1. Organic farming uses pesticides – and yes, organic pesticides are bad for you, too.
2. Science has yet to support claims that organic foods are healthier.
3. Certified organic farms don’t have yields that equal conventional ones.
4. GMOs aren’t evil, and yes, they might even do some good for the world.
5. Farming practices of all types should be considered and weighed for their merits independent of labels.
In The Immortal Words Of Tom Petty: “I Won’t Back Down"
- Christie Wilcox
Some contentious points. What do you think?
- I agree with her about #1.
- I don't know about #2. Apart from the science, I imagine some ethical problems. If you conclude that organic is "nutritionally superior," how do you deal with the fact that only 1-2% of all food grown is organic? Do you make sure those who need it most, say people in hospitals or care homes, get it first?
- In #3, there are external costs that may be higher with industrial farming, e.g. water use and soil depletion, that you may need to factor. So I'm not sure about that one either.
- In #4, genetic engineering has some unique problems. It affects communities that can't afford to buy seed every year (because it was engineered to be sterile). It creates super-resistant weeds. And there are, in my mind, inadequate long-term health studies in humans. Genetic engineering causes unexpected mutations in a plant's DNA, affects of which are unknown.
- For #5, sure. Do a cost/benefit analysis. Why not?