ORGANIC FARMING

Modern industrialized agriculture produces large amounts of food at prices that are relatively low, mostly because the harmful environmental and health costs of such agriculture are not included in the market prices of food. But to a growing number of analysts, this form of agriculture is unsustainable, because it violates the three principles of sustainability (https://meticulousperspectives.blogspot.com/search?q=three+principles+of+sustainability). It relies heavily on use of fossil fuels, which adds greenhouse gases to the atmosphere and thus contributes to climate change. It also reduces biodiversity in areas where food is grown and agrobiodiversity, and it reduces the cycling of plant nutrients back to topsoil. Thus, it becomes must to shift towards a more sustainable form of agriculture.

One component of more sustainable agriculture is organic agriculture. From a nutrient standpoint there is no clear-cut evidence that organic foods are nutritionally healthier to eat than conventional foods. But organic foods are thought to be more healthful because they are free of pesticide residues. Many experts support a shift to organic farming mostly because it sharply reduces the harmful environmental effects. However, a drawback of organic farming is that it requires more human labor to use methods such as integrated pest management, crop rotation and cultivation, and multi-cropping than conventional industrial farming requires. But it can be an important source of jobs and income, especially in less-developed countries, and for a growing number of younger farmers in more-developed countries who want to apply ecological principles to agriculture and to help reduce its harmful environmental impacts.

Advantages of organic farming include:

• Improves soil fertility. 
• Reduces soil erosion.
• Retains more water in soil during drought years.
• Uses about 30% less energy per unit of yield.
• Lowers CO2 emissions.
• Reduces water pollution by recycling livestock wastes.
• Eliminates pollution from pesticides.
• Increases biodiversity above and below ground.
• Benefits wildlife such as birds and bats.