Why go organic?

Since 1990, organic sales have increased by at least 20% per year, and more and more farmers are switching to organic farming to meet this demand. Just as there are many great reasons to eat organic food, there are many reasons for choosing to farm organically – ranging from the personal to the global.

Greater financial returns, a healthy environment to work and raise your children, self-reliance rather than dependence on the fertilizer and pesticide industries–these are just a few of the many reasons farmers choose to switch to organic farming.

Healthy environment

Organic farming is good for the environment. No synthetic pesticides or herbicides are used, and therefore there is no air or water pollution created. Manure is composted before its application to bare soil, and the soil is kept covered by living plants, stubble or mulch as much as possible. These practices reduce the risk of nutrient loss and erosion.

Organic farming increases biodiversity at many levels, from the microbial life beneath your feet to the birds flying above the fields. This isn’t just good for the environment; it’s also good for farmers. For example, soils with strong diverse populations of microorganisms tend to recycle nutrients quickly, retain nutrients, hold moisture and have good tilth. A more diverse population of birds and insects means that farmers have more allies – more beneficial organisms to help control pest populations and pollinate crops.

Economic opportunities

Farming using certified organic farming practices can increase potential economic opportunities. Organic production has the potential to:

• garner price premiums (up to twice as much),
• differentiate from the commodity markets and systems,
• reduce input costs (on farm feed production, reduction of antibiotics) and
• increase resilience to natural risks (e.g. healthy soil can cope with droughts).

Certified organic production also lends itself well to new and innovative marketing systems and relationships like Community Supported Agriculture.

Over the long term, organic farming can be more profitable because, compared to conventional farming, once an organic farm is established the input costs are often lower, yields are close to or equivalent to conventional, and returns are higher due to the price premium for organic. It can all result in a better bottom line.

A recent visit to the Halifax Farmers' Market found an average organic price premium of 30-40%. Products like eggs, beef and poultry captured between half and double the price of locally produced, direct marketed conventional products available at the market; the spread between products such as carrots, potatoes and apples can be considerably smaller depending on the market.

Organics is the way of the future. The organic sector continues to grow at an astonishing rate with a 20% annual growth rate in the sales of organics since 1990. Consumers start buying organic food for a number of reasons, such as food scares, health problems or the birth of a child. Many quickly become faithful organic consumers as a result of the taste of the food, connection with farmers, and/or a greater understanding of the many benefits of eating organic food. The local food movement is further increasing the demand for local organic food.

Healthy farm families

Organic farming produces healthy food, healthy work and a healthy environment for the farm family. Toxic chemicals, such as pesticides, aren’t used on organic farms – and this leads to a healthier place for farm families to work and live. Farm pesticide use has been linked with many health problems, including cancer, birth defects and nerve damage.

According to the American Environmental Protection Agency, 90% of all fungicides, 60% of all herbicides, and 30% of all insecticides are carcinogenic.

For details on the healthy aspect of organic farming, see the Organic Consumers Association Health Resource Centre and North East Farming Association of Vermont's Why Organic?

Integrating and enabling the next generation

A number of farmers made the transition to organic farming because they wanted their children to farm and they felt organics was the only way to bring the kids back to the farm. Organic farming offered a viable future for the farm – a way that the younger generation could make a living while staying on the farm.

In other cases, the younger generation decided that organic farming was the way of the future and convinced their parents to start the transition. The youth became interested in organics because of concern over health and/or observing the increasing consumer demand in organics. Some recognized that organic farming is not only environmentally sustainable, it’s economically sustainable as well. When soils are managed organically, their fertility and tilth improve over time. They even become more resilient to the impact of weather – less likely to dry out in droughts, and less likely to become saturated in heavy rains.

Satisfying work

Organic farming is satisfying work. Many farmers who made the switch