Although organic production as an entity is controversial, it is gaining momentum across the world in terms of sales. Organic foods have become more popular as people become more concerned about what it is they are consuming. This increased demand for organic products has lead to organic production on a global scale. With an increase in global organic production have come many benefits both economically and environmentally.
Organic agriculture’s aim is, “to augment ecological processes that foster plant nutrition yet conserve soil and water resources. Organic systems eliminate agrochemicals and reduce other external inputs to improve the environment and farm economics” (Pimental, et al). Organic production is not only beneficial to the population as a whole but to the small time farmers who are attempting to survive in a capitalist world. In the U.S., “National Organic Standards Program prohibits the use of synthetic chemicals, genetically modified organisms, and sewage sludge in organically certified production” (Pimental, et al). These types of eliminations mean less costs and more environmental benefits. Organic production is a step towards self-sustainable farming.
As this movement spreads across the world, sales continue to climb with a higher demand for organic products. This demand creates a larger profit margin making it a logical move for small farmers to switch to organic production. “Organic food sales total more than $7 billion per year and are growing at double-digit rates” (Pimental, et al). When farmers begin to think in terms of profit instead of yield, organic production becomes a viable move. Farmers benefit from this style of agriculture. As conventional farmers and conventional farming countries see this profiting enterprise by their organic farming neighbors, more farmers begin to turn to organic production ultimately increasing the benefits for the environment.
Benefits of organic production are numerous. In regards to economic concerns, farmers across the world are forced to pay large amounts of money for pesticides on a yearly basis. For instance, “the estimated environmental and health care costs of pesticide use at recommended levels in the United States run about $12 billion every year” (Pimental, et al). This is just in the United States and organic production eliminates this sort of pesticide use. This means it’s saving the farmer money but it is also probably saving the consumer money by buying organic products because it cuts down on their health care costs. Also, economic costs come in the form of soil erosion for farmers and the world. Right now, “the estimated annual costs of public and environmental health losses related to soil erosion exceed $45 billion” (Pimental, et al). Without even looking at the environmental gains, organic production is a good switch for farmers because of the economic benefits. Globally, this means that smaller farmers have a better chance of surviving which could also mean a diminishing of impoverishment in poorer parts of the world for those who do choose to switch to organic forms of production. Basically, “organic crops would be slightly more profitable than the conventional ones” (Pimental, et al).
Secondary benefits all deal with the environment. These benefits are secondary because it isn’t likely that farmers would do organic production if it wasn’t more profitable, which means that it is fortunate that it is so beneficial for the environment too. Conventional agriculture has many, "environmental and human health, as well as a high price tag. Nutrients from fertilizer and animal manure have been associated with the deterioration of some large fisheries in North America” (Pimental, et al). Biodiversity is a critical component to sustaining life because a consolidation of genetic components will make populations more susceptible to disease. Another effect of conventional agriculture is runoff of soil and nitrogen fertilizer that runs off from production, “in the Corn Belt has contributed to the ‘dead zone’ in the Gulf of Mexico” (Pimental, et al). This area in the Gulf of Mexico lacks any sort of life at all as it has been taken over by red alga which kills everything it touches. Though humans are more concerned with their lives today than what the Earth will be in fifty years, unless some care is put into the world today, there won’t be future generations. Organic production on a global level also means that parts of the world won’t face extinction per se, in the sense that there won’t be parts of the world that are just completely unable to support life.
Through organic production, chemical usage elimination prevents many adverse effects but it’s also the organic products that are used to replace these chemicals that further benefit the environment. Thus, it’s two-fold: global organic production benefits the environment by eliminating chemicals but it also benefits the environment through what it uses as a replacement. For instance, “integrated pest and nutrient management systems and certified organic agriculture can reduce reliance on agrochemical inputs as well as make agriculture environmentally and economically sound” (Pimental, et al). These kinds of pest and nutrient management systems increase levels of beneficial insects through adding more to take care of disease problems and by adding proper nutrients that improve growth in plants. This latter system specifically replaces chemicals. Further more, “soil organic matter is an important source of nutrients and can help increase biodiversity, which provides vital ecological services, including crop protection” (Pimental, et al). Soil preservation is a key component in organic crops because erosion can be such a problem for farmers. By preventing erosion before it happens, it also saves the farmers from doing more work which they may have to hire out for which would also mean a further economic gain. Organic production on a global scale means that the environment will be preserved without damage to the land or through killing off key species in the ecological web.
The globalization of organic production provides hope for the future through the sustainability of the small farmer and the environment. An increase in profit margins will allow farmers who are struggling to survive against big corporations an edge. For the environment, this means sustainability of soil and biodiversity. It also means the elimination of chemicals that are harming water sources and the health of people. In the end, the globalization of organic production is a beneficial move whether organic foods are better for people or not.
Pimental, David; Hepperly, Paul; Hanson, James; Douds, David; and Seidel, Rita.
“Environmental, Energetic, and Economic Comparisons of Organic and
Conventional Farming Systems”. Vol. 55 No. 7. BioScience, July 2005.