The Future's Bright, The Future's Organic

In response to the continued growth in popularity ofundergoing a transition to organic, organic corn yields
the organic food, one of the "reasons" put forwardwere less than conventional during the first two
for not switching to organic farming, is that such ayears but by the third year organic and conventional
major transition to organic methods would result incorn yields were about equal and in the fourth year
decreased yields and this would lead to catastrophicorganic corn yields averaged 130 bushels per acre
food shortages.compared with the conventional corn yield of 112
This assertion was based on data collected over abushels per acre.
number of years that suggest that organic yields ofSimilarly, the relative yields of organic and
a range of crops and animal products were less thanconventional soybeans were similar in the first few
their conventional counterparts. However, that data,years, the years of transition, and by the fourth
much of it old, did not take into account the factyear, the organic soybean yield was 45 bushels per
that a transition to organic farming is almost certainacre compared with the conventional yield of 40
to be a matter of evolution, rather than a suddenbushels per acre. Over 12 years of the experiment,
overnight thing and that organic farming meanwhile isthe average conventional corn yield was 171 bushels
coming along in leaps and bounds and improvingper acre and 163 bushels per acre for organic.
efficiency and know-how all the time.Apparently however, if the transition period is
Behind conventional farming there is a considerableeliminated from the averages, the conventional and
track of experience, a massive industrial complex oforganic yields were statistically identical at 172 bushels
interwoven industries and untold billions in investment.per acre for corn and 47 bushels per acre for
Considering that it manages with a much moresoybeans.
modest investment of money and resources,Looking at the economics of production, even during
research facilities and government help, the organicthe first two years of organic transition, the average
industry has not done badly at all and is continuing toproduction costs for conventional corn-soybean
do better, so much so that in terms of yield perproduction were approximately $50 per acre HIGHER
acre, it is starting to get ahead of conventionalthan the average organic costs. Evidently, the lower
farming! So not only does organic farming producecosts of organic production were due to the absence
comparable or even better yields, it does so with lessof expensive petroleum-based fertilizers and
harm to the environment and produces food ofpesticides (herbicides, insecticides and fungicides). It
higher quality, less compromised by contaminants andwas found that, on average, organic crops returned
better for human health!DOUBLE the revenue of conventional crops over the
As I pointed out, with about 98% of agricultureduration of the experiment.
considered "conventional," a sudden jump to organicThis thorough, long-term experiment provides
production is not going to happen, much as oneevidence that the giants of conventional production
would like it to. A steady evolution in the direction ofperhaps do not want to hear; that yields of organic
organic is on the cards and our only hope is that it willcorn and soybeans compare very favourably with
be fast enough to stave off some major calamitythose grown using conventional methods.
with the environment and/or the food chain thatHowever, there are two other factors that the
definitely IS on the cards if we do not mend ourexperiment did not take into account and which
ways. Some assistance from government would helpmake the case for a transition to organic farming
- after all it is the survival and health of its citizenseven more compelling.
that are at stake and one would think that that, andThe first is that the raw data of yields of so many
not the welfare of the shareholders of some Foodbushels per acre do not take into account the
Giant, that would be its primary concern.QUALITY of what was produced. Organic food is
Of course, with things as they are now, if we triedricher in nutrients that conventionally farmed food.
to switch en masse to wholly organic farming byWe eat food for the nutrients it contains and if we
next Tuesday we would have trouble. Additionally, itcan get the same amount of nutrients from eating
is in the interests of those with a huge stake in theone organic apple compared to, say, three apples
conventional paradigm that such alarmist notions ofgrown using conventional methods, we actually need
food shortages and starvation are bandied about asto buy and eat less organic apples to be well fed and
it discourages people from thinking about change to ahealthy! Therefore, it is arguable that the NUTRIENT
world in which organic farming - and better food - isyield per acre of organic food is considerably superior
dominant.to that of conventional crops.
I am reminded of the story of the bloke who, backThe second is that the comparable organic yield and
in seventeen-hundred-and-something, claimed that thesuperior nutrient yield is achieved WITHOUT
early and relatively crude version of our moderncontaminating with toxins (industrial pesticides and so
safety match would never catch on as a means offorth), the food itself or the soil in which it grows or
lighting fires as it was "too incendiary" and "toothe general environment.
dangerous." Turns out he owned the biggest flintIn addition, as organic food is rich in nutrition and free
quarry in England.of contaminants it causes none of the mental and
As regards organic methods improving and beginningphysical illnesses that derive from toxins entering the
to match and out-do conventional methods, one canbodies of those who eat it and from deficiencies in
check out by way of example, the Long Termvitamins, trace minerals and so forth. A healthier
Agroecological Research (LTAR) site in Greenfield,population would require less medication in the form
Iowa. There corn and soybeans are the organic cropsof drugs, which will reduce dependency and addiction
attracting the most interest along with in the yieldsand the incidence of further illness deriving from the
of organic wheat, alfalfa, oats, red clover and rye,harm done to the body by the drugs.
which are improving.Therefore, the provision of wholesome organic food,
This 12-year experiment reflects in microcosm theas a human right, to the general population will see a
experience of larger scale organic producers andsaving on the overall healthcare bill, days of
during the experiment great care was taken toproduction lost to illness and so on and thus the tax
eliminate bias and factors that might confuse theburden.
results.Like it says in the title:
Typical of results that were obtained in fieldsThe future's bright. The future's organic.