Understanding Organic Farming: Benefits Beyond Health

In the U.S., organic foods are those produced without most synthetic pesticides, fertilizers, or genetically modified organisms (GMOs). Organic meats are from animals that are raised in living conditions that accommodate their natural behaviors and fed a diet of 100% organic food. Animals raised for organic meat have also not received antibiotics or hormones.  

In the interests of their health, people are increasingly prepared to pay the premium associated with organic foods. However, organic farming has benefits beyond health. These alternative farming methods are better for the environment and other living creatures.  

We discuss ten ways eating organic helps you make the world a better place.  

Environmental Benefits 

It’s worth noting that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Organic label mostly communicates what a product does not contain. For example, to qualify as organic, produce must be grown without the use of specific synthetic fertilizers and pesticides for three years before harvest, and they must not contain GMOs.  

The USDA Organic label does not require the use of regenerative, sustainable farming processes. Some fruits and vegetables may not have the USDA label, but they still may have been grown sustainably.  

Many of the benefits listed below are only achieved by eliminating the inputs the USDA Organic label prohibits (e.g., synthetic fertilizers) and by using sustainable farming practices. By diligently researching the source of your organic products, you can be sure you’re supporting agriculture that aligns with your values.  

For the environment, organic food can:  

1. Prevent depletion of soil nutrients: Conventional commercial farming practices may not employ crop rotation. Mono-cropping, that is, growing the same crop repeatedly, eventually strips the soil of nutrients and minerals. The regenerative practice of crop rotation ensures soil is routinely replenished.  

2. Prevent soil erosion: Conventional farming often involves frequent and deep tillage, breaking up the soil structure and exposing it to the elements. Fields are left bare between crops, and chemical fertilizers destroy soil microbes and organisms that help bind soil. This makes the soil more susceptible to erosion by wind and water. Organic regenerative practices tend to emphasize minimal or no-till methods, cover crops that protect soil between crops, and natural fertilizers like compost and other organic matter. Agroforestry integrates trees and shrubs into agricultural landscapes to help stabilize soil and reduce erosion. The root systems of trees provide structural support to the soil, and the canopy helps protect against water and wind erosion. 

3. Prevent water pollution: Conventional farming uses chemical herbicides to kill weeds. These chemicals can find their way into rivers and other waterways, harming the plants and animals living in them. They can also seep into our drinking water sources to make us ill.  

4. Promote biodiversity: Healthy water and soil are hosts to millions of microorganisms, insects, reptiles, small animals, and birds. Conventional farming disregards this and these living elements' contribution to our welfare. Regenerative organic practices recognize nature's circularity and the different elements' interdependence. 

5. Prevent infestations: When the natural balance of soil is upset, it opens the way for unnatural infestations of pests that would otherwise be preyed upon and controlled. Conventional practices then demand further chemical treatments, further harming the natural ecosystem in the long term.  

Animal Welfare Benefits 

Organic principals promote the ethical stewardship of animals. The USDA dictates the animal health and welfare standards that must be met for meat with the Organic label. These standards include exclusively organic feed, access to the outdoors, and a ban on antibiotics and growth hormones. Adhering to these standards realizes the following animal welfare benefits: 

1. Control and prevention of disease: Without routine antibiotics, organic farmers must try to prevent infections rather than cure them. This encourages better sanitation, adequate space to avoid overcrowding and injuries, and healthy food. Organic meats also help counter the overuse of antibiotics, which can lead to the development of resistant pathogens and residual antibiotics in our food. 

2. Banning of painful practices: Painful practices that don’t serve the animals are prohibited in organic practice. This includes tail docking, dehorning, branding, and other mutilations. 

3. Facilitation of natural behavior: Low stock densities and outdoor roaming space more closely resemble animals' natural habitats, allowing them to display natural behaviors. 

4. Better diet: With some exceptions, the USDA Organic label means that the animals were fed organic food, ideally from the farm on which they were raised. This is closer to their natural diet and is healthier and likely tastier for the animals. Conventional farm feeds often include chemicals and byproducts from other animals that would not naturally form part of the animal's diet. 

5. Welfare over productivity: Conventional farming assesses productivity annually. This priority scheme can promote unnatural practices such as fast-tracking weight gain, which can place stress on the animals’ organs and limbs, shortening their lifespan. Organic farming emphasizes long-term productivity and encourages less stressed conditions for animals. 

Agriculture that Heals, not Harms, Our Planet 

The choice to embrace organic foods is a conscious commitment to a more sustainable and harmonious coexistence with our environment and fellow creatures. Beyond the individual benefits of an organic diet, organic farming is a collective effort to foster a world where agriculture aligns more closely with nature and promotes the well-being of our planet.