Want to learn more about organic farming and how it helps the Earth? Well, there are several advantages to organic farming. One of the major benefits is that this type of farming doesn’t use harsh chemicals in its practices, so the nearby soil and water doesn’t become contaminated.
Top 5 Advantages of Organic Farming
Organic farmed fruits and vegetables don’t contain any harsh chemicals, which make them more appealing to consume. However, there are also benefits to the environment by using the following advantageous organic farming practices.
Aids in Carbon Sequestration
Carbon dioxide is the main gas connected to the greenhouse effect. According to the Rodale Institute, organic farming aids in removing 7,000 pounds of CO2 per acre per year. If we want to reduce the amount of this gas into the atmosphere, using organic farming practices is a step in the right direction.
Maintains Biodiversity
Our planet is a beautiful place because of biodiversity. There are so many plants and animals, but when pesticides are used to kill insects and animals that feed off of these creatures such as birds, they have a more challenging time at surviving. Although pesticides protect our food, they make it difficult for other species to survive. Other ways of controlling pests include vacuuming them or hand picking them off of the plants.
Conserves the Soil
In traditional farming, the pesticides, fungicides and chemical fertilizers seep into the soil. This causes a break down of the naturally rich soil. However, by rotating the crops and enriching the soil with natural compost, the soil remains healthy and viable for plant growth.
Conserves Water
Since chemical fertilizers are soluble, the plants are unable to drink water through osmosis, when there is less of it due to the soluble nutrient salts in the chemicals. However, plants treated without these types of fertilizers become drought resistant.
Strengthens the Food
When plants are fed naturally and grown without chemicals, they have the ability to grow stronger cellular structures. What this means is that the food will last longer so you can store it longer than conventionally grown food.
More Advantages
Want to know more about the advantages of organic farming and how it helps the earth?
Well, it also prevents weeds from growing. When the nutrients and health of the soil is maintained through crop rotation and composting, weeds don’t need to grow and “heal” the soil. Although we see weeds as a nuisance, it’s usually a sign of poor soil, because the purpose of weeds is to restore the soil.
Overall, organic farming treats the planet well with its zero pesticides approach. Not only is this healthier for the environment, it also reduces the amount of chemicals that humans and animals are exposed to.
References
- TreeHugger - The Benefits of Organic Farming: https://www.treehugger.com/files/2009/07/benefits-of-organic-farming-slideshow.php
- Organic Food for Everyone: https://www.organic-food-for-everyone.com/advantages-of-organic-food.html
- Planet Green - Top 10 Reasons to Eat Organic, Even If It Isn’t More Nutritious: https://planetgreen.discovery.com/food-health/reasons-eat-organic-nutritious.html
- The Benefits of Organic Farming: https://www.betterhealth-organics.com/better _environ_organic_farming.htm
This post is part of the series: All About Organic Farming
Would you like to know which produce is better for you? Well, you first need to educate yourself on organic farming, the types and methods, and the advantages organic farming provides. You will also learn the difference between traditional and organic farming methods as well as a cost comparison.
