
Are organic foods really better?Facts challenge organic's benefits over modern agricultureJune 24, 2003 by CFACT Recently the Research Institute for Organic Agriculture published a highly publicized study comparing two types of organic farming with two types of conventional farming. Initially (and to the delight of enviro’s everywhere) newspaper reports claimed conventional farming to be the loser in at least 2 categories: That is, in its economic and environmental efficiency.
However when one pulls up the weeds from the research, one quickly discovers that reporters are playing fast and loose with the facts in order to show that organic farming is indeed more “efficient”. The research actually, in fact, points to an entirely other direction. Advocates of organic farming claim that the study shows organic farming uses 50 percent less energy. However, this statistic does not take into account that the study also shows conventional farming to be 20 percent more productive than organic farming. Therefore, according to the study’s own conclusions, "since crop yields were considerably higher in the conventional systems, the difference in energy needed to produce a crop unit was only 19 percent lower in the organic systems." Another claim of organic advocates is that organic foods are far superior to conventionally produced foods. This study asserts, however, that there were only “minor differences between the farming systems in food quality." Also, the study did not test the organic system against the most recent form of conventional farming. No-till farming combined with genetically enhanced crops has been shown to be both better for the environment and more energy efficient than past conventional methods. If this method were placed up against organic farming, the 19 percent energy advantage of organic farming would, according to experts like Ron Baily of the Reason Public Policy Institute, likely disappear. As for environmental benefits, conventional no till farming also matches the advantages of organic farming; such as less pesticide and fertilizer runoff, greatly reduced soil erosion, and a higher presence of beneficial insects, and it adds the other advantages of conventional farming such as higher yields. Such higher yields are enormously important. They are not only economically beneficial to consumers in developed countries, but especially vital to the health and well being of those in underdeveloped countries who might well starve without such technology. Little wonder that many scientists, such as Cambridge chemist John Emsley, believe that “the greatest catastrophe the human race could face this century is not global warming, but a global conversion to ‘organic farming’– [where] an estimated 2 billion people would perish.”
Comments
EuropeanAmerican,
I agree 100% with your take on this org. Something is mos def amiss here. To claim that organic farming is going to kill people is bad enough but to also claim that GMOs are good for humankind is absolutely insane. GMOs (and vaccines) are the weapons of choice to kill off 5 billion of the "useless eaters" on the planet. CFact, you really need to screen the stuff that's going up on the site. The above article is pure crap, likely straight from a Monsanto shill. by deenie | Monday, April 12, 2010 12:04:56 PM | Report I was on board with this organization until I came across this article with it's absolutely insane statement:
"Also, the study did not test the organic system against the most recent form of conventional farming. No-till farming combined with genetically enhanced crops has been shown to be both better for the environment and more energy efficient than past conventional methods. If this method were placed up against organic farming, the 19 percent energy advantage of organic farming would, according to experts like Ron Baily of the Reason Public Policy Institute, likely disappear." Specifically: "No-till farming combined with genetically enhanced crops has been shown to be both better for the environment and more energy efficient than past conventional methods." Better for the environment? Who's side is the author on, anyway? If this ludicrous and blatantly untrue comment regarding GMO foods is what this group "CFACT" advocates, then count me out! Regarding GMO foods, in the opinion of a great knower or Reality, Mahrishi Mahesh Yogi: "This food is dangerous, very very dangerous. This food is poisonous. Eat it and you will leave the planet very quickly." Better check out Expert Jeffrey M. Smith on GMO foods. <http://www.seedsofdeception.com/Public/Home/index.cfm> and decide for yourself. And visitors of this site, be careful. It's becoming harder and harder to differentiate between the real and the unreal. Connect the dots! Truth alone Triumphs! <http://www.truthmovementamerica.com/> by EuropeanAmerican | Saturday, December 12, 2009 11:23:35 AM | Report Read More
