As more people express concerns about GMO foods, many are turning to organic fruits and vegetables. The organic food market continues to rise in popularity among Americans of all backgrounds. As such, many farmers are transitioning to organic farming. While many American farms are still controlled by corporations or semi-government organizations, there is a growing number of individual organic farms popping up all over America.
Unfortunately, there is a common misconception that organic farming is difficult and not financially lucrative to individual farmers. This is based on an antiquated notion that land farmed organically actually produces less produce due to the lack of chemical fertilizers and pesticides. This theory was largely debunked by a study published in the “Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.” According to 44 specialized studies in 15 countries on over 55 crops over the last 40 years, the researchers found organic farming has actually been yielding 22-35% more profit than non-organic farming.
The study also concluded that organic farming does require 7-13% extra labor, as they use hands-on pest control methods. For example, instead of using a harmful pesticide, an organic farm will introduce a natural predator into the environment to counteract the pests. But these “premiums” can be easily compensated by passing on a 5-7% “premium” to the consumers, who have shown a willingness to pay the premium. In fact, the National Academy of Sciences discovered that farmers who make the transition to organic farming are likely to raise their profit margin as high as 22% to 35%. Growers also now have access to natural, organic plant growth enhancers that have come on the market just in that last decade that can replace synthetic pesticides.
But are consumers willing to pay the price? According to a poll conducted by the Organic Trade Association, consumers are willing to pay more for organic produce. “Parents in charge of the household budget recognize the benefits of organic,.....And they’re willing to pay a little more to know that they are giving their families the highest quality and most healthy products being offered in their local store,” said the trade group’s Laura Batcha.
While there are many benefits of organic farming, research shows that organically-produced foods are rich in nutrients and antioxidants, but not all of the benefits are easy to quantify. For example, traditional farming methods often lead to soil erosion and fertilizer nitrates entering nearby groundwater, two problems that do not plague organic farms.
With such promising statistics, why aren’t more farmers switching to organic methods? The primary hesitation lies in the time and money it takes to become a certified organic farmer. In order for a farmer to be granted organic status, they must practice organic farming for three years. Thus, investing more resources without the added compensation. The National Academy of Science suggest that the U.S. government encourage farmers to make the transition by developing policies that will support them throughout the transition.
James E. Kostrava is CEO & Founder of Organibliss, LLC. Organibliss™ is an all natural, organic, OMRI Listed plant growth enhancer. James can be contacted at: Organibliss, LLC, 2007 Austin Street, Suite B, Midland, MI 48642 – USA.
Email: Jkostrava@organibliss.com
Internet: www.organibliss.com
