Is there any proof that organic food - or organic gardening and farming - is better for human health and for the planet?
Earth Day is an appropriate time to address your question. This topic is probably worth a book, but I'll give you the four main reasons why I think organic food and organic gardening and farming are best for human and planetary health.
- No pesticides: We know that conventionally grown foods consistently contain residues of pesticides that may be harmful. Some 865 pesticide active ingredients are now registered with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and thousands of products containing them singly or in combination are used in conventional farming to kill insects and other agricultural pests. Many of these chemicals have been implicated in human and animal cancers, nervous system disorders, and other serious diseases.
- More antioxidants: Organically grown fruits and vegetables appear to have higher antioxidant levels than conventionally grown foods. A study published in the Feb. 26, 2003 Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry found that levels of antioxidants in organic corn were 58.5 percent higher than those in conventionally grown corn and that antioxidant levels in organically grown strawberries were about 19 percent higher than they were in conventionally grown strawberries. Data released in 2005 by the Organic Consumers Association showed that on average, the organic crops studied contained about one-third higher antioxidant content than comparable conventional produce. It also noted that levels of specific vitamins, flavonoids, and other health-protective compounds in organic foods were two or three times those found in matched samples of conventional foods.
- Better for the earth: A 22-year study at Cornell University found that raising crops organically produces the same yields of corn and soybeans as does conventional farming, but uses 30 percent less energy, less water, and no toxic chemicals. The study also found that organic farming conserved more water in the soil, caused less erosion, maintained soil quality, and conserved more biological resources than conventional farming. The study is a review of the Rodale Institute Farming Systems Trial, the longest running comparison of organic vs. conventional farming in the United States.
- Efficient: Contrary to arguments that only conventional farming methods can meet the world's need for food, a series of studies has shown that organic farming is just as productive, if not more so. A study reported in the March-April 2008 issue of Agronomy Journal showed that organic methods produced as much wheat and alfalfa and 90 percent of the amount of corn, soybeans and winter wheat as yielded by conventional methods, and organic farming methods build up soil instead of depleting it.
To which I would add, in my experience, organic food simply tastes better! Making a commitment to buy, or better yet grow, your own organic food is one of the best Earth Day resolutions you can make.
译文:
四个种植和使用有机食品的理由
有什么证据可以证明有机食物或者有机农田和有机耕作对人类健康和地球更加有益吗？
世界清洁日就是能对你的这个问题给出诠释的适合的日子。这个话题可能值得写成一本书，但我想给你们说说四个为什么我认为有机食物和有机农田最有利于人类和地球生物的健康。
1. 无农药：我们知道用常规方法种植出来的食物总会含有农药残渣，这对人体可能造成伤害。环保社检验出865种农药活性成份，很多农药产品都还有一种或者多种这些活性成份，这些农药被运用在传统农业种用来杀死昆虫和其他的农作物害虫。很多这些化学药品是人类和动物致癌，神经系统错乱，还有其他的严重疾病。
2. 更多的抗氧化剂：用有机方法种出的水果和蔬菜显示他们含有的抗氧化成分要比用常规方法种出的食物要高。《农业与食物杂志》于2003年2月26日登出的一份调查报告发现有机玉米中含有的抗氧化成份要比常规种植法种出的玉米高出58.5％，用有机方法种植的草莓也比常规种植出的草莓含有的抗氧化成份高出大约19％。2005年“有机商品消费者协会”的一份数据显示那些有机农作物一般都会比同类用常规法耕作法种出的农作物产品的抗氧化成份高出1/3。这份数据同样还指出有机食物含有的微量维他命，类黄酮，和其它的保持健康的化合物也比同类常规耕耕作法种出的食物高出2～3倍。
3. 更有益于地球：科内尔大学一项历时22年的调查发现用有机方法和用常规方法种出相同产量的玉米和大豆，有机耕作法却少用了30％的能源和水， 并且没有使用毒农药。这项研究还发现有机耕作法比常规耕作法更能保留土壤中的水分，减少化学药品的侵蚀，保持土壤质地，和保护更多的土地资源。
4. 更高效：与那些说只有用常规耕作方法才能满足世界对食物需求的观点相反的是一系列的研究表明有机耕作发才是高产更做法，或者更甚。《农业事务杂志》在2008年3～4月的时候报道一份研究，这份研究说到有机耕作法种出的小麦和苜蓿产量和传统耕作法种出的产量一样多，用有机方法种出的玉米，大豆和冬麦的产量也能达到常规耕作法生产出的相应农产品的总量的90％。并且传统耕作法能更保护土壤的质地而不是使土地退化。
我还想在说一点，依我个人的经历来看，有机食品真的更加美味些！去购买或者干脆自己耕种有机食物，这是你能为世界清洁日做的最好的举动之一。