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IN THE KNOW ABOUT THE “O”
BE A PART OF THE
Organic farming and an organic diet can safeguard and improve the health of the environment and the health of your family, with groundbreaking studies in 2018 yielding greater proof of those benefits than ever. As is its annual tradition, The Organic Center, which operates under the administrative auspices of the Organic Trade Association, has put together its list of top ten science-based resolutions to help you be a part of the solution by making your world organic.
One: Cut your risks
One of the most significant studies in 2018 showed that eating an organic diet can reduce your risk of cancer. Researchers compared French adults who frequently consumed organic foods to those who never consumed organic foods, and found a 25 percent reduction
in overall cancer risk. As stated by the study authors, “A higher frequency of organic food consumption was associated with a reduced risk of cancer.”
Two: Keep it cool
Several studies in 2018 focused on the impacts of organic farming on climate change, and showed that choosing organic can help mitigate the release of greenhouse gases while sequestering carbon in the soil. One study found that a one percent increase in organic acreage in the U.S. could reduce greenhouse gas emissions by .049 percent.
Three: Sing like a bird
If you love bird watching or just the sound of birds in the morning, choosing organic is a must. In 2018, one of the most interesting studies focusing on birds looked at places for them to live over the winter, and found that organic farms supported overwintering, and had more species of birds than conventional farms.
Four: Don’t forget about the bees
Organic is good for the birds ... AND the bees. Researchers in 2018 looked into how farming systems impact wild bees, and found more flowers around organic farms than conventional farms, likely due to the lack of herbicides used in organic production, and more species of solitary bees and more bumblebees.
Five: Help local economies
Organic farms can pump up local economies and improve livelihoods. Studies found that organic hot spots positively impact local economies, and that organic farming not only creates more job opportunities but also more secure (longer-term) employment opportunities.
Six: Support farmer health
Organic decreases the risk of pesticide exposure on food for you and your family, and also has some serious health benefits for farmers and
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farmworkers. In 2018, The Organic Center brought it all together in a
report that details the impacts of the conventional use of synthetic pesticides on farmers and farmworkers – and how organic can be used as a model to decrease this exposure.
Seven: Stay down to earth
Choosing organic is still the best way to support healthy soils, and the organic food that you eat has a direct impact on the earth it was grown in. In 2018, a long-term study found that organic agriculture improves physical characteristics of soil compared to conventional farming. Another study showed that organic farming is linked
to greater soil health and higher levels of micronutrients than conventional farming.
Eight: Think long-term
2018 saw a jump in the number of long-term research studies
about the benefits of organic farming, and of how organic supports humans and the planet over many years. One study found that the environmental benefits of organic improve over time, and another study showed that as time under organic management increases, so do ecosystem services.
Nine: If you eat meat, eat organic
In general, eating meat has a higher impact on the environment than a vegetable-based diet. If you do decide to eat a burger, think about the best way to minimize your impact on our planet. A study looked at the environmental impacts of organic grass-fed beef and non-organic grass-fed beef production, and found that organic grass-fed beef production has fewer environmental impacts.
Ten: Think outside of the box
Organic forces us to think outside of the conventional agriculture toolbox. Instead of using toxic, synthetic pesticides and fertilizer, organic farmers have to use innovative solutions to challenges they face in the field. One recent study showed that organic farming promotes overall pest control by supporting beneficial predators.
The Organic Center is a small organization achieving big results. For more information on The Organic Center, the specific studies these resolutions are based on, and the science behind organic, visit www.organic-center.org
SOLUTION Make Your World Organic
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