Climate Depot in the newsEPA action endangers good public policyTime to re-engage debate on global warming scienceDon't throw out that pizza crust!White House releases report on climate changeShould Big Brother inventory your life?What does Sotomayor mean for the environment?Can organic really feed the world?The truth about organic foodsChew on some real food dangers |
Get updates by email
![]() CFACT drops the banner on Greenpeace shipsIn daring land and sea raids, activists tag Greenpeace Rainbow Warrior with “Propaganda Warrior” banner; Arctic Sunrise hit with “Ship of Lies” banner earlier in the day... The clear-cutting facts about the rainforestAre we really losing one football field every minute?... The rainforest issue: Myths and factsCFACT briefing paper compares two very differing views about people and nature in the tropics... Addressing the root causes of illegal immigrationFocusing on property rights and economic opportunity back home could help solve growing border issue... All pain, no gainThe reality behind the mythology of Cap and Trade... Melting the facts about Greenland's ice sheetViking history, ice core samples, and observations of solar cycle cast doubt on human responsibility for climate change... Are organic foods really better?Facts challenge organic's benefits over modern agriculture... ![]() CFACT arrives in CopenhagenCFACT's delegation arived in Copenhagen, Denmark to educate delegates and media from around the world that the climate change treaty is All Pain No Gain.... ![]() Carbon 'sins' forgiven in BonnCFACT's Mother Earth sells carbon indulgences to UN climate delegates... ![]() Eco-terrorism hits Maryland: 'Inconvenient Terrorist' latest in long lineInconvenient terrorist James Lee who was shot and killed by a SWAT team in the Discovery Channel Building in Silver Spring, Maryland, is the latest of a long line of eco-terrorists... ![]() An Inconvenient TerroristArmed eco-terrorist who experienced an “awakening” by watching Al Gore's Inconvenient Truth was shot and killed after storming Discovery Channel Building. Radical manifesto condemns 'parasitic children' and human civilization, calling for sterilization and giving the planet back to the squirrels.... ![]() An ill wind in New JerseyProposed windmill would cost $7 million, stand taller than the Statue of Liberty, and when the wind isn't blowing would need to be kept turning with electricity from a traditional plant in order to avoid mechanical failure.... ![]() End environmental experiments on Africans!Environmentalists are using African parents and children in anti-DDT experiments. They are playing with our lives. So are the government agencies and others who support their policies. This is wrong and immoral. And it is only one of the ways they use Africans as experimental laboratory animals.... ![]() Prepare for an ice age!"Little ice ages" are the flip side of the 1500-year warming cycle. We should take advantage of the favorable climate we are currently enjoying to increase research on high-yield agriculture, biotechnology, water conservation and other advances now only dreamt of.... ![]() Howard Stern: 'Bring back DDT!'Stern argues that New York's bedbug problem is nothing compared to the millions dying from malaria in Africa, quoting extensively from an article by CFACT's Paul Driessen.... ![]() New York's bedbugs vs. Africa's malaria crisisOur obsession with pesticide “risks” has very different consequences for America and Africa.... ![]() How to save the Chesapeake Bay: Oysters vs. RegulationsOysters kept the Bay clean in the past, but the EPA is ignoring this proven solution in favor of big government regulations.... ![]() New ethanol policy poses heavy cost for consumersE15 ethanol mandates would bring huge benefits for ethanol producers at the expense of the rest of us.... ![]() Empowering the poor in the Yucatan jungleLocal villagers struggle to survive in Becan, but a new program promises to bring prosperity by unleashing their creativity