6.4.4 Organic Farming Case Study
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6.4.4 Organic Farming
How can we reduce the environmental impact of globalization?
Case Study: Organic Farming
Verified Organic logo
from Canadian Food Inspection Agency
from Canadian Food Inspection Agency
Why organic? Many consumers around the world have been demanding more organic foods. Many people want to eat foods low in synthetic chemicals, hormones, and antibiotics. They also want to protect the environment from excessive chemicals
such as pesticides and herbicides. They want food that is grown in a sustainable way and that is healthy for themselves.
What does "organic" mean? To be labelled organic, a product must meet certain requirements. However, it does not necessarily have to be grown on a little family farm in an old-fashioned way. Organic farming has become big business with much scientific research behind the farming processes. As well, although organic crops are not grown with synthetic pesticides, pesticides are so common in our world that no crop can be declared actually pesticide free.
Other terms you might see on food include "natural" or "100% pure". These terms have no legal definition and are, therefore, meaningless.
In Canada, the government defines organic food as that which comes "from a farm system employing management practices that seek to nurture ecosystems to achieve sustainable productivity; and that provide weed, pest, and disease control through a diverse mix of mutually dependent life forms, recycling of plant and animal residues, crop selection and rotation, water management, tillage and cultivation." (Organic Production Systems General Principles and Management Standards, Government of Canada: 1999)
What does "organic" mean? To be labelled organic, a product must meet certain requirements. However, it does not necessarily have to be grown on a little family farm in an old-fashioned way. Organic farming has become big business with much scientific research behind the farming processes. As well, although organic crops are not grown with synthetic pesticides, pesticides are so common in our world that no crop can be declared actually pesticide free.
Other terms you might see on food include "natural" or "100% pure". These terms have no legal definition and are, therefore, meaningless.
In Canada, the government defines organic food as that which comes "from a farm system employing management practices that seek to nurture ecosystems to achieve sustainable productivity; and that provide weed, pest, and disease control through a diverse mix of mutually dependent life forms, recycling of plant and animal residues, crop selection and rotation, water management, tillage and cultivation." (Organic Production Systems General Principles and Management Standards, Government of Canada: 1999)
Organic Apple from wikicommons
Guidelines: To be certified as an organic food in Canada, a crop must meet the following guidelines:
Problems with certification: Foods that meet these standards are stamped with a "Certified Organic" label. The organic growers pay several hundred dollars each year to become certified and much of that money goes to the inspectors who ensure standards are met. The standards for "Certified Organic" are voluntary. If the certifying agency finds the grower has violated the standards, the only consequence is that the product can no longer carry the "Certified Organic" label. There are no fines, except in B.C. and Quebec where the industry is regulated.
Problems with organic food: Some people have expressed concern that organically produced food has a lower yield than food produced using synthetic fertilizers, pesticides, herbicides, and genetic engineering. Because no chemicals are used, weeds are a problem. Crops can deplete nutrients from the soil that are not replaced with fertilizers. If organic crops yield smaller harvests, then more land is required to feed the world's people.
Some studies show that organic farming yields better results. Research at England's Essex University has shown that farmers in India, Kenya, Brazil, Guatemala, and Honduras have doubled or tripled their yields by using organic agriculture. Cuban farmers, who cannot access fertilizers and pesticides because of a U.S. embargo, have also realized greater yields by taking up organic farming.
Organic farming is also more labour intensive, so more workers are required to produce crops. Yet, because no chemicals are used and no equipment is needed to spread chemicals, production costs and energy costs are lower.
Consumer demand has increased. Until recently, organic products occupied a small niche in the Canadian agricultural products scene. People looking for natural products, free of pesticides and other chemicals, had a limited selection of relatively expensive products.
A Win-Win Situation? However, companies such as Wal-Mart can see money can be made selling organic goods. As quoted in Business Week Online, March 2006, Wal-Mart CEO Lee Scott talked about selling organic cotton yoga clothing. "We sold out in just 10 weeks...by using organic cotton instead of regular cotton, we saved the equivalent of two jumbo jets of pesticides," says Scott. His comments show that organic farming could benefit the producer and the consumer while at the same time providing environmental benefits.
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free of commercial fertilizers for three years
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free of herbicides for three years
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seed not genetically modified
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grown with a buffer zone between organic plants and non-organic plants
- no use of synthetic pesticides, fungicides, insecticides, rodenticides, wood preservatives, synthetic fertilizers, materials and products produced from genetic engineering, sewage sludge, hormones, and synthetic veterinary drugs, including
antibiotics and parasiticides
Problems with certification: Foods that meet these standards are stamped with a "Certified Organic" label. The organic growers pay several hundred dollars each year to become certified and much of that money goes to the inspectors who ensure standards are met. The standards for "Certified Organic" are voluntary. If the certifying agency finds the grower has violated the standards, the only consequence is that the product can no longer carry the "Certified Organic" label. There are no fines, except in B.C. and Quebec where the industry is regulated.
Problems with organic food: Some people have expressed concern that organically produced food has a lower yield than food produced using synthetic fertilizers, pesticides, herbicides, and genetic engineering. Because no chemicals are used, weeds are a problem. Crops can deplete nutrients from the soil that are not replaced with fertilizers. If organic crops yield smaller harvests, then more land is required to feed the world's people.
Some studies show that organic farming yields better results. Research at England's Essex University has shown that farmers in India, Kenya, Brazil, Guatemala, and Honduras have doubled or tripled their yields by using organic agriculture. Cuban farmers, who cannot access fertilizers and pesticides because of a U.S. embargo, have also realized greater yields by taking up organic farming.
Organic farming is also more labour intensive, so more workers are required to produce crops. Yet, because no chemicals are used and no equipment is needed to spread chemicals, production costs and energy costs are lower.
Consumer demand has increased. Until recently, organic products occupied a small niche in the Canadian agricultural products scene. People looking for natural products, free of pesticides and other chemicals, had a limited selection of relatively expensive products.
A Win-Win Situation? However, companies such as Wal-Mart can see money can be made selling organic goods. As quoted in Business Week Online, March 2006, Wal-Mart CEO Lee Scott talked about selling organic cotton yoga clothing. "We sold out in just 10 weeks...by using organic cotton instead of regular cotton, we saved the equivalent of two jumbo jets of pesticides," says Scott. His comments show that organic farming could benefit the producer and the consumer while at the same time providing environmental benefits.
Sources: Edmonton Journal, April 2006,
CBC In Depth: Food Supply, September 2006,
BusinessWeek, " Wal-Mart's Organic Offensive," March 2006
CBC In Depth: Food Supply, September 2006,
BusinessWeek, " Wal-Mart's Organic Offensive," March 2006