Sustainability and Agriculture in the US: The Benefits of Organic Farming
At its core, farming is a business. Farmers must be able to sustain their livelihoods and make a profit for their efforts. Yet, farming has a greater purpose: to provide safe and healthy food for consumers and to protect the environment for future generations. Organic farming is a sustainable system of agriculture that can address economic, environmental, and social concerns. With its many benefits, organic farming is gaining in popularity in the United States.
What is Organic Farming?
Organic farming is an agricultural system that relies on natural processes such as crop rotation and utilizing natural fertilizers to produce food crops. This system of farming is based on the principles of building healthy soil and creating a system of crops and animals that work together in harmony. This method of production resists the use of synthetic inputs, such as synthetic fertilizers, pesticides, and chemical-based additives, and instead focuses on building soil health and promoting safe and healthy plants, animals, and ecosystems.
Benefits of Organic Farming
Organic farming boasts many advantages that include environmental protection, social justice, and economic prosperity. For the environment, organic farming is beneficial because it emphasizes the use of natural inputs and processes to produce food. This reduces the amount of unnatural chemicals in the environment and eliminates long-term damage to soil and water resources. Additionally, organic farming promotes biodiversity, unlike conventional farming which makes use of mono-cropping.
Organic farming also offers significant social justice benefits, including the use of humane animal practices, the avoidance of toxic chemicals that can impact human health, and the opportunity to support small and independent producers. Conventionally-produced foods, on the other hand, often come from large farms and corporate conglomerates.
Finally, organic farming provides economic benefits to the US agricultural sector as more consumers are moving towards organic foods. By following organic farming practices, farmers can usually fetch higher prices for their products than conventionally-produced food. This can result in greater economic returns and improved livelihoods for organic farmers and their families.
The Need for Organic Farming in the US
Organic farming is becoming increasingly popular in the US and more people are recognizing the importance and benefits of organic food production. In recent years, organic food sales have grown by double digits and now account for almost 5% of all food sales in the US.
Moreover, a recent survey conducted by the Organic Trade Association (OTA) found that two-thirds of respondents were concerned about what food producers were doing to protect the environment and prioritize animal welfare. The OTA also found that more than half of grocery shoppers would be willing to pay a premium for organic food.
The Popularity of Organic Farming
Organic farming is on the rise in the US, with about 4.2 million acres of organic farmland (up 12% since 2012). As of 2018, the US had 3,447 certified organic farms and an additional 6,381 operations that were transitioning to organic practices.
In addition, the US Department of Agriculture has created the National Organic Program in its efforts to promote organic farming practices. This program provides producers with marketing and education options while defining standards and certifying organic operations.
Organic Farming Resources
For those interested in learning more about organic farming, there are many resources available to help. The USDA provides an introduction to organic farming and outlines theNational Organic Program.
For more resources and help with organic certification, the Organic Trade Association has also compiled a list of resources for producers, as well as a catalogue of organic products. Additionally, the Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education Program has research and tools to help producers become sustainable and profitable.
Organic farming has many benefits for the environment, communities, and producers. As organic farming begins to gain traction in the US, it’s important that farmers have resources to help them make the switch to organic practices and understand the demands and nuances of this type of farming. With the right support, organic farming can provide economic benefits, social justice benefits, and environmental benefits, making it a sustainable system of agriculture for the US.