Organic Farming

Adrianna Gabellini

Christian Lucero

Tonkall Rogers

Maila Vang

Agenda

• Pre-test• Video: “What is Organic?”• Lecture• Scavenger Hunt• Post-test• Quick Write

Objective

• Students will learn the differences between organic and conventional farming.

• Students will learn what makes something organic.

• Students will demonstrate their current and gained knowledge through a pre- and post-test.

What is the Difference Between Organic and Conventional Farming?

What is Organic?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4-QClNTczec

What is Organic Farming?

• Organic farming is a natural form of farming that uses no pesticides or chemicals. It relies on procedures such as crop rotation, green manure, and compost.

• “Organic” is a labeling term showing that the agricultural product was produced through approved methods.

https://www.mda.state.mn.us/food/organic/whatdoyoumean.aspxhttp://www.ams.usda.gov/AMSv1.0/nop

History• Until 1920’s, all agriculture was

generally organic.• Changed dramatically during

WWII• 1939: Development of DDT led to

dismissal of organic methods• “Be Natural” movement of the

60’s and 70’s• Organic Foods Production Act

(OSPA) of 1990• 2007: 13,000 organic producers in

UShttp://theorganicsinstitute.com/organic/history-of-the-organic-movement/http://www.sare.org/Learning-Center/Bulletins/Transitioning-to-Organic-Production/Text-Version/History-of-Organic-Farming-in-the-United-Stateshttp://www.ofrf.org/organic-faqs

Methods• Biodynamic

– Related to lunar and planetary phases– Plant and mineral bases preparations

• The Rodales– Reduced pesticide exposure– Produce nutrient vegetables

• Biointensive– Growing organic produce meant to build the soil– Gain high yields per unit area of produce

• Natural Farming– Build soil through use of compost– Little to no cultivation

http://www.safs.msu.edu/soilecology/pdfs/OrganicFarming.htm

4 Principles

http://www.ifoam.org/en/organic-landmarks/principles-organic-agriculture

• The Principle of Health– Sustain and enhance the health of the soil, plants

animals, humans, and the planet as one• The Principle of Ecology

– Based on living ecological systems, working with them, emulating them and helping to sustain them

• The Principle of Fairness– Builds on relationships that ensure fairness with

regard to the environment and life• The Principle of Care

– Managed in a precautionary and responsible manner to protect the health and well-being of current and future generations and the environment

Organic Requirements: Crops• 3 years with no synthetic fertilizers, pesticides, or

GMOs)• Implementation of an Organic System Plan with

proactive fertility systems• Use of natural inputs and/or approved synthetic

substances• No prohibited substances• No GMOs• No sewage, sludge, or irradiation• Use of Organic seeds, when commercially available• Use of organic seedlings for annual crops• Restrictions on use of raw manure and compost• Maintenance of buffer zones• No residues of prohibited substances exceeding 5%

of the EPA tolerancehttp://agr.wa.gov/foodanimal/organic/Certificate/2006/OrganicRequirementsSimplified.pdf

Organic Requirements: Livestock• Implementation of an Organic Livestock Plan• Mandatory outdoor access• Access to pasture for ruminants• No antibiotics, growth hormones, slaughter

byproducts, or GMOs• 100% organic feed and approved feed

supplements• Sound animal husbandry and preventative

health care• Organic management from last third of

gestation or 2nd day after hatching• No rotating animals between organic and non-

organic managementhttp://agr.wa.gov/foodanimal/organic/Certificate/2006/OrganicRequirementsSimplified.pdf

Organic Requirements: Processing

• No commingling/contamination of organic products

• Implementation of an Organic Handling Plan• No use of GMOs or irradiation• Proactive sanitation and facility pest

management• Use of organic agricultural ingredients • Use of approved label

http://agr.wa.gov/foodanimal/organic/Certificate/2006/OrganicRequirementsSimplified.pdf

Organic Farming StatisticsTotal Food and Beverage Represented by Organic Food 4%

Total Percentage of Organic Food sold by Mass Market Retailers 54%

Total size of Organic Cropland in the U.S. 3.92 hectares

Total annual Global Organic Sales $64.9 billion

Total amount of California Organic Cropland 460,000 acres

Percentage of total U.S. organic cropland .6%

Total Percent of Organic Dairy Cows 2.9%

Total amount of U.S. Certified-Organic Farms in 50 states 14,540

Total amount of surface area covered by Certified-Organic Farms 4.1 million acres

Percent of Organic Food sales that take place 100 miles or less from an Organic Farm 44%

Percent of Organic Food sold directly through Organic Farm Stands 7%

http://www.ota.com/organic/mt/business.html

Organic Farming vs. Conventional Farming

Conventional Farming

According to the USDA, conventional farms, or “factory farms,” make use of:• rapid technological innovation• large-scale farms• single crops grown year round• uniform high-yield hybrid crops• extensive use of pesticides• Confined and concentrated

livestock systems

While these may sound like good things, they have proven to be harmful to produce, livestock, consumers, and the environment

http://www.nal.usda.gov/afsic/pubs/terms/srb9902.shtml

Organic Farming vs. Conventional Farming(continued)

Conventional livestock are kept in crowded, dirty, and enclosed environments while Organic livestock are given plenty of space, open air, and fresh grass to graze on.

http://www.ams.usda.gov/AMSv1.0/NOPOrganicStandards

Organic Farming vs. Conventional Farming

Soil quality is one of the biggest differences between Conventional and Organic crops because nutrients in the soil are passed on to the plants.

