Picture Source : http://www.econsciousmarket.com/
I was lucky enough to speak briefly with Dr. Charles Benbrook late yesterday afternoon. I had asked him for some supporting information about the benefits of organic farming vs conventional farming in layman's terms. I wanted great information to use as part of a presentation at the Coweta County commissioner's board meeting in July. In order to start this process of becoming a "Sustainable Organic farm", we have to get an ordinance added to the "rule book" so they can govern us "appropriately", which means convincing the commissioners of the value added to the community among other things. Trust me when I say that it's just the beginning of a long process.
Dr. Charles Benbrook Picture Source: http://www.princetoninfo.com/
Well, Dr. Benbrook emailed me some great information. One of which is the cover story in the latest issue of "Organic Processing Magazine" called "The Organic Factor." The information in here is very compelling.
Take a minute and read this article, you won't regret it.....
http://www.organicprocessing-digital.com/organicprocessing/20090506/?u1=texterity
Quote of the day I thought would be appropriate to use Dr. Charles Benbrook speaking on GMO's and conventional farming:
"If conventional agriculture and the problems of conventional agriculture are the benchmark against which biotechnology is judged, it will be easier to sell biotech because biotech can solve some of the problems created by conventional agriculture. But what about just avoiding the problems altogether by really simple things, like management and cultural practices? You know, you hear these people say that we've got a big problem with vitamin A. We've got to use genetic engineering to create golden rice that has elevated vitamin A content. There are millions and millions of people in the world that don't get enough vitamin A. But what about growing some squash? Growing some crops that are already high in vitamin A? What about diversifying diets a little bit?
We're worried about how we are going to feed nine billion people, ten billion people in a world that's going to continue to develop economically. If everybody just ate a little bit less meat, we'll be fine. We don't have to give up meat. If North America and Europe would eat a third less meat, and all of that farmland devoted today to growing livestock feed that's converted at about six pounds of plant biomass to one pound of animal product, if that land were redirected to rice and wheat and tomatoes and peas and nutritionally dense foods,we could eliminate world hunger."
Dr. Charles Benbrook
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