Global Breaking News - Monday, December 23, 2024

Is Organic Food Worth the Expense?

A recent study by scientists at Stanford University found that fruits and vegetable labeled organic are, on average, no healthier than less expensive conventional produce, although they have lower levels of pesticide residue. Are there other benefits that outweigh the cost of organic food? Is there a place for organic farming in a world with severe food shortages and rising food prices?
* on average = 평균적으로/ conventional = 전통적인, 종래의/ pesticide residue = 잔류농약/ outweigh = ~보다 더 크다(대단하다)/ food shortage = 식량부족

 심각한 식량부족과 증가하는 음식값의 세계속에서 유기 농업이 위치할 자리가 있나요?

1. Buying Organic Is a Personal Choice
I prefer not to be a guinea pig in a pesticide experiment. I'm fortunate to have the choice. We should do all we can to give everyone that choice.
 
2. The Ecological Case Against Organics
Until organic farming can rival the production output of conventional farming, its environmental cost is devastating.
 
3. Focus on the Right Kind of Organic Farming
Because the rural poor will be hit hardest by climate change, far from being a 'luxury for the rich,' organic farming may turn out to be a necessity.
 
4. Food for the Wealthy, Not for the Poor
Most of the world needs cheaper food, so we should focus on higher yields, better access to fertilizer and well-regulated use of genetically enhanced crops.
 
5. Lessons From the Farm
Despite the claim that only it can "feed the world" as the climate warms and population grows, industrial agriculture has already reneged on its promises.

Sample Essay

The Ecological Case Against Organics

Organic farming tugs at our heartstrings, harkening back to a simpler time when life was rugged and man lived off the land. We’re told organic farming is not only better for us, but also better for the environment. While it sounds like the perfect solution, the fact is our notion of organic farming is an idyllic fallacy.

Most people say they buy organic food to avoid pesticides, but organic farms (especially those with products found in grocery stores) use natural pesticides like rotenone and copper sulfate. While "natural" sounds better, it’s not synonymous with safe. There are plenty of naturally occurring things that are bad for us -- after all, anthrax and botulinum toxin are 100 percent natural. Organic pesticides have been linked to a wide variety of diseases -- some at lower doses than synthetic ones. Fact is, all pesticides are designed to kill, and natural ones aren’t in any way less dangerous.

But perhaps the crux of the organic argument is the idea that natural methods are better for the environment. The trouble is, organic farms are only about 80 percent as productive as conventional ones. Already, we have cleared more than a third of the Earth’s ice-free land for agriculture. To farm entirely organically, we’d need more. Decreased productivity isn’t just a space issue; it has real environmental consequences. While organic farming can be better for wildlife, a systematic review by Oxford University scientists found these benefits come at a high cost, as organic varieties actually produce more carbon emissions per unit of food, contributing to the devastating effects of climate change.

Until organic farming can rival the production output of conventional farming, its ecological cost is devastating, and so far, science has been unable to support claims that organic foods are safer or healthier. Organic farming does have many potential upsides, but it isn’t a panacea. Instead, its methods need to be considered alongside conventional ones to create the best balance of productivity and sustainability.