Use of pesticides is a more official difference between the two agricultural methods; the USDA requires that organic farms be pesticide free. Conventional farms, meanwhile, use over 1 billion pounds of pesticide a year in America (National Center for Biotechnology Information).

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2946087/

Organic food is better for your body, right down to an elemental level:

Tomatoes

Calcium Magnesium Potassium0

10002000300040005000600070008000900010000

OrganicConventional

http://theforgivingbody.com/organic-farming-vs-organic-farming/

Organic food is better for your body, right down to an elemental level:

Lettuce

Calcium Magnesium Potassium0

1000

2000

3000

4000

5000

6000

7000

8000

9000

OrganicConventional

http://theforgivingbody.com/organic-farming-vs-organic-farming/

Misconceptions About Organic Farming

• Misconceptions:– “True” organic farming

• Small scale• Open air• Animals graze; they are not

fed• Does not use ANY artificial

chemicals• Not owned by a corporation

– Organic produce availability• Many Americans believe

that you can’t find organic produce; this is not true.

http://www.cornucopia.org/2014/02/moses-board-petition/

Organic Produce Availability

• Farmers Markets– Gives urban communities access

to organic produce and meat from nearby farms.

– Gives organic farmers a place in the city to sell their products

• Gardens– In addition to selling meat and

produce, many organic farmers will sell seeds

– You can create a garden for these seeds in your own home (backyards, porches, and windowsills are great spots for a garden)

http://www.cafarmersmarkets.com/whats-a-cfm.html

Pros of Organic Farming

• Aims to produce food while establishing an ecological balance to prevent soil fertility or pest problems.

• Reduces non-renewable energy use by decreasing agrochemical needs (these require high quantities of fossil fuel to be produced).

• Plants will grow healthier and richer in color• No pesticides or chemicals• More nutrients• Better taste

http://www.fao.org/organicag/oa-faq/oa-faq6/en/http://healthresearchfunding.org/organic-farming-pros-cons/http://www.small-farm-permaculture-and-sustainable-living.com/advantages_and_disadvantages_organic_farming.htmlhttp://organic-center.org/reportfiles/Taste2Pager.pdf

Cons of Organic Farming

• Organic foods are often 20% higher in cost, if not more, and many families simply cannot afford that.

• Organic foods have a lower production ratio, and often have less environmental resistance.

• Specific organic produce only grows in the specific food’s season, organic food often times cannot be bought year round.

• Organic food uses no pesticides the crops are far more susceptible to disease and pests.

http://www.fao.org/organicag/oa-faq/oa-faq6/en/http://healthresearchfunding.org/organic-farming-pros-cons/http://www.nrec.org.uk/organic-farming/

Why Should You Care About Organic Farming

• Healthier overall• There are no contaminants such as GMO’s,

pesticides, weedicides, and other chemicals• Without the use of chemicals, natural water sources

aren’t contaminated• Less toxins are released into the air which helps the

Earth and the environment

http://www.greencalgary.org/images/uploads/File/Top10_Organics.pdfhttp://enhs.umn.edu/current/5103/gm/harmful.html

Where to Purchase Organic Produce• Certified Farmers' Markets of Sacramento

–  Sunrise Station: Folsom and Sunrise Blvd– Country Club Plaza: Butano Drive Parking Lot– Laguna Gateway Center: Laguna and Big Horn Blvd– State Parking Lot: 8th and W St– Florin Sears Store: Florin Rd. and 65th St.

• Oak Park Farmers Market– McClatchy Park: 35th St and 5th Ave

• West Sacramento Farmers Market– 1271 West Capitol Ave

References• http://agr.wa.gov/foodanimal/organic/Certificate/2006/OrganicRequirementsSimplified.pdf• http://enhs.umn.edu/current/5103/gm/harmful.html• http://healthresearchfunding.org/organic-farming-pros-cons/• http://theforgivingbody.com/organic-farming-vs-organic-farming/• http://theorganicsinstitute.com/organic/history-of-the-organic-movement/• http://www.ams.usda.gov/AMSv1.0/nop• http://www.ams.usda.gov/AMSv1.0/NOPOrganicStandards• http://www.cafarmersmarkets.com/whats-a-cfm.html• http://www.cornucopia.org/2014/02/moses-board-petition/• http://www.fao.org/organicag/oa-faq/oa-faq6/en/• http://www.greencalgary.org/images/uploads/File/Top10_Organics.pdf• http://www.ifoam.org/en/organic-landmarks/principles-organic-agriculture• http://www.nal.usda.gov/afsic/pubs/terms/srb9902.shtml• http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2946087/• http://www.nrec.org.uk/organic-farming/• http://www.ofrf.org/organic-faqs• http://www.safs.msu.edu/soilecology/pdfs/OrganicFarming.htm• http://www.sare.org/Learning-Center/Bulletins/Transitioning-to-Organic-Production/Text-Version/History-of-Organic-Farming-in-the-

United-States• http://www.small-farm-permaculture-and-sustainable-living.com/advantages_and_disadvantages_organic_farming.html• https://www.mda.state.mn.us/food/organic/whatdoyoumean.aspx