HOW ORGANIC IS ORGANIC?

More people are gravitating towards organics. More people are talking about organics. More people are buying organics. Labels styled organic food are displayed on shelves in shops. There are shops that are wholly dedicated to organics. More people are making it a matter of principle to go organic. Books and articles are being written and published on organics. For some going organic ought to be a way of life. For some going organic is a way of life. Organic is becoming a pervasive topical thing. It is even an issue.

According to the website The WorldCounts, “Global sales of organic food products has reached $55 billion. The largest markets are the United States, Germany and France. The highest per capita consumption is in Denmark, Switzerland and Austria.”

Why the fuss about organic?  When did the fuss start?  Why is organic coming to the limelight in our days? Has organic been around all along? Why the so many movements and organizations advocating for the choice of organic?

The reference to the word choice in the last question implies there is the nonorganic. The contrast between the organic and nonorganic is what brings up the exercise of choice. To make the choice requires an understanding of the nature of the organic and nonorganic. The organic food is the food made from natural nutrients, and the nonorganic is the food made from manmade nutrients. When I say natural nutrients I mean nutrients derived from manure and humus. When I say manmade nutrients I mean chemical fertilizer, for example.

Why would one need to make a choice? One would need to make a choice for the following reasons.

• Pesticides (e.g. DDT) are not used in growing organics
• In growing food organically pollution is reduced
• When food is grown organically water is conserved
• There is soil erosion reduction in organic farming
• Organic farming comes with increase in soil fertility
• In going organic, humane, less intensive and sustainable agriculture is achieved.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, there are people who think going organic is not a big deal! They think there is little difference between food grown or raised with organic materials and those grown or raised with chemical fertilizer etc. Another point they raise is that organic farming cannot cope with the magnitude of world population today.

PARAMETER  

The word organic occurs two times in the theme. I am using the first one as adjective, and the second one as a noun. The word organic as a noun is sometimes used interchangeably with organics. In this context the word organic as a noun means organic food or product. The adjective form means the extent to which materials like manure and humus have been used to grow or raise the food. The theme could therefore be rephrased as: To what extent or degree is manure or humus used in producing the food (organic)? Is the food 100% organic? Is it 90% organic? Is it 50% organic?

A Merriam Webster contextual definition of organic in the adjective and noun forms which should further clarify the theme follows:

Adjective- of, relating to, yielding, or involving the use of food produced with the use of feed or fertilizer of plant or animal origin without employment of chemically formulated fertilizers, growth stimulants, antibiotics, or pesticides  

Noun- a food produced by organic farming

Now, I am going to give another definition of organic which is a bit broader than the one already given, in that this one embraces recognition of certification and certification authority. The definition follows as “Food grown or raised without the use of additives, coloring, synthetic chemicals (e.g., fertilizers, pesticides, hormones), radiation, or genetic manipulation and meeting criteria of the U.S.D.A. Standard National Organic Program” (https://medical-dictionary.thefreedictionary.com/organic+food).

From the foregoing definition it could be noted that the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) has the recognition and authority to set standards for organics. The department, among other such bodies in the world determine whether a food is organic or nonorganic. Organic food is graded! You remember my asking earlier whether a food is 100%, 90% or 50% organic.

UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

The United States Department Agriculture, a department of the federal government of the United States of America, is headquartered in Washington DC, USA. The NationalOrganic Program makes the rules and regulations for the production, handling, labeling, and enforcement of all United States Department of Agriculture organic products. This procedure draws inputs from National Organic Standards Board and the public. The National Organic Standards Board is a Federal Advisory Committee composed of 15 members of the public. The National Organic Program keeps a handbook that includes guidance, instructions, policy memos etc. that put across the organic standards.   

What follows is how USDA (United States Department of Agriculture) grades organics.

• 100% Organic
• Organic
• Made With Organic
• Specific Organic Ingredients

100% ORGANIC

Food products in this category must meet the following standards:

• All ingredients must be certified organic
• Processing aids must be organic
• Product label must indicate the name of the certifying body and other information
• May include i.e. USDA seal and/or organic claim
• Organic ingredients to be identified (and in percentage terms)

ORGANIC

Food products in this category must meet the criteria:

• Organic ingredients must be certified organic
• Nonorganic ingredients (excluding salt and water) used in the product per the NationalList must be up to five percent
• Product label must indicate the name of the certifying body and other information
• Identification of ingredients in percentages

“MADE WITH” ORGANIC

Food products in this category must meet the standards that follow:

• A minimum of 70% of the food product must be certified organic ingredients (excluding salt and water)
• Product labels must state the name of certifying body and other information
• Must not show USDA organic seal on product
• Indicate organic ingredients
• Product must not be represented as organic
• May state “made with organic”

SPECIFIC ORGANIC INGREDIENTS

• These are products with less than 70% certified organic contents that need not to be certified.
• The USDA organic seal must not be displayed on the label of the product.
• Ingredients that are certified organic may be specified as such on the label, and in percentages.

UNION OF CONCERNED SCIENTISTS

From day one, it was organic farming (traditional farming), and organic food for that matter. There was no alternative, and therefore comparison- comparison between organic and nonorganic. Then came synthetic fertilizer and pesticide!

This is what the Union of Concerned Scientists (Science for a Healthy Planet and Safer World) have to say on synthetic fertilizer and pesticide per https://www.ucsusa.org/our-work/food-agriculture/our-failing-food-system/industrial-agriculture#.W74P4oXXLcw:

“Today, the majority of American farmland is dominated by industrial agriculture—the system of chemically intensive food production developed in the decades after World War II, featuring enormous single-crop farms and animal production facilities.

Back then, industrial agriculture was hailed as a technological triumph that would enable a skyrocketing world population to feed itself. Today, a growing chorus of agricultural experts—including farmers as well as scientists and policymakers—sees industrial agriculture as a dead end, a mistaken application to living systems of approaches better suited for making jet fighters and refrigerators.

The impacts of industrial agriculture on the environment, public health, and rural communities make it an unsustainable way to grow our food over the long term. And better, science-based methods are available.”

The Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS) is a not-for-profit science advocacy organization based in the United States of America. The union was founded by staff and students of Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA.

PARTING SHOT

I think the Union of Concerned Scientists is stating a case of back to basics, substantially speaking. It is becoming clearer that using organic material to grow food results in a better sustenance and perpetuation of balance of the natural environment than using synthetic materials to grow food. Organic begets organic. Nonorganic begets nonorganic. Resources in the natural environment are depletable hence the concern and need for sustainability. There is the need for earthlings to take the delicate path of sustainably putting back into the natural environment what they take from it.

Up until, some say beginning from 1940, some say at the beginning of the industrial revolution, some say after the Second World War, man did traditional farming (organic farming); letting nature run farming, as it were. However, clearly, after the Second World War man got into industrial scale farming involving intensive synthetic fertilizer and pesticide use. This, the Union of Concerned Scientists is saying many an agricultural expert see as a dead end, today.

From the foregoing I deduce a pattern as follows: from organic to nonorganic to organic. Organic has a long way to go yet, but the awakening to things organic is growing remarkably!

The answer to the question which happens to be the theme of this post is that organic comes in grades by certification of authorized bodies such as the United States Department of Agriculture. So when you enter a shop and you want to buy organic food check the label on it, the label should tell you how organic it is. For best effect go for 100% organic!

In that small way of buying organic you are contributing to the greater cause of inducing and sustaining a clean and balanced natural environment.