and energy.... ![]() Inconvenient terrorist James Lee who was shot and killed by a SWAT team in the Discovery Channel Building in Silver Spring, Maryland, is the latest of a long line of eco-terrorists... { from Eco-terrorism hits Maryland: 'Inconvenient Terrorist' latest in long line } ![]() Descendants of black property owners in Georgia whose land was seized by the federal government at the beginning of WWII are locking horns with the US Fish & Wildlife Service. The black landowners want the government to give back what it took, and the bureaucrats want to hold on to what they have.... { from Rural Georgia blacks demand feds return expropriated land } ![]() Lord Monckton is under attack, a sure sign that he’s winning on warming. Monckton fights back and refutes Prof. Abraham.... { from Target: Monckton } ![]() Droughts are caused by many reasons, and human's ability to adapt is greater than ever before in our history.... { from Is America's west doomed to drought? } ![]() The federal government has spent tens of billions of taxpayer dollars on research that has completely failed to affect temperatures or demonstrate an empirical link between human CO2 emissions and global warming.... { from The global warming fleecing of the American taxpayer } ![]() Lord Monckton is under attack, a sure sign that he’s winning on warming. Monckton fights back and refutes Prof. Abraham.... { from Target: Monckton } ![]() Lord Monckton is under attack, a sure sign that he’s winning on warming. Monckton fights back and refutes Prof. Abraham.... { from Target: Monckton } ![]() Lord Monckton is under attack, a sure sign that he’s winning on warming. Monckton fights back and refutes Prof. Abraham.... { from Target: Monckton } ![]() Marc Morano receives another award for his journalism covering the global warming movement.... { from Climate Depot’s award hat trick } ![]() To the dismay of environmentalists, in the 1980s poor rice farmers in Asia and Latin America began cutting down mangrove trees to make room for profitable shrimp ponds. Now, shrimp farming has become more efficient, taking far less land per pound of food, and the wastes have been disarmed.... { from Shrimp farming has grown up } ![]() It may turn out that the public still supports offshore drilling -- albeit with new safeguards based on what is learned from this spill -- but not a moratorium on all offshore oil production.... Facts challenge organic's benefits over modern agriculture... { from Are organic foods really better? } ![]() The Gulf of Mexico could turn into a giant dead zone if some means cannot be found to staunch the flow of oil and toxic gases emerging from beneath the Deepwater Horizon. Industry insiders are beginning to speak openly among themselves of an unmitigated disaster.... { from BP and the unmitigated disaster } ![]() The EPA has threatened to impose penalties and fines on the Amish if they don't change their ways, which the EPA considers to be polluting the environment.... ![]() Policies contained in this bill would empower bureaucrats at the FWS to wield their already considerable administrative power even more relentlessly.... { from New Congressional initiative to create 'wildlife corridors' } ![]() There is simply no room in science, academia or public policy for manipulation, falsification or fraud. Academic freedom does not confer a right to engage in such practices, and both attorneys general and research institutions have a duty to root them out, especially in the case of climate change research.... { from Ken Cuccinelli v. 810 academics } ![]() There is simply no room in science, academia or public policy for manipulation, falsification or fraud. Academic freedom does not confer a right to engage in such practices, and both attorneys general and research institutions have a duty to root them out, especially in the case of climate change research.... { from Ken Cuccinelli v. 810 academics } CFACT's Driessen: "Senators have some explaining to do"... { from Questions posed for Kerry, Lieberman on new climate-energy bill } ![]() Learning (the right lessons, hopefully) from the Gulf of Mexico disaster.... { from Lessons from the Gulf blowout } ![]() CFACT's Mother Earth sells carbon indulgences to UN climate delegates... { from Carbon 'sins' forgiven in Bonn } Facts challenge organic's benefits over modern agriculture... { from Are organic foods really better? } ![]() CFACT's Mother Earth sells carbon