Comments on: What Is the Future of Organic? https://civileats.com/2022/02/14/what-is-the-future-of-organic/ Daily News and Commentary About the American Food System Wed, 25 Jan 2023 00:39:47 +0000 hourly 1 By: Craig Schmitt https://civileats.com/2022/02/14/what-is-the-future-of-organic/#comment-259025 Tue, 22 Feb 2022 21:01:51 +0000 https://civileats.com/?p=45396#comment-259025 The root of most of the certifications is to improve the quality of the soil and provide the best nutrition in the food produced. If this is kept as the guidepost of all of the debate the process will improve and everyone wins.

The conventional farmers are focused on yield for profitability as they continue to get squeezed by low prices. (Even now the prices are low for all farmers if they were to make the same margins as other industries.) The latest innovation is no-till and improved pesticides and improved herbicides and cover crops and bio stimulants. They are trying to improve the soil because better soil provides higher yields making them profitable enough to stay in business. But the main drivers are improved pesticides and herbicides.

The organic farmers are focused on yield for profitability as they continue to get squeezed by low prices. (Even now the prices are low for all farmers if they were to make the same margins as other industries.) The latest innovation is no-till and reduced till and cover crops and natural bio stimulants and crop rotation and intercropping and relay cropping. They are trying to improve the soil because better soil provides higher yields making them profitable enough to stay in business. But the main drivers are improved crop rotation, intercropping, relay cropping and natural bio-stimulants.

The other certifications are somewhere in between. The conventional, organic, regenerative, etc farmers would be best served if innovative new processes, tools, etc are found to get everyone closer to good soil and food nutrition guidepost. Organic farming pushes farmers harder which produces faster innovation toward the goal.

]]> By: Eric Bjerregaard https://civileats.com/2022/02/14/what-is-the-future-of-organic/#comment-258666 Sun, 20 Feb 2022 18:31:10 +0000 https://civileats.com/?p=45396#comment-258666 And the usda should do nothing to encourage this deceptive scheme. No taxpayer should be forced to chip in for any subsidies. Especially a fraudulent one.

]]> By: Jim Riddle https://civileats.com/2022/02/14/what-is-the-future-of-organic/#comment-258645 Sun, 20 Feb 2022 14:00:17 +0000 https://civileats.com/?p=45396#comment-258645 Good, thought-provoking article!
To learn more about the history of organic, current issues, and the role of organic in helping mitigate climate change, I invite readers to watch the recent keynote address I gave for NOFA-NJ’s Winter Conference, titled, “Let’s Get Real – Protecting Organic from the Ground Up!” at: https://blue-fruit-farm2.squarespace.com/protecting-organic

]]> By: Jan Dietrick https://civileats.com/2022/02/14/what-is-the-future-of-organic/#comment-258023 Thu, 17 Feb 2022 08:41:13 +0000 https://civileats.com/?p=45396#comment-258023 Good news about Mad Agriculture’s focus with organic as a baseline and scaling ROC. The article does not mention the co-opting of “regenerative” for managed grazing operations and a number of people who assert that integration of livestock is the baseline. I can’t tell from either the Perennial Fund or the ROC website if integration of livestock is a required part of the organic farming system to qualify as ‘regenerative’. It’s clear that animals can be integrated in systems to accelerate building soil; however, it would be better if it evolves that the metric for regenerative is above and below-ground biodiversity distinct from ‘industrial organic’ and not conflated with cattle ranching.

]]> By: Billy Sammons https://civileats.com/2022/02/14/what-is-the-future-of-organic/#comment-257859 Wed, 16 Feb 2022 20:10:49 +0000 https://civileats.com/?p=45396#comment-257859 Thanks for the story. Risking being thought of as a skeptic, I have been growing food and eating organically since Woodstock in 1969. Now living in Iowa, I am certified organic and grow a variety of food and milling grains.

I don’t see much changing as long as the Gov’t plays a major role in the certification system. It’s quite simple, organic is only about 5% of the national agricultural system. Thus, we are sorely outnumbered and the system has tied the conventional growers to a modern understanding of farming…one which is typically more fun than full of hard work. Have you ever been inside a new tractor, combine or other such piece of equipment?

Humans share a trait of laziness and unfortunately, unlike the world of an organic farmer, conventional farmers fare well with such a trait. Think of it this way. It’s not much different from lying on the couch watching football vs weeding another row of kohlrabi. Which one would you rather do?

Conventional farmers are owned by Big Ag and spoiled by the opportunities to have a rather enjoyable experience while, thanks to subsidies, making a good living too. It’s hard for any of them to break free. After all, those new pieces of equipment are VERY expensive.

To join (and control) the party), Big Ag is now in process of industrializing “organic” and that move is pressuring the smaller growers because of the competition and lack of knowledge by the average consumer. Which would you buy?…the $2.59 head of lettuce or the $1.59 head? As long as they are both “organic”, might as well save a buck. That is the typical mentality for the majority of consumers. We don’t go shopping looking to get involved in some drama outside our own web.

It can change when there is a Secretary of Agriculture who advocates for assuring implementation of the organic regulations. Until then, watch for greater numbers of industrialized organic systems popping up across the nation.

:-(
Billy

]]> By: Frank Holzman https://civileats.com/2022/02/14/what-is-the-future-of-organic/#comment-257821 Wed, 16 Feb 2022 12:24:04 +0000 https://civileats.com/?p=45396#comment-257821 USDA is the worst thing to happen to the organic label. State and local organics need to become more recognized. Large corp. organic farms are not good role models of being good land stewards. I am a Biodynamic farmer. I do not subscribe to this label.

]]> By: Julie Golden https://civileats.com/2022/02/14/what-is-the-future-of-organic/#comment-257550 Mon, 14 Feb 2022 16:40:09 +0000 https://civileats.com/?p=45396#comment-257550 Demeter Biodynamic certification was in place prior to Organic Certification was established. Today in America you must minimally be Organic certified and then ensure your soil is healthy to receive the Demeter certification. Once you get the US government involved, there will always be the big AG pushback. Lobbyist earn their keep

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