Global Warming Today - Organic Food

Organic food is produced without the use of traditional pesticides or fertilisers also that they were processed with out ionising radiation or food additives. Animals which are involved in organic foods are reared without the use of antibiotics or growth hormones.

All produce that is organic must also not be genetically modified. In most +countries in order for a company to market food as organic they need to obtain certification, such countries include USA, and many European countries. Organic food was once quite small scale with very little demand, and was only available in local farm stores, however since the 1990s the demand has significantly increased, growing 20% a year since the early 1990s. It is expected to continue to grow up to as much as 50% depending on the country.

Organic food that has been processed food contains only organic ingredients or a minimum number of the ingredients must be organic, in the USA this is 95%. Some organic food is also produced with energy saving technology and recycled products. It is harder now to ensure your food is actually organic as the supermarkets have swamped the market with organic food, now government regulations and third party inspectors ensure a product cleaning to be organic is in fact organic.

The process of organic farming has been found to be less damaging in the short term to the environment as they do not use pesticides which can damage the soil, water and wildlife. Organic farms also help sustain the local ecosystem, they also use less energy than a conventional farm. Many studies comparing yields from organic and non-organic farms have come up with varying results, however many studies have found organic farms are more energy efficient than non-organic farms.

Pesticides can also end up causing health problems to the farmers that use them including abdominal pains and even birth defects. In America the Pesticide data program is a company that monitors pesticide residue. Organic food does cost more tan regular, at around 10-40% more on average but many studies have unofficially found that organic foods are 25% more nutritious due to the fact they are grown organically.