indulgences to UN climate delegates... { from Carbon 'sins' forgiven in Bonn } ![]() How likely is it that wind turbines can add to Oregon’s generating capacity in the midst of the winter electricity demand surge, and offset the hydroelectric generating restrictions? Not very.... { from A chill hits wind power } Columnist notes that President Obama must speak out or there will be an increase in climate change skepticism.... { from Climate Depot is impacting Obama's climate initiative } ![]() The notion that plastic bags pose a threat to waterborne wildlife is as fashionable as it is false.... { from Plastic bags withstand the test of time ... and politicians } ![]() With adversaries like this – you don’t need friends... { from An independent review for the IPCC? } Morano received The Reed Irvine Accuracy in Media Award for his exposé of the ClimateGate scandal.... { from CFACT's Marc Morano recognized for outstanding journalism } ![]() A proposed nickel and copper mine in Michigan’s economically hard-hit Upper Peninsula will never see the light of day if a coalition of environmental groups get their way.... { from Environmentalists attack nickel mine } ![]() How likely is it that wind turbines can add to Oregon’s generating capacity in the midst of the winter electricity demand surge, and offset the hydroelectric generating restrictions? Not very.... { from A chill hits wind power } ![]() In daring land and sea raids, activists tag Greenpeace Rainbow Warrior with “Propaganda Warrior” banner; Arctic Sunrise hit with “Ship of Lies” banner earlier in the day... ![]() In daring land and sea raids, activists tag Greenpeace Rainbow Warrior with “Propaganda Warrior” banner; Arctic Sunrise hit with “Ship of Lies” banner earlier in the day... ![]() How likely is it that wind turbines can add to Oregon’s generating capacity in the midst of the winter electricity demand surge, and offset the hydroelectric generating restrictions? Not very.... { from A chill hits wind power } ![]() Media hits for CFACT Copenhagen stunt gaining speedy momentum... { from Laughs for Greenpeace "Climate Caper" turning into international roar } ![]() Senator Boxer is compounding the Climategate scandal with cover-up and obstruction... { from Taxpayer Robbery Gate } ![]() Lord Christopher Monckton debunks climate fears in Copenhagen... { from Monckton names names on Climategate } Focusing on property rights and economic opportunity back home could help solve growing border issue... ![]() In daring land and sea raids, activists tag Greenpeace Rainbow Warrior with “Propaganda Warrior” banner; Arctic Sunrise hit with “Ship of Lies” banner earlier in the day... ![]() In daring land and sea raids, activists tag Greenpeace Rainbow Warrior with “Propaganda Warrior” banner; Arctic Sunrise hit with “Ship of Lies” banner earlier in the day... ![]() Lord Christopher Monckton debunks climate fears in Copenhagen... { from Monckton names names on Climategate } ![]() Prominent group of climate protesters shows some interesting colors at Copenhagen rally... { from Socialists and Communists march to support global warming agenda } ![]() In daring land and sea raids, activists tag Greenpeace Rainbow Warrior with “Propaganda Warrior” banner; Arctic Sunrise hit with “Ship of Lies” banner earlier in the day... ![]() Lord Christopher Monckton debunks climate fears in Copenhagen... { from Monckton names names on Climategate } ![]() Prominent group of climate protesters shows some interesting colors at Copenhagen rally... { from Socialists and Communists march to support global warming agenda } ![]() In daring land and sea raids, activists tag Greenpeace Rainbow Warrior with “Propaganda Warrior” banner; Arctic Sunrise hit with “Ship of Lies” banner earlier in the day... ![]() In daring land and sea raids, activists tag Greenpeace Rainbow Warrior with “Propaganda Warrior” banner; Arctic Sunrise hit with “Ship of Lies” banner earlier in the day... ![]() CFACT, along with Climate skeptics, help topple an Australian liberal leader.... { from Climate skeptics gain steam } ![]() In daring land and sea raids, activists tag Greenpeace Rainbow Warrior with “Propaganda Warrior” banner; Arctic Sunrise hit with “Ship of Lies” banner earlier in the day... ![]() In daring land and sea raids, activists tag Greenpeace Rainbow Warrior with “Propaganda Warrior” banner; Arctic Sunrise hit with “Ship of Lies” banner earlier in the day... ![]() In daring