Organic vs Sustainable: Making the shift towards a more sustainable future
What do you picture when you hear the word “organic?” You’re probably imaging scenic images of nature, cornucopias filled with the ripest produce, and bountiful harvests that fill up the produce section at Whole Foods.
Is there anything else that could be classified as organic?
What about arsenic? A naturally occurring metal found in rocks and soils and a known carcinogen. Or cyanide? A chemical found in the leaves of wild cherry trees and roots of cassava which can stop the heart from beating in a matter of minutes.
Things that are classified as organic are not always good for us or the environment and while organic agriculture isn’t as deadly as arsenic or cyanide, the idea that organic is the more sustainable and healthy option for us and the environment needs to be put to rest.
In terms of agriculture, organic is a certification that is achieved through various practices. Some of these include not using genetically modified organisms (technically transgenic, since there is plenty of “organic” corn, see the last article on corn). Organic practices also include the use of cover crops for soil health, physical or mechanical means for weed suppression and naturally occurring pesticides.
In contrast, conventional agriculture includes the use of various things that organic doesn’t allow. For example, conventional agriculture can use transgenic herbicide-tolerant crops as a way to reduce competition from weeds. In turn, this will decrease the amount of water used by a conventional farm compared to a weed-filled organic farm since the means to control weeds on organic farms are often time-consuming and inefficient. Synthetic pesticides have been shown to be highly effective and require years of testing to pass rigorous regulations while organic pesticides are considered all-natural, don’t have to go through the same rigorous tests, can be ineffective, and can pose a threat to the ecosystem. Organic farms aren’t required to take into account land use nor how far their products travel after leaving the farm (which means it’s not sustainable).
Sustainable agriculture is a lifestyle rather than a certification. In order to be sustainable, a farm must have a net-zero impact on the environment. This means using less land to grow crops, improving soil quality, using a renewable energy source to power the farm, growing a diverse array of crops, and being economically sustainable.
While organic tries to market itself as the “sustainable” choice, organic and sustainable are not interchangeable.
It is possible to have organic agriculture be sustainable, but an organic farm is not automatically sustainable. On the flip side, a sustainable farm isn’t necessarily organic. Conventional farms, which use synthetic chemicals and transgenic plants, have the capabilities to be sustainable. They can use effective and highly regulated pesticides to reduce crop losses and transgenic crops which can use up less space or water than a non-transgenic counterpart and can factor into a sustainable practice of the farm.
While the things mentioned above are not a comprehensive list of ALL the things right and wrong about organic or sustainable practices they delve into some of the more critical aspects of both. Organic products may appeal to some since it provides an illusion of being the healthier alternative since there is a large misconception that they don’t use any pesticides and are all-natural. Organic agriculture does, in fact, use plenty of pesticides (largely sulfur and copper) which are not safer than synthetic ones.
Remember when I stated that not all things that are organic are not good for us?
We really should move away from the myth that organic is the way to go and that we will achieve full sustainability by only buying organic products. We should instead strive to have a fully sustainable society that re-defines “organic” and includes the sustainable practices of both “organic” and conventional agriculture.
Transitioning to a sustainable lifestyle won’t be trivial and it will take work on our part. One of the easiest things to do is buy local. It should come as no surprise that buying local not only provides some of the freshest food, but it can reduce carbon emissions. The “work” that one needs to put forward really just entails a little bit of education. As you buy organic products really do your research on the company you’re supporting. Are those organic oranges you’re buying in New York really worth buying if they were shipped from California? Or those organic peppers shipped from Chile? The same can be said for conventional products. Ask yourself if the companies you support value sustainable practices. If you want to achieve a sustainable lifestyle you’ll have to hold others accountable.
Sources:
https://www.ams.usda.gov/publications/content/introduction-organic-practices
https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0011250
https://science.sciencemag.org/content/258/5080/261
https://doi.org/10.1016/bs.agron.2020.05.003