How does eating organic affect the environment?

Conventional farming focuses on maximizing output, producing as much food as cheaply as possible. Fossil fuels play a large part in the production of this cheap food. The food system uses 19 percent of fossil fuels used by all sectors of the economy. It produces roughly 37 percent of all greenhouse gas emissions making the way we produce our food the single largest contributor to atmosphere altering gasses. The food system also contributes to soil erosion and loss of bio-diversity through rampant use of pesticides and chemical fertilizers. Pesticides and chemical fertilizers release CO2 into the atmosphere causing greenhouse gas. Eating organic is a positive step for weaning or food system off fossil fuels, reversing soil degradation, and reducing our carbon foot-print.

In order to farm organically, farmers need to use substantially less pesticides and chemical fertilizers, relying more so on natural fertilizers.  Many modern sustainable farmers plant a cover crop after the fall harvest which significantly reduces the need for fertilizer while improving soil fertility and its ability to hold water and withstand drought. By supporting organic farming that uses less pesticides and chemical fertilizers we can also cut back on CO2 emissions. The spraying of chemical pesticides releases large amounts of C02 into the atmosphere, as does using chemical fertilizer. Organic farms are heavily restricted from using these kinds of pesticides and fertilizers. This in turn creates less pollution from chemicals seeping into our groundwater, rivers, lakes, and oceans, as well as reduces the amount of greenhouse gas emission from producing food.

Because there are much less chemical preservatives used, organic food in your local markets is often farmed closer than inorganic food. Some organic produce can not keep for long enough to be shipped from across the world without the use of preservatives so retailers look to source these foods from more local farms. This helps reduce the environmental impact of shipping food over long distances.

Eating Organic may be a only a small step in affecting climate change, but every small step counts Organic food is steadily rising in popularity and will continue to do so as long as people care about their health and their environment.