land and sea raids, activists tag Greenpeace Rainbow Warrior with “Propaganda Warrior” banner; Arctic Sunrise hit with “Ship of Lies” banner earlier in the day... ![]() In daring land and sea raids, activists tag Greenpeace Rainbow Warrior with “Propaganda Warrior” banner; Arctic Sunrise hit with “Ship of Lies” banner earlier in the day... ![]() In daring land and sea raids, activists tag Greenpeace Rainbow Warrior with “Propaganda Warrior” banner; Arctic Sunrise hit with “Ship of Lies” banner earlier in the day... ![]() In daring land and sea raids, activists tag Greenpeace Rainbow Warrior with “Propaganda Warrior” banner; Arctic Sunrise hit with “Ship of Lies” banner earlier in the day... ![]() In daring land and sea raids, activists tag Greenpeace Rainbow Warrior with “Propaganda Warrior” banner; Arctic Sunrise hit with “Ship of Lies” banner earlier in the day... ![]() In daring land and sea raids, activists tag Greenpeace Rainbow Warrior with “Propaganda Warrior” banner; Arctic Sunrise hit with “Ship of Lies” banner earlier in the day... ![]() Prominent group of climate protesters shows some interesting colors at Copenhagen rally... { from Socialists and Communists march to support global warming agenda } ![]() In daring land and sea raids, activists tag Greenpeace Rainbow Warrior with “Propaganda Warrior” banner; Arctic Sunrise hit with “Ship of Lies” banner earlier in the day... ![]() In daring land and sea raids, activists tag Greenpeace Rainbow Warrior with “Propaganda Warrior” banner; Arctic Sunrise hit with “Ship of Lies” banner earlier in the day... ![]() In daring land and sea raids, activists tag Greenpeace Rainbow Warrior with “Propaganda Warrior” banner; Arctic Sunrise hit with “Ship of Lies” banner earlier in the day... ![]() The proponents of global warming talk emotion and anecodote, while the realists talk facts, figures, measurements, history and scientific analysis... { from National Journal: Clash between the Guardian and science } ![]() In daring land and sea raids, activists tag Greenpeace Rainbow Warrior with “Propaganda Warrior” banner; Arctic Sunrise hit with “Ship of Lies” banner earlier in the day... ![]() In daring land and sea raids, activists tag Greenpeace Rainbow Warrior with “Propaganda Warrior” banner; Arctic Sunrise hit with “Ship of Lies” banner earlier in the day... ![]() In daring land and sea raids, activists tag Greenpeace Rainbow Warrior with “Propaganda Warrior” banner; Arctic Sunrise hit with “Ship of Lies” banner earlier in the day... ![]() In daring land and sea raids, activists tag Greenpeace Rainbow Warrior with “Propaganda Warrior” banner; Arctic Sunrise hit with “Ship of Lies” banner earlier in the day... ![]() CFACT, along with Climate skeptics, help topple an Australian liberal leader.... { from Climate skeptics gain steam } ![]() CFACT, along with Climate skeptics, help topple an Australian liberal leader.... { from Climate skeptics gain steam } ![]() In daring land and sea raids, activists tag Greenpeace Rainbow Warrior with “Propaganda Warrior” banner; Arctic Sunrise hit with “Ship of Lies” banner earlier in the day... ![]() In daring land and sea raids, activists tag Greenpeace Rainbow Warrior with “Propaganda Warrior” banner; Arctic Sunrise hit with “Ship of Lies” banner earlier in the day... ![]() In daring land and sea raids, activists tag Greenpeace Rainbow Warrior with “Propaganda Warrior” banner; Arctic Sunrise hit with “Ship of Lies” banner earlier in the day... ![]() Lord Christopher Monckton debunks climate fears in Copenhagen... { from Monckton names names on Climategate } ![]() Lord Christopher Monckton debunks climate fears in Copenhagen... { from Monckton names names on Climategate } ![]() In daring land and sea raids, activists tag Greenpeace Rainbow Warrior with “Propaganda Warrior” banner; Arctic Sunrise hit with “Ship of Lies” banner earlier in the day... ![]() In daring land and sea raids, activists tag Greenpeace Rainbow Warrior with “Propaganda Warrior” banner; Arctic Sunrise hit with “Ship of Lies” banner earlier in the day... ![]() In daring land and sea raids, activists tag Greenpeace Rainbow Warrior with “Propaganda Warrior” banner; Arctic Sunrise hit with “Ship of Lies” banner earlier in the day... ![]() In daring land and sea raids, activists tag Greenpeace Rainbow Warrior with “Propaganda Warrior” banner; Arctic Sunrise hit with “Ship of Lies” banner earlier in the day... ![]() In daring land and sea