Organic VS Pesticide

Environmental Impact

To obtain the label of “certified organic”, a product must meet a set of highly regulated standards for environmental stewardship and resource conservation, including maintenance and improved soil quality, prevention of ground and surface water contamination, greenhouse gas regulation, encouragement of biodiversity and conservation of water and energy. This makes it seem that the impact on the environment is lessened, but studies, depicted in the Myths section, show that organic farming may not be that much better on the environment. These goals are achieved through natural methods, such as mulching, plant diversity, native and adapted plants, crop rotation and the introduction of beneficial insects to control pests without synthetic pesticides. This does not mean, however, that pesticides are not used. Read more on this in the Myths section.

A main downfall to using pesticides is the contamination of the soil, air, ground, and surface water, as well as being damaging to the plants and animals that encounter the contaminated sources. Using these pesticides are much easier to manage than more natural methods, and help to ensure a higher crop yield.

Health Impact

There are several studies being conducted in this area, but as of right now the most recent findings show that organic food is slightly healthier than conventionally grown food. An extensive European Union-funded study found that organically grown foods contain more beneficial compounds, such as the vitamins and antioxidants needed to combat many diseases. This is still under debate, however, and there are several arguments saying that there are no major health benefits to organic food. Find out more about this in the Myths section.

There are several dangerous side-effects that can affect human health by touching, breathing, or ingesting pesticides. They have been linked to neurological disorders, endocrine and reproductive disorders, immune system deficiencies and cancer. According to the World Health Organization, acute pesticide poisoning (APP) is responsible for significant annual mortality, especially in developing nations.

Other Things to Consider

There are several farms today that are considered “transitional,” meaning they once used chemicals and are now making the change to organic-only production. There are also several farms that just don’t have the money to certify their food as organic, even if they don’t use any pesticides. Lastly, it’s important to consider where the food is grown. While there do seem to be several benefits to buying products that are organic, buying an organic apple that was grown half-way around the world will create environmental and economic issues within your community. Regardless of whether you buy organic or not, you should do your best to buy local grown foods.

Check out the myths page to learn about some of the myths regarding organic and pesticides.