only way to maintain production levels is to use more fertilizers, which causes an even larger global problem. Conventional farming is not sustainable to soil health nor is it to the people who consume inorganic products (Om Organics).
Farming the Green Way
Organic Agriculture
Organic agriculture is farming without the use of pesticides, growth hormones, or chemical fertilizers. Organic farms control pests using natural, sustainable methods that retain the lands natural eco-sysem. Organic farming produces minimal residues and is a benefit to ones health (Om Organics). The U.S. Department of Agriculture does not require genetically modified (GM) foods to be labled as such. The issues with this is the fact that many organic farmers have recieved organic corn feed that was contaminated by GM organisms. Organic farming is more expensive than conventional and the fact that many farmers feed was contaminated with GM organisms shows lack of regard for the average organic farmer (Lang, 2005).
Problems
Problems with organic agriculture are few. The main issue is the cost. Organic agriculture costs way more than its counterpart, conventional agriculture. The expensive feed and fertilizers also cause the price for organic good to increase also. Yet more and more people are willing to shell out the big bucks for healthier organic foods (Bucchner and Troy, 2003).
Positives
Organic farming used to be about saving the planet but now its about saving the family farm. To be certified as organic a dairy farmer can't treat his cows with anitbiotics or hormones and he must feed them grain and hay grown without herbicides, pesticides or chemical fertilizers. Using dairy farms as an example, conventional-milk prices fluctuate wildly while the price for organic milk remains steady. Many dairy farmers feel that going organic used to be about philosophy but now its about saving the family farm. Farmers with herds that average around 100 cows suffer the most when conventional-milk prices are low. Organic farming levels the playing field because of their land-use requirements can be more difficult. Retail sales of organic dairy products are growing about 20% a year even though a gallon of organic milk typically costs more than twice as much as regular milk (Morgan and Murdoch, 1998).
Both Conventional and Organic Agriculture
The environmental issues concerning conventional agriculture include leaching the soil and harming the human body (Kramer, Reganold, Glover, Bohannan and Mooney, 2006). There are not many environmental benefits to conventional agriculture. The environmental issues concerning organic agriculture are few since organic agriculture helps out the environment by returning natural nutrients to the soil and not contaminating it with harmful and unnatural pesticides and fertilizers (Muller, 2006). When discussing economic costs, conventional agricutlure also comes out the underdog. Organic produce does not vary as much in the market as much as conventional produce.