raids, activists tag Greenpeace Rainbow Warrior with “Propaganda Warrior” banner; Arctic Sunrise hit with “Ship of Lies” banner earlier in the day... ![]() In daring land and sea raids, activists tag Greenpeace Rainbow Warrior with “Propaganda Warrior” banner; Arctic Sunrise hit with “Ship of Lies” banner earlier in the day... ![]() Lord Christopher Monckton debunks climate fears in Copenhagen... { from Monckton names names on Climategate } ![]() In daring land and sea raids, activists tag Greenpeace Rainbow Warrior with “Propaganda Warrior” banner; Arctic Sunrise hit with “Ship of Lies” banner earlier in the day... ![]() In daring land and sea raids, activists tag Greenpeace Rainbow Warrior with “Propaganda Warrior” banner; Arctic Sunrise hit with “Ship of Lies” banner earlier in the day... ![]() In daring land and sea raids, activists tag Greenpeace Rainbow Warrior with “Propaganda Warrior” banner; Arctic Sunrise hit with “Ship of Lies” banner earlier in the day... ![]() In daring land and sea raids, activists tag Greenpeace Rainbow Warrior with “Propaganda Warrior” banner; Arctic Sunrise hit with “Ship of Lies” banner earlier in the day... ![]() In daring land and sea raids, activists tag Greenpeace Rainbow Warrior with “Propaganda Warrior” banner; Arctic Sunrise hit with “Ship of Lies” banner earlier in the day... ![]() In daring land and sea raids, activists tag Greenpeace Rainbow Warrior with “Propaganda Warrior” banner; Arctic Sunrise hit with “Ship of Lies” banner earlier in the day... ![]() In daring land and sea raids, activists tag Greenpeace Rainbow Warrior with “Propaganda Warrior” banner; Arctic Sunrise hit with “Ship of Lies” banner earlier in the day... ![]() Prominent group of climate protesters shows some interesting colors at Copenhagen rally... { from Socialists and Communists march to support global warming agenda } ![]() Lord Christopher Monckton debunks climate fears in Copenhagen... { from Monckton names names on Climategate } ![]() Prominent group of climate protesters shows some interesting colors at Copenhagen rally... { from Socialists and Communists march to support global warming agenda } ![]() The developing world is told to make sacrifices to save the planet... { from CFACT's Morano debates UN climate treaty on Britain's Sky News } ![]() Prominent group of climate protesters shows some interesting colors at Copenhagen rally... { from Socialists and Communists march to support global warming agenda } ![]() The proponents of global warming talk emotion and anecodote, while the realists talk facts, figures, measurements, history and scientific analysis... { from National Journal: Clash between the Guardian and science } Leading newspaper features story on CFACT scientific conference at U.N. meeting in Copenhagen, Denmark... { from New York Times carries CFACT's 'Climate Sense' Conference } ![]() CFACT's delegation arived in Copenhagen, Denmark to educate delegates and media from around the world that the climate change treaty is All Pain No Gain.... { from CFACT arrives in Copenhagen } ![]() Al Gore's claim to have a scientific consensus in support of global warming is confronted by protesters from CFACT's own Collegians for a Constructive Tomorrow.... { from CFACT Collegians organize protest against appearance by Al Gore } ![]() Lord Christopher Monckton debunks climate fears in Copenhagen... { from Monckton names names on Climategate } ![]() Prominent group of climate protesters shows some interesting colors at Copenhagen rally... { from Socialists and Communists march to support global warming agenda } ![]() The developing world is told to make sacrifices to save the planet... { from CFACT's Morano debates UN climate treaty on Britain's Sky News } ![]() CFACT's delegation arived in Copenhagen, Denmark to educate delegates and media from around the world that the climate change treaty is All Pain No Gain.... { from CFACT arrives in Copenhagen } Singer, Morner, Plimer headline all-star science cast... { from CFACT sponsors climate science conference: The debate is not over } Facts challenge organic's benefits over modern agriculture... { from Are organic foods really better? } ![]() The proponents of global warming talk emotion and anecodote, while the realists talk facts, figures, measurements, history and scientific analysis... { from National Journal: Clash between the Guardian and science } ![]() CFACT's delegation arived in Copenhagen, Denmark