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I'm a biology graduate so I'm a bit bias but... TheCrownless Send a noteboard - 11/09/2012 09:41:00 PM
1. Do you think organic food is healthier/safer/more nutritious than ordinary food?

Healthier and more nutritious no, there are plenty of studies that show intensively farmed crops provide higher quality produce than organic equivalents. Safer depends on the practices used, there are perfectly safe ways of using pesticides and other chemicals if they are used correctly as part of a decent IPM scheme
2. What do you think is the most important benefit derived from organic farming?

Organic farming tends to be less intensive which leads to better farming practices which leads to less environmental damage, however reasonable non-organic farming practices also do this.
3. What do you think will be the role of organic food in 20 years? Will it continue to grow in the future?

will continue to be a specialist item.

4. At least the world's population will continue to grow. Is it sensible to push for organic farming with its low crop yields when people are starving?

It simply won't be possible, we won't be able to grow enough food to feed the population without using synthetic pesticides (alongside biological control and good farming practices) and GMO's for increased pest resistance and yield. We're fighting a battle with pests and limited land that we'll only hold at bay using every scientific trick in the book.
5. Should the use of GMOS be allowed in organic farming?

Organic farming is a luxury so probably not.

Okay, I think that's about it. The rest of this post is stuff that I've been rolling around in my head.
I'm not very enthusiastic about organic farming. I admit that from an environmental viewpoint it is better than traditional farming (less fertilizers, more biodiversity). That and animal welfare (a matter of legislation) are the most important and beneficial aspects of organic farming, IMO. I absolutely loath the "health food" argument. I am not terrified of small traces of pesticides. People clinging to their organic foods because they are supposedly somehow more wholesome than ordinary foods annoy the hell out of me.
I happen to have the luxury of living in the northenmost country in the world that still engages in large-scale agriculture. With the short growing season and the terrible soil, the conditions aren't all that rosy for organic farming. Still, consumers want it (although it's never taken off nearly as well here as in, say, Germany) and the industry of course happily produces what people want.


The problem isn't the pesticides, it's just bad farming practices. You can farm using GMO's, synthetic pesticides and all the other "bad" stuff you want if you use them properly and we're going to have to start soon. Blanket spraying of pesticides is bad for the environment and bad for pest control, we need to get better at using what we have, not stop using what we do have because some use it badly.
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I'd be interested in knowing what you guys think about organic food - 11/09/2012 08:01:41 PM 1070 Views
Re: I'd be interested in knowing what you guys think about organic food - 11/09/2012 08:55:17 PM 595 Views
Okay - 11/09/2012 10:05:39 PM 555 Views
Re: Okay - 12/09/2012 01:26:20 AM 498 Views
Re: Okay - 12/09/2012 04:25:19 PM 583 Views
Re: I'd be interested in knowing what you guys think about food - 11/09/2012 08:59:54 PM 780 Views
I am intrigued by your ideas. - 12/09/2012 03:20:13 PM 490 Views
I'm a biology graduate so I'm a bit bias but... - 11/09/2012 09:41:00 PM 682 Views
Thank you for you perspective! *NM* - 11/09/2012 10:14:49 PM 272 Views
I think organic food is a luxury that few will want as food prices increase in the coming decades. - 11/09/2012 10:11:33 PM 571 Views
Re: I think organic food is a luxury that few will want as food prices increase in the coming -- - 11/09/2012 10:35:08 PM 598 Views
Re: I think organic food is a luxury that few will want as food prices increase in the coming -- - 12/09/2012 02:38:24 AM 592 Views
Good points - 12/09/2012 09:28:41 AM 631 Views
Re: Good points - 12/09/2012 02:09:49 PM 554 Views
Yes. - 12/09/2012 10:01:36 AM 532 Views
I like it. - 11/09/2012 11:29:08 PM 637 Views
What I think - 12/09/2012 03:43:29 PM 483 Views
Re: What I think - 12/09/2012 04:26:34 PM 570 Views
Did you just INVITE me to ramble? - 11/09/2012 11:30:01 PM 712 Views
Actually (minor pedants point) - 13/09/2012 08:23:48 PM 603 Views
I hold to the view that most food is organic - 12/09/2012 12:15:27 AM 637 Views
What I think (now in the right spot!) - 12/09/2012 04:02:31 PM 650 Views
I'm so glad you responded. - 12/09/2012 04:14:31 PM 615 Views
Well... - 12/09/2012 08:15:13 PM 665 Views
I think the organic movement is mostly a big scam: an excuse to charge more money for less food. - 12/09/2012 11:40:40 PM 524 Views
Actually, I believe the "no pesticides" part predates the "no GMOs" part. - 13/09/2012 05:26:53 AM 536 Views
You're right... - 13/09/2012 08:43:52 AM 627 Views
Thanks for confirming my general impression as right on the money. - 14/09/2012 03:35:56 PM 621 Views
Re: Thanks for confirming my general impression as right on the money. - 16/09/2012 07:45:25 PM 589 Views
That is a very interesting overview, thanks. - 17/09/2012 11:22:38 PM 561 Views
Re: That is a very interesting overview, thanks. - 20/09/2012 08:44:45 PM 592 Views
Re: That is a very interesting overview, thanks. - 24/09/2012 03:06:35 AM 601 Views
Curious as to where you read these things - 13/09/2012 08:41:43 PM 577 Views
I am aware of no corroborating scientific research, no - 14/09/2012 03:53:42 PM 603 Views
I have some serious problems with that I'm afraid. - 14/09/2012 05:53:39 PM 494 Views
Fair enough; I have some serious fears with GMOs. - 15/09/2012 03:58:13 AM 653 Views
This is a long one... - 15/09/2012 08:28:36 PM 575 Views
Tends to happen around me for SOME reason.... - 17/09/2012 05:31:44 PM 684 Views

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