Comments on: Organic and Feeding the World

By: Rachel Laudan

Rachel Laudan — Mon, 20 Jul 2009 11:40:36 +0000

Thanks Diana. My pile of reading keeps growing.

By: Kay Curtis

Kay Curtis — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 13:28:14 +0000

Agriculture was “organic” for centuries, millennia! and if it had been so fabulous nobody would have been looking for a better way — a way to get more security of production and higher yield. Now we have the benefit of improvement and some people are anxious to return to the “good old days” which they, themselves, never endured. I think there is still a lot of improvement possible but doubt that it will be found by going into reverse.

By: dianabuja

dianabuja — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 12:25:24 +0000

Thanks for the link to the study, Rachel – which I’ll read tonight. Another link that is useful, from FAO, is this one:

http://www.fao.org/Ag/Magazine/0111sp.htm

“…Developing transgenic crops implies massive investments, and the need for massive returns. The small number of GM technologies currently in use suggests that there is a real danger that the scale of the investment may lead to selective concentration on species and problems of global importance, and concomitant capital inertia. At the same time, there is a growing use of “hard” intellectual property rights over seeds and planting material and the tools of genetic engineering. This changes the relationship between the public and private sectors, to the detriment of the former. ”

Lots to think about.

By: Doug Scott

Doug Scott — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 20:50:28 +0000

Anecdotal evidence:

I taked to a farmer in Indiana 4 weeks ago .

He told me that he gets over 200 bushels of corn per acre using spray and no-till and uses 60% less fuel.

This is the same farm that his grandfather got 50-60 bushels per acre on.

By: Matt

Matt — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 01:49:18 +0000

Hey Rachel,

I actually just wrote a quick response to the comment above mine as it’s an attitude that I come across a lot and find frustrating (e.g. that U Michigan study is a joke). I saw your post in AgBioView and I’ll take a look at your older posts when I have a few minutes. I’m always glad to hear another person who’s willing to take the time to understand the important issues they talk about.

By: Rachel Laudan

Rachel Laudan — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 01:02:35 +0000

Hi Matt. Like your blog. But do you take me to be defending organic agriculture. No way as you’ll see if you go back a bit in my blog. It’s founded on a spurious distinction between natural and artificial that makes no sense.

By: Matt

Matt — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 23:24:36 +0000

It’s illogical to suggest that organic ag, which by definition includes all agricultural practices minus those that process chemicals in a lab, can be as or more effective than the alternative. everything that exists is made of chemicals and it’s ludicrous to suggest that all chemicals that exist without man are safe for us and our environment and that any chemicals modified in the lab are automatically more dangerous. crops, pesticides and practices must be evaluated on a case by case basis. we won’t get anywhere with sustainable ag while we live by superstitions and not science.

By: OrganicTrade

OrganicTrade — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 12:35:42 +0000

A common misperception is that organic agriculture is less productive than conventional agriculture. Additionally, it is often mistakenly assumed that organic cannot feed the world. In fact, several studies have shown that organic production is on par with, and sometimes superior to, conventional production levels, and that it offers a compelling and sustainable alternative to conventional approaches toward addressing the world’s hunger problems.

A United Nations report—Organic Agriculture and Food Security in Africa—released in October 2008 found organic farming offers African and other developing countries the most hope for feeding their people. Findings by the U.N. Environment Programme showed that organic practices raise yields, improve the soil, and boost the income of developing countries’ small farmers. Similarly, the Long-term Agro-ecological Research (LTAR) initiative at Iowa State University’s Neely-Kinyon Farm found yields equal or greater than conventional counterparts for organic corn, soybeans and oats. In 2007, for instance, the organic corn yielded more than the conventional with 209 bushels per acre compared to 188 bushes per acre for the conventional corn. Meanwhile, researchers at the University of Michigan found that organic farming can yield up to three times as much food as conventional farming on the same amount of land in developing countries.

In light of such findings, as well as the many personal health and environmental benefits that organic agriculture has to offer, it is becoming clearer that organic offers a sustainable solution that addresses the world’s hunger problems and the long-term health of the planet.

By: maria

maria — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 10:39:13 +0000

much to think about – my workplace is involved in experimental work with gm technology as well as sustainable practices. these two terms can be collocated

(i’ll be linking this post with an up-coming one of my own)