to educate delegates and media from around the world that the climate change treaty is All Pain No Gain.... { from CFACT arrives in Copenhagen } ![]() If an herbicide, that can drastically improve farming, has proven to be safe for not only the animals in the environment, but also humans, it should be used, right? Not according to the EPA.... { from Is government standing in the way of lower food costs? } ![]() The future of the bay looks bright: stewardship at its best.... { from Science to save the Chesapeake Bay } How do you turn something as plentiful as grass into food? Feed it to cows and have a B.B.Q.! U.S. meat production per acre has doubled since 1970, largely due to pesticides, veterinary chemistry, and better plant breeding... { from Giving up meat to Save the Planet? } How do you turn something as plentiful as grass into food? Feed it to cows and have a B.B.Q.! U.S. meat production per acre has doubled since 1970, largely due to pesticides, veterinary chemistry, and better plant breeding... { from Giving up meat to Save the Planet? } ![]() The future of the bay looks bright: stewardship at its best.... { from Science to save the Chesapeake Bay } How do you turn something as plentiful as grass into food? Feed it to cows and have a B.B.Q.! U.S. meat production per acre has doubled since 1970, largely due to pesticides, veterinary chemistry, and better plant breeding... { from Giving up meat to Save the Planet? } How do you turn something as plentiful as grass into food? Feed it to cows and have a B.B.Q.! U.S. meat production per acre has doubled since 1970, largely due to pesticides, veterinary chemistry, and better plant breeding... { from Giving up meat to Save the Planet? } Scientific "consensus" and other shady sales tactics promote alarmist theories... { from Global warming bait-and-switch } Scientific "consensus" and other shady sales tactics promote alarmist theories... { from Global warming bait-and-switch } |



















































First of all if growers are not allowed to use any chemical fertilizer (as stated in all the organic Product Specification), the first big problem you run into is to find enough organic nitrogen to nourish crops. Growers, globally, use million tons of nitrogen per year that's taken from the air through an industrial process. Giving up that industrial fertilizer would require fertilizing our crops with the manure from another billions of cattle. Where would we get the forage? There isn't enough land on the Planet to feed the entire World population plus another 8 billion cattle. The forests would be cleared out, just to produce the manure!
The second problem will be to preserve your little crop (the one eventually survived from nitrogen starvation) from the destruction caused by weeds, insects, bacteria, etc. How do you think you can manage without the good help of responsible chemistry, agriculture science, research and development?
Without fertilizers and pesticides (as almost all the organic Product Specification demand), crops would have been decimated, and along with it, much of Humanity.
Without pharmaceuticals, our crops and livestock would have been ruined by diseases and by internal and external parasites. As they still are (e.g. in Africa). Without chemistry, we'd be starved.
GMO are surely good for man kind, when used in a responsible way, like (almost) all the innovations human ingenuity comes along with. When I was at university, for example, I remember a course mate who (with a team) was developing a GM barley plant able to withstand 3 times better the lack of water (it means you can "save" 2/3 of the needed water to grow this). To label these things as “dangerous” or “poisonous” is just bad.
I remember some year ago I read a good article about this, probably from the same Dennis Averey writing here (the topic was DDT myths, or something like that).
But isn’t this a bit of history repeating? Wasn’t it like that during dark ages, to vilify, label as satanic all the scientific researches, studies and theories willing to improve knowledge and living conditions for the many people (just to preserve the privileges of the few – in general the less productive ones)?
The problem is always the same, instead of facing the things squarely, applying scientific methods, objective cost-benefit analysis, we always focus on: “which side you’re on”. Politics takes it all, Science standing small.
Take care.
AM