Organic Agriculture

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Organic Agriculture

• A Future Trend For Better Health And Environment

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The birthright of all living things is health.
This law is true for soil, plant, animal and
man the health of these four is one connected
chain. Any weakness or defect in the health of
any earlier link is passed onto the next and
succeeding link, until it reaches the last,
namely, the man. Sir Albert Howard, 1945
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Year

• Organic food is one of

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What Is Organic Food?

• Organic food is grown by organic agriculture in
  soil rich in organic matter called humus- the
  living part of the soil.
• Humus contains billions of bacteria, fungi and
  other minute organisms that provide tremendous
  amount of minerals and other nutrients to the
  plants.

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Organic agriculture

• It is a sustainable farming system that produces
  healthy crops and livestock without damaging the
  environment.
• It avoids the use of artificial fertilizers and
  pesticides and, relying instead on developing a
  healthy and fertile soil and growing a mixture of
  crops.

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Human Health

• Difficult to assess the effect an organic diet
  has on a persons health.
• Small number of studies suggest the health effect
  of organic food.
• On the contrary, abundant studies have shown
  negative effects of non-organic food and
  conventional farming.

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Pesticide

• Carcinogenic ( such as DDT that was banned in
  1973 in the US).
• Over 400 chemicals are being regularly used in
  conventional farming to kill weeds, insects and
  other pests that feed on crops.
• Some crops are being sprayed up to 16 times with
  36 different pesticides.

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Organophosphates

• The most dangerous pesticides.
• The most widely used- account for about half of
  the pesticides used in the US.
• Cheap cost and broad spectrum of uses.
• 60 million pounds are applied annually.
• 17 millions pounds non-agricultural purposes.

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Organophosphates- continues

• Very poisonous and were used in the World War II
  as nerve agents.
• Reduce the ability of cholinesterase to regulate
  a neurotransmitter called acetylcholine.

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Symptoms Of Cholinesterase Depression

• Headache Dizziness
• Muscle twitches Nausea
• and weakness Stomach Pain
• Shortness of breath Anxiety
• Diarrhea Pinpoint pupils
• Convulsion
• Coma

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Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals (EDC)

• Also known as gender benders.
• They may affect genes in a way similar to
  estrogen.
• Small dose can affect the sexual characteristics
  of animals.

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Food Additives- Food Colorings

• Food colorings cause a range of health problems
  including
• Allergic reaction
• Headaches
• Asthma
• Growth retardation
• Hyperactivity in children
• Small risk of cancer and tumor is associated with
  Red No. 3.

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Better Nutrition

• Organic food is grown by organic farming that
  retains organic matter in the soil that provides
  the nutrients plants and crops need.
• The conventional food lacks substantive
  nutrition.
• Speedy growth with agrochemicals
• Largely water filled

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Comparison of Organic and Non-Organic Produce

• Dry matter 26 Protein 12
• Potassium 13 Manganese 28
• Calcium 56 Nitrates 69
• Magnesium 49 Phosphorous 6
• Iron 290
• Copper 34
• Essential amino acids 35

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Reduce Heart Attacks

• Salicylic acid is responsible for the
  anti-inflammatory action of aspirin and helps
  combat hardening of the arteries and bowel
  cancer.
• Salicylic acid is produced naturally in plants as
  a defense against stress and disease.
• Average level of salicylic acid in organic food
  is 117 nanograms per gram compare to 20 nanograms
  per gram in non-organic food.

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The Environmental Impacts

• Prevent climate change
• Less CO2 is produced with organic food because of
  the use of organic fertilizer instead of
  commercial fertilizer.
• Less CO2 with organic food because it uses less
  energy than conventional farming.
• Development of soil as a major carbon sink.

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Water And Air Pollution

• Groundwater supplies about 51 of the drinking
  water in the US.
• About 25 of groundwater is contaminated.
• Less than 2 of pesticides applied to crop reach
  the target crops by aerial spraying.

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In Conclusion