The Positive Contributions of Organic Production

1
The Positive Contributions of Organic Production

• To HEALTH and the Environment

2
Organic Organizations

• Presented by Janine Gibson, CREATIVE HEALTH
  CONSULTING-Organic Inspector, Trainer , Educator
• Organic Producers Association of Manitoba
  other certifiers
• Canadian Organic Growers
• Organic Food Council of Manitoba
• Independent Organic Inspectors Association

3
Research Credit

• Food Contamination and Child Health
• One of a series on Children and the Environment
• Prepared in conjunction with Canadian Organic
  Growers by the Canadian Institute for Childrens
  Health

4
Positive Contributions of OrganicProduction

• Safe food, safe environments crucial for infants
  and children given their rapid growth
  developing body systems
• Chemical pesticides fertilizers, GE components,
  irradiation, sewage sludge not allowed
• Manure composted to destroy harmful bacteria and
  breed beneficial bacteria

5
Positive Contributions of OrganicProduction

• Health -not simply the absence of disease
• State of Vitality-organism better able to
  withstand external challenges (1)
• Consistent and high levels of energy, mental
  clarity, physical strength stamina

6
Positive Contributions of OrganicProduction

• The rise in degenerative disease
• An increase in stress factors
• Decrease in nutrients in the diet to deal with
  these stress factors (2)
• High nutrient levels in food come from balanced
  healthy soil

7
Positive Contributions of OrganicProduction

• Every year of organic production builds the
  richness of the soil ecosystem
• USDA reports highest death rates in areas where
  soil is depleted (3)
• Basic principle of organic management is SOIL
  BUILDING

8
Positive Contributions of OrganicProduction

• The universe of micro-organisms in a healthy soil
  contributes to the major nutrients and
  micro-nutrients-minerals and enzymes-in our food

9
Positive Contributions of OrganicProduction

• In creating organic standards, the precautionary
  principle is always followed.
• If anything has not been PROVEN to be SAFE, it is
  NOT ALLOWED
• Genetic Engineering and it products are an example

10
Positive Contributions of OrganicProduction

• Organic Food was served for 3 years in a New
  Zealand Boarding School
• There was a marked decline in colds flu, fast
  convalescence, excellent health generally, few
  sports injuries, greater resistance to fractures
  and sprains, clear and healthy skin, and improved
  dental health (4)

11
Positive Contributions of OrganicProduction

• In cancer treatments, studies are proving that an
  organic diet is a valuable contributor to
  successful outcomes. (5)

12
Positive Contributions of OrganicProduction

• Studies have indicated that dietary and
  occupational exposure to pesticides may influence
  sperm quality negatively. (6)
• Average sperm concentrations have fallen since
  1940 by almost half to 66million/ml7 (8)
• At least 50 organic food in the diet has been
  shown to increase sperm count to 127million/ml
  (9)

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Positive Contributions of OrganicProduction-Prima
ry Nutrients

• Clear, long term decline in trace mineral content
  in fruits and vegetables since start of chemical
  production methods (10)
• Vitamin C, mineral content and secondary
  nutrients, linked to ability to withstand
  disease, are higher in organic crops.
• Storage degradation of nutrients, less in
  organically grown crops.

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Positive Contributions of OrganicProduction-Prima
ry Nutrients

• At least 19 minerals must be available in soil to
  provide good nutrition for plants and animals (
  including us!)
• In non-organic farming, N,P,K are commonly
  applied.
• Studies reveal significantly higher content of
  the remaining 16 minerals, in organic food, due
  to organic soil building methods. (11)

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Positive Contributions of OrganicProduction-
Primary Nutrients

• Vitamins are synthesized by plants. Heritage
  varieties, commonly chosen by organic growers,
  contain MORE vitamins.
• Testing shows between 6 and 100 higher vitamin
  c content in organic fruits and vegetables (12).

16
Positive Contributions of OrganicAnimal
Production

• Animals raised under organic management must be
  given freedom to express their innate
  characteristic behaviors. Antibiotic use is MUCH
  less common in organic systems which is likely
  due to this respect of animals basic needs.

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Positive Contributions of OrganicAnimal
Production

• Several studies show a more favorable fat profile
  of saturated to unsaturated fat in organically
  raised beef. (16)
• Levels of the healthy fatty acid CLA in organic
  milk are higher. (17)

18
Heatons Risks of Chemical AG

• Pesticides-prohibited in organic and rarely found
  as residue
• Growing concern over cocktail effect of
  multiple pesticide residues in non-organic food.
• Ingesting multiple GE foods also a concern.

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Heatons Risks of Chemical AG

• Antibiotics-routine growth promoting use
  prohibited in organics. Growing concern over
  risks of antibiotic resistance in bacteria due to
  over use and abuse in non-organic production.
• BSE and vCJD- no record of any BSE found in
  organically born and raised animals.

20
Heatons Risks of Chemical AG

• Food Additives- More than 500 are permitted in
  non-organic processing, compared with 30
  permitted in organic processing.
• Organic standards prohibit additives and
  ingredients linked to allergic reactions,
  headaches, asthma, growth retardation,
  hyperactivity, heart disease and osteoporosis

21
Heatons Risks of Chemical AG

• Nitrate
• Chemical fertilization results in higher levels
  of potentially toxic nitrate in vegetables.
• Studies have shown lower levels in organically
  produced crops.
• Nitrate concentrations in ground water are
  gradually reduced in organic farming.

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Positive Contributions of OrganicProduction-Endno
tes

• 1.Holden P. 1992 Food Quality without Chemical
  Crop Protection BCPC Mono49
• 2. Holden P. 1998 100 Health, Piatkus, UK,
  Clayton P. 2001 Health Defence, Accelerated
  Learning Systems Publishers, Aylesbury, UK,
  Sinclair H 1990. Food Quality and its effects on
  health, EFRC Colloquium pp5-6

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Positive Contributions of OrganicProduction-Endno
tes

• 2. Contd-Davies, S and Stewart, A 1987
  Nutritional Medicine, Macmillan, London Hilford,
  P. 1999. Say No to Cancer, Piarkus, UK
• 3. USDA 1971 Evaluation of Research in US on
  Human Nutrition, Agricultural Services Report 2
• 4. Daldy,Y. 1940 Food production without
  Artificial fertilizers, Nature 145

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Positive Contributions of OrganicProduction-End
Notes

• 5. Gerson, M. 1958. A cancer therapy Results of
  Fifty Cases, Totality Books, CABushop, B. 1988
  Organic Food in Cancer Therapy, Nutrition and
  Health 6 Bircher-Benner, M. 1987 The Prevention
  of Incurable Disease, Keats PublInc,Conn.
  Plaskett, L.G. 1999 Nutritional Therapy to the
  Aid of Cancer Patients, Intnl Journal of
  Alternative Complementary Medicine

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Positive Contributions of OrganicProduction-End
Notes

• Jensen, T.K. et al 1996. Semen quality among
  Members of Organic Food Association in Denmark,
  The Lancet 347, June 29, p1844 Abell, A. Ernst,
  E.and Bonde, J.P. 1994. High sperm density among
  members of organic farmersassoc, The Lancet 343,
  June 11, p1498ibid 2000. Semen quality and
  sexual hormones in green house workers,
  Scandinavian Journal of Work Environmental
  Health 26, pp492-500

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Positive Contributions of OrganicProduction-End
Notes

• 7. Carlsen,E.,Giwercman,A., Keiding, N and
  Skakkebacck, N.E. Evidence for decreasing sperm
  quality of semen in past fifty years, British
  Medical Journal 305, pp609-613.
• 8. Hoppe, H. 2000. Measuring Food Quality, New
  European Quality Forum Presentation at the 11th
  National Conference on Organic Food, Roryal Ag
  College, Cirencester, Jan.
• 9. (see 6

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Positive Contributions of OrganicProduction-End
Notes

• 10. Heaton, Shane 2000. Organic Farming, Food
  Quality and Human Health, Soil Assn, UK
• 11. ibid, p36
• 12. ibid, p37, 7 studies
• 13. Joseph, J.A., Skulin-Hale, B., Denisova, N.A.
  Prior, R.I. cao. G., Martin,A., Taglialatela, G.
  and Bickford, P.C. 1998. Journal of NeiroScience
  18 pp8047-8055.

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Positive Contributions of OrganicProduction-End
Notes

• 14. Plaskett, L.G. 1999 Nutritional Therapy to
  the aid of cancer patients, International Journal
  of Alternative and Complimentary Medicine, Dec.
• 15. Molgaard, J.P. 2000 Nutrients, secondary
  metabolites and foreign compounds in organic
  foods, Proceedings of the 13th IFOAM Scientific
  Conference, Basel Switzerland, pp28-31

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Positive Contributions of OrganicProduction-End
Notes

• 16. Pastushenko, V.,Matthes, H.C., Hein, T. and
  Holzer, Z. 2000. Impact of cattle grazing on meat
  fatty acid composition in relation to human
  nutrition, Proceedings of the 13th IFOAM
  Scientific Conference, Basel Switzerland, p293
• 17. The Danish Institute of Agricultural
  Sciences, Dec. 02 www.agrsci.dk/index_uk.shtml

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Positive Contributions of OrganicProduction-End
Notes

• 18. Woese, K et al 1997. Journal of Science of
  Food and Agriculture 74
• 19. Heaton, Shane 2000 p48, 6 studies, Organic
  Farming, food quality and human Health, Soil
  Assn, UK

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Thank You for caring!-Natasha and her Chicken
House