Myth: Organic agriculture is pesticide freeFact: It is commonly believed that organic farmers do not use pesticides and that organic food is therefore safer to consume than conventionally farmed fruit and vegetables. This claim that organic farmers work without using pesticides is a view that has been spread widely but is clearly false. Pesticides can be sprayed on organic fields as plant protection products or used in warehousing as biocides. In many countries a significant part of the most popular pesticides sold are also approved for organic farming. For example, in the EU, according to the pesticide approvals database, there are currently close to 500 substances approved for use as pesticides — of which 28 are approved for use in organic agriculture, many of which are neurotoxins or with a toxic profile requiring “Danger” labels. Some of those pesticides that are allowed in organic agriculture are boron (may affect brain, liver & heart); acetic acid (burns skin, eyes, risk to bees) or copper sulphate (toxic to everything, bioaccumulates and persists in the environment).
— Read on geneticliteracyproject.org/2023/05/11/viewpoint-green-activists-claim-we-can-feed-the-world-with-organic-grown-crops-heres-a-reality-check/
Tag Archives: organic
Organic v conventional using GMOs: Which is the more sustainable farming? – Genetic Literacy Project
Organic v conventional using GMOs: Which is the more sustainable farming? – Genetic Literacy Project
— Read on geneticliteracyproject.org/gmo-faq/are-organic-and-non-gmo-farming-more-sustainable-than-farming-using-gmos/
Viewpoint: Challenging myths — Organic farming fleeces consumers and does not significantly promote sustainability – Genetic Literacy Project
As I discussed in Part 1, many Americans have begun to seek “authenticity” in many aspects of their lives. There’s nothing wrong with that unless in the process they are misled by special interests’ false claims that cause them to be endangered or merely ripped off. Arguably, the most pervasive hoax in this country, dwarfing phone and internet scams, is the widespread rejection of “industrial,” conventional farming in favor of more “natural,” “organic,” and “sustainable” offerings at your local supermarket. The definition of “organic” is a movable feast, with the organic industry and government constantly tweaking its practices. The products and practices that define it are completely arbitrary, with no scientific basis; “organic” is nothing more than agricultural and nutritional mumbo jumbo, the goal of which is to fleece consumers. It does this remarkably well – to the tune of over $50 billion worth of overpriced products annually in the U.S.
— Read on geneticliteracyproject.org/2023/03/21/viewpoint-challenging-myths-organic-farming-fleeces-consumers-and-does-not-significantly-promote-sustainability/
Does Organic Farming Really Benefit Your Food And Health?
The “Organic” badge is quite lucrative for businesses and corporations, so they are trying to monopolize that market by having lobbyists inside the certifying authorities who will then lobby the government officials staffing these bodies
Viewpoint: Despite ‘incredible amount of pseudoscientific claims,’ consensus confirms safety of GM crops — and they are often safer than organic – Genetic Literacy Project
A paper, by Elisa Pellegrino et al. published in Nature Scientific Reports, a highly respected peer-reviewed journal, analyzed over 6000 published papers on GMO corn over the past 20 years. The researchers performed a meta-analysis of all of that research focusing on differences in productivity, toxicological, and environmental differences between GMO and non-GMO corn.
— Read on geneticliteracyproject.org/2023/02/01/viewpoint-despite-incredible-amount-of-pseudoscientific-claims-consensus-confirms-safety-of-gm-crops-and-they-are-often-safer-than-organic/
After years of reports of widespread violations of ‘certified organic’ rules, USDA strengthens enforcement – Genetic Literacy Project
The USDA has a strict definition of “certified organic,” allowing the label to be used only for products that meet certain standards for soil quality, animal-raising practices, pest and weed control, and use of additives. The updates issued by the agency Thursday aim to close loopholes that allowed ingredients that don’t meet the criteria to infiltrate the supply chain.
— Read on geneticliteracyproject.org/2023/01/23/after-years-of-reports-of-widespread-violations-of-certified-organic-rules-usda-strengthens-enforcement/
Organic foods — are they safer and healthier?
Organic foods have been increasingly popular these days moving from local co-ops and farmer’s markets to large retail chains that specialize in organic
— Read on www.skepticalraptor.com/skepticalraptorblog.php/organic-foods-are-they-safer-and-healthier/
Viewpoint: Sri Lanka’s ban on synthetic crop chemicals put ideology ahead of science. Here’s a rethink on sustainable agriculture – Genetic Literacy Project
In April 2021, the Sri Lankan president announced that the import of synthetic fertilizers was banned and no more would be procured once the stocks ran out. Rajapaksa stated that the synthetic agricultural inputs were causing “adverse health and environmental impacts.”
— Read on geneticliteracyproject.org/2022/10/24/viewpoint-sri-lankas-ban-on-synthetic-crop-chemicals-put-ideology-ahead-of-science-heres-a-rethink-on-sustainable-agriculture/
Viewpoint: ‘Organic-only policies are the new face of European colonialism’ — Here’s how crop biotechnology innovation is opening doors to Africa’s self sufficiency – Genetic Literacy Project
Former colonies of Europe were banned from sale unless they obeyed Europe when it came to food. Yet Africa has seen the light.
— Read on geneticliteracyproject.org/2022/10/19/viewpoint-organic-only-policies-are-the-new-face-of-european-colonialism-heres-how-crop-biotechnology-innovation-is-opening-doors-to-africas-self-suffici/
Viewpoint: European Greens defend organic policy, claim genetic engineering causes ‘uncontrollable, unintended and unsafe mutations’ in food — but this does not hold up to decades of evidence – Genetic Literacy Project
A very dry summer alongside a low supply of fertilizer and energy spikes have created the perfect storm for the European agricultural sector, with staple crops like sunflower and grain maize plummeting by 12 and 16 per cent respectively (1).
— Read on geneticliteracyproject.org/2022/10/06/viewpoint-european-greens-defend-organic-policy-claim-genetic-engineering-causes-uncontrollable-unintended-and-unsafe-mutations-in-food-but-this-does-not-hold-up-to-deca/
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