Organics
Class notes for SNAP's OG class.
Organic farming leader Elmer Laird dies at 86 (22 July 2010, CBC)
Environment
*Organic Farms 'Best for Wildlife (Beyond Pesticides, August 8, 2005)Title: ‘Benefits of organic farming to biodiversity vary among taxa’
* Canada Bans Nanotechnology in Organics (Beyond Pesticides, May 5, 2010. Posted in Alternatives/Organics, International, Nanotechnology)
* Canadian Organic Sector Secures Canada Organic Label (December 21. 2007)
* Organic Agriculture can Feed the World (June 2007)
Access the FAO report, Organic Agriculture and Food Security, at ftp://ftp.fao.org/paia/organicag/ofs/OFS-2007-5.pdf
* Organic farming methods stand test of time (08/06/05, David Suzuki, York Region) and Study Shows Organic Farms Produce the Same Yields as Conventional. (Beyond Pesticides, July 22, 2005) "Organic farming produces the same yields of corn and soybeans as does conventional farming, but uses 30 percent less energy, less water and no pesticides, a review of a 22-year farming trial study concludes... Organic farming can compete effectively in growing corn, soybeans, wheat, barley and other grains, Pimentel said" (Beyond Pesticides, July 22, 2005) Profitability and increased biodiversity.
* Overlooked Soil Life Holds Key To Third World Farm Viability (May 2, 2006)
* Sustainable Organic Farming Practices Increase Crop Yields by an Average of 79% in Third World
* Wal-Mart and the Globalization of Organics (June 12, 2006. exerpt from New York Times Magazine article “Mass Natural” by Michael Pollan, UC Berkeley professor, from Beyond Pesticides)
"To index the price of organic to the price of conventional is to give up, right from the start, on the idea, once enshrined in the organic movement, that food should be priced not high or low but responsibly."
Organic Corporate Gardens Is the New Trend in Employee Benefits (Beyond Pesticides, May 14, 2010. Posted in Corporations)
School District Serves Healthier Choices with Organic, Locally Grown Foods . The Lunch Box, a new web tool, has been launched to help schools throughout the country do the same. (Beyond Pesticides, August 31, 2009 Posted in Alternatives/Organics, Children/Schools )
Stanford Hospital Menu Offers Organic, Local Foods (U.S) (Beyond Pesticides, September 11, 2009 Posted in Alternatives/Organics, Health care) The new inpatient menu option puts Stanford Hospital at the forefront of an emerging nationwide recognition that fresh, healthy food is a vital part of the healing process.
* Organic Foods Higher in Nutrients (April 2008)
A comprehensive review of 97 published studies comparing the nutritional quality of organic and conventional foods shows that organic plant-based foods (fruits, vegetables, grains) contain higher levels of eight of 11 nutrients studied, including significantly greater concentrations of the health-promoting polyphenols and antioxidants.
Grazing cows on organic farms in the UK produce milk which contains significantly higher beneficial fatty acids, antioxidants and vitamins than their conventional ‘high input’ counterparts.
* Organic meat and dairy improves breast milk
* Hazardous Pesticides Found in Children Who Eat Chemically-Treated Foods disappear when they switch to organics. February 2008, Beyond Pesticides) This is only one of several studies all indicating the same thing.
* Organic Lawn Care Gaining Momentum (August 15, 2007, Beyond Pesticides) (US)
Saskatchewan
* Saskatchewan Organic Agriculture Report by Regional Economic and Co-operative Development Minister Lon Borgerson made recommendations to Premier Calvert on how to develop the province's organic agriculture industry after extensive consultations. (September 26, 2007)
Borgerson's recommendations include: Establishing an Organic Industry Advisory Board that will provide ongoing advice to the Minister of Agriculture and Food on organic issues; Expanded organic research capacity; Increased support and training opportunities for organic producers and processors; International marketing support for small and medium organic businesses; Measures to attract young people and immigrants to the industry; and the promotion of Saskatchewan-grown organic food. Full report here.
* Organic research boosted at U of S (Western Producer, April 5, 2007)
Updated Mar 2010