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Organic Pesticides

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Imagine walking through the grocery store, and seeing nearly 500 different types of lettuce to choose from. In grocery stores now, you will be lucky to see 10 different types. For many years we have turned to the use of pesticides as our primary method of producing food. The use of conventional farming has destroyed over 93 percent of the variety of crops (Tomanio). In society, we are used to what foods we have and are oblivious to the fact that there used to be many more options. We are the main reason this has happened; using pesticides to grow our crops. There are other methods such as organic or sustainable farming, but farmers fear that this style of production will result in higher costs and, less profit. The use of chemicals in farming …show more content…

This study was conducted by Iowa State University that focused on corn and soybean rotations compared to oats and alfalfa. The soybean and corn rotations included a mix of chemicals and fertilizers. Where on the two separate plots of oat and alfalfa, they used manure fertilizer. This study showed that the need for herbicides was reduced by 88% and the costs did not change for the oat and alfalfa plots (Bittman). Organic farming is proving to be a threat to pesticides, with the increase popularity of going …show more content…

Techniques in modern agriculture cause disease and health issues when people simply eat fruits and vegetables that are supposed to be good for you. A recent study completed by CNN’s Jacqueline Howard shows how pesticides pose a threat to women. The study was conducted of 325 women with ages ranging from 18-45 years old receiving infertility treatment. The study tested the effects of eating food that have been treated with pesticides. The study results showed, “...those who ate 2.3 servings or more had 18% lower probability of getting pregnant, and 26% lower probability of giving birth to a live baby” (Howard). It is extremely important for women who are pregnant to eat plenty of fruits and vegetables in order to receive all of the required nutrients needed by the fetus. When the crops are grown by applying pesticides, this unintended side effect occurs. Organic farming presents a solution for these costly health issues.
Organic farming utilizes similar techniques as our early ancestors. Without the extreme application of pesticides, clean and environment friendly crops are grown. In addition, crops are produced using basic techniques without the negative aspects commonly seen today. Organic farming focuses on the root of the plant; feeding the soil correctly will help provide proper nutrients to the crop. When plants receive the clean nutrients, they have

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There is always opposition to pesticides because of the harm that it can cause on the environment and the animals alike. Pesticides though have saved a lot of hard work for farmers over the past couple of decades because it does all the dirty work, for example, the killing of weeds and other pests. Pesticides have also saved a lot of money for farmers by preventing pests from damaging crops or taking the nutrients and water supply away from crops. (Whitford, 7) In the future we need to start to find less toxic ways to prevent pests from attacking the crops and vegetation. This would prevent a lot of the other costs associated with pesticides for example, health costs for farmers that are exposed to the toxic chemicals or the killing of the habitats in the surrounding areas.

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The three essays assigned this week had several common threads running through them. The strongest core theme is the rapid change in the food cycle in America and the vast changes that have taken place in the way by which we grow, produce, and process the food that average Americans eat. The food we eat now is drastically different from what our grandparents grew up eating and the three essays each examine that in a different way. Another theme is the loss of knowledge by the average consumer about where their food comes from, what it is composed of, and what, if any, danger it might pose to them. “Monsanto’s Harvest of Fear” by Donald L. Barlett and James B. Steele is a harsh look at the realities of food production in a country where large corporations, like Monsanto, have been allowed to exploit laws and loopholes to bend farmers and consumers to their

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Catherine Badgley, the author of the article “Can Organic Food Feed the World?” wrote about the benefits of eating organic. One of the topics she discussed was that farmers make more money selling organic crops vs conventional crops. Catherine said “Organic foods may cost more than conventionally grown, but they’re more profitable for farmers... cost ratios are 20% to 24% higher for the same foods produce by conventional methods according to scientists from the Washington State University. ”(COFFtW)

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First of all, Pollan states just because it says it's organic doesn't mean it really is. If you buy an “organic” salad at your local grocery store, farmers will still use pesticides to keep bugs away and other animals. The chemicals they use are all natural, but it's not truly organic if you use pesticides or other chemicals. In The Omnivore’s Dilemma Pollan says, “Instead of toxic pesticides, crops are sprayed with natural substances, like BT, a pesticide made from a common soil bacteria” (140.) This quote proves that big organic industrial companies use pesticides to help produce grow.

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I chose the movie Cesar Chavez because is about an labor organizer and activist man of the civil rights. Scene ---In 1965 many grape farm workers march 300 miles from Delano, California to Sacramento. Demanding labor rights for farm workers and increasing their wages and to improve their work place conditions. Mexicans and Philippine’s got united and they strike for five years until they got to sing a contract were The scene that I choose is when growers were telling the workers in the vine yards that anyone that follow the strike will stop working there and they were not going to be higher from anybody else and workers were really afraid to strike against the growers.

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The problem of industrial farming is dangerous to the land to our health because there are children who are getting sick from the food they eat. America should be concerned about food production because they don't know what’s in it and that could be dangerous for the children and everyone else. In the article “When A Crop Is King” by “Michael Pollan” argues that how our food is made out of corn and it’s unhealthy for us.

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Over the last century, farming has changed exponentially, transforming food production. During the late 1800s, the industrial revolution revitalizes agriculture by bolstering crop and livestock productivity, spurring the second agricultural revolution. This revolution marks the creation of a commercial market for food. (Knox, 334) The third agricultural revolution, occurring after World War II, introduces mechanization, chemical farming, and manufacturing processing that still exists today; therefore, marking the transition from the family owned and operated farms to commercial farms.

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To the editor: In the news article titled “United Nations: Agroecology, not Pesticides, is the Future for Food”, Eva Perroni argues that the United States should ban pesticide considering its harmful effect on human health and the environment. She also states that agroecology, a set of agricultural practices which focus on biodiversity will reduce the use of pesticides and “facilitate the transition to more productive, sustainable, and inclusive food systems” (“United Nations: Agroecology, not Pesticides, is the Future for Food”, Food Tank). There is no doubt that pesticides should be banned; However, whether agroecology as a form of an anthropological fix is the best solution remains doubted.

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Children are in fact at risk for pesticide exposure because their diets generally contain many fruits [including oranges]” (Food Additives & Contaminants). Children can be heavily affected by these toxic substances. According to the Hamilton Spectator,” The review of 142 studies found that prenatal exposure to pesticides can cause neurodevelopmental, respiratory and reproductive problems in newborns and children, including attention deficits, asthma and lower birth weight”. As a child I had frequent respiratory issues, some of which I am still dealing with today. Through my research I have formed the opinion that pesticides are doing more harm

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We are not only killing ourselves but our planet too. With the creation of these modified foods and pesticides there is an emergence of new super bugs and super weeds which is threatening our crops and foods. Our farmers are having to increase they’re uses of pesticides and could potentially have to create an even stronger pesticide adding to the problem. In a study conducted in Japan it was proven that there is no way to keep the GM plant from cross contaminating our organic farms and plants. If we can’t keep up our crops healthy and clean we are eventually going to kill ourselves off and kill off our whole planet.

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“Are you really putting in what’s right for your body?” “Ingesting pesticides can inhibit brain development.” “Only organic foods can keep you safe.” Catch cries such as these seem to plague the media. However, consumers do not need to constantly worry about eating a strictly organic diet.

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However, research shows chemicals and pesticides in the food can cross the placenta. These toxins can form health risks for babies. Pesticides often cause low birth weight, birth defects and various other concerns. Your baby-to-be is less prone to health risks if parents-to-be choose organic foods. Keeps Our Water Clean

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This type of organic food that is popular among many people is produced on organic farms. Farms belonging to this group foster recycling, speak for promotion of ecological balance concept and represent the direction of conserving environment. The process of growing organic food implies refusal from use of synthetic pesticides as well as other chemical stuff that increases fertility. According to the Food Marketing Institute, “Organic livestock must have access to the outdoors and be given no antibiotics or growth hormones” (Natural And Organic Foods).

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Birth Defects: Birth deformities from pesticide presentation is an alternate developing sympathy toward expecting moms, grown-ups and kids. The connection in the middle of pesticides and conception deformities has been fixed to utilization of family unit spreads that execute enclosure bugs, ants, mosquitoes and insects. These intense chemicals are utilized to assault the sensory system of creepy crawlies and slaughter them, however may represent a significantly more serious danger to your unborn child's wellbeing and expand the danger for oral clefts, neural tube imperfections, heart deformities and appendage imperfections. Introduction to pesticides and insect poisons ought to be evaded no matter what amid pregnancy.

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being used in the traditional foods, but not in organics, but then those chemicals used in the traditional foods are said to be safe for human health. People are beginning to realize as the demand for food has increased with the population growth, so has the use of chemicals fertilizers antibiotics and hormones by farmers and livestock growers. The consumption of produce and meat, grown with the use of these means has led to the increase more diseases and cancers. People are beginning to believe that the only way to have a healthy

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