The term “organic” refers to the methods used to grow and process agricultural products. Specific requirements must be met and maintained in order for products to be labeled as "organic." While the standards differ worldwide, organic farming in general features cultural, biological, and mechanical practices that advance recycling of resources, promote ecological balance, and preserve biodiversity. Organic crops must be grown in safe soil, have no modifications, and must remain separate from conventional products . Farmers are not allowed to use synthetic pesticides, bioengineered genes (GMOs), petroleum-based fertilizers, and sewage sludge-based fertilizers although certain organically approved pesticides may be used under limited conditions.
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My interest in the health and fundamentals of human nutrition arose with my mother’s cancer diagnosis years ago. I strove to further my knowledge as to what foods could prolong cancer cells from forming and reduce the production of carcinogenic cells. I questioned whether organic foods may be healthier, whether GMOs and pesticides cause cancer and other diseases, and whether the nutritional content of organic food differed from conventional food. Hence my research topic was inspired; “To what extent is organic food beneficial for consumers”. My initial focus was the impact organic foods had on the body, as this affects a large amount of the population, with cancer diagnosis increasing in people of all ages each year. Through my research I found that there are some benefits and disadvantages not only the produce being grown organically, but also the methods used to grow such products. With the increasing demand of organic produce , there is a fear amongst farmers that the current production is not nearly enough to feed a growing …show more content…
Some believe that this differentiation between prices of organic and conventional foods is untrue, as production of organic produce spares the cost of chemicals, synthetic pesticides and antibiotics. Conventional farmers use chemicals as they make the process of growing and maintaining crops faster and more efficient. Without using pesticides and harmful herbicides, organic farmers have to employ more workers for tasks like hand wheeling, remediation of pesticide contamination and hand-weeding. The Organic Farming Research Foundation explains, “the price tag reflects the true cost of growing the food; substituting labor and intensive management for chemicals” . Retail sales of organic food rose from 430 million dollars in 2009 to 1.72 billion in 2014, according to Australian Food News . Farmers in Australia are struggling to keep up with increasing demands, the amount of wheal and grain (in particular) produced would need to be multiplied five times over in order to satisfy consumer request . In terms of cost, organic produce is not suitable for all; especially families/individuals in Australia that cannot afford such exuberantly priced produce. The average household in Australia spends $250 dollars on conventional groceries, tripling this amount would be quite difficult for some who still want to live “healthy” lifestyles. Dr. Bill Papagianis, general practitioner stated that “what is most
My interest in the health and fundamentals of human nutrition arose with my mother’s cancer diagnosis years ago. I strove to further my knowledge as to what foods could prolong cancer cells from forming and reduce the production of carcinogenic cells. I questioned whether organic foods may be healthier, whether GMOs and pesticides cause cancer and other diseases, and whether the nutritional content of organic food differed from conventional food. Hence my research topic was inspired; “To what extent is organic food beneficial for consumers”. My initial focus was the impact organic foods had on the body, as this affects a large amount of the population, with cancer diagnosis increasing in people of all ages each year. Through my research I found that there are some benefits and disadvantages not only the produce being grown organically, but also the methods used to grow such products. With the increasing demand of organic produce , there is a fear amongst farmers that the current production is not nearly enough to feed a growing …show more content…
Some believe that this differentiation between prices of organic and conventional foods is untrue, as production of organic produce spares the cost of chemicals, synthetic pesticides and antibiotics. Conventional farmers use chemicals as they make the process of growing and maintaining crops faster and more efficient. Without using pesticides and harmful herbicides, organic farmers have to employ more workers for tasks like hand wheeling, remediation of pesticide contamination and hand-weeding. The Organic Farming Research Foundation explains, “the price tag reflects the true cost of growing the food; substituting labor and intensive management for chemicals” . Retail sales of organic food rose from 430 million dollars in 2009 to 1.72 billion in 2014, according to Australian Food News . Farmers in Australia are struggling to keep up with increasing demands, the amount of wheal and grain (in particular) produced would need to be multiplied five times over in order to satisfy consumer request . In terms of cost, organic produce is not suitable for all; especially families/individuals in Australia that cannot afford such exuberantly priced produce. The average household in Australia spends $250 dollars on conventional groceries, tripling this amount would be quite difficult for some who still want to live “healthy” lifestyles. Dr. Bill Papagianis, general practitioner stated that “what is most