Organic Foods and Global Sustainability

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            Organic foods are produced according to certain standards of production. They are grown without the use of any conventional pesticide, artificial fertilizers or human waste. During processing, no artificial additives are used. In United State, Billions of toxic chemicals are used which would not be necessary if American farmers converted to organic farming and sustainable growing methods.

            Statistics shows that organic food sale last years in retail levels totaled to $10.4 billion.

This year, sales are expected to exceed $15 billion and more than $32 billion projected by 2009.

Line graph showing organic food sales trend

Among the food buyers, about 79% buy organic produce from organic food growers and traders

These produce range in percentage the way they are consumed 35% bread and bakery items, 33% non daily beverages, 30% daily produce and other 2%

Table of percentage buying rate expressed in degrees

Items                                                  %                               degree

Bread and bakery items                     35                               126

Non daily beverages                          33                               118.8

Daily produce                                    30                               108

Others                                                2                                 7.2

Therefore, the percentage buying rate of different produce can be presented on a pie chart as shown below.

During the sale of organic produce, they must first be checked whether they meet organic food production requirements. These requirements include:

• Free of artificial food additives
• Processed with fewer artificial methods, material and conditions
• No chemicals used for ripening
• No food irradiation
• No genetically modified ingredients should be used

They are required to produce food using:
–  Energy saving technologies.

–  Packed using recyclable and biodegradable materials as possible.

Use of these methods reduces the amount of toxic chemicals used which can be a threat to human and ecosystem in general.

These methods should be encouraged since many consumers are interested in the use of chemicals free foods which are fresh and minimally processed.

            The most dramatic gain in organic crops has drastically increased in different types of crops between 1997 and 2001.

A table showing percentage gain in organic crop consumed from 1997-2001.

Crop                                      percentage

Dry beans                               225%

Lettuce                                               180%

Flax                                        157%

Corn                                       119%

Soya beans                             112%

Hay                                        100%

Millet                                      90%

Buckwheat                             88%

Dry peas and lentils               80%

Potatoes                                 74%

Citrus                                     60%

Apple                                     38%

Roses                                      20%

Grapes                                    25%

Organic farming does not allow the use of synthetic pesticide but specific pesticides derived from plants. Therefore global sustainability is enhanced in that no toxic substances are used which can be a threat to both human and ecosystem (Guthman, Julie, 2004).

Use of these statistics or visuals fits more in areas where data has been collected concerning organic foods and needs to be represented in better and understandable manner. These visuals strengthen the argument since they can be easily understood without going into details by just visualizing them in the forms that they are presented in the data.

Reference

Guthman, Julie, (2004), Agrarian dreams, United State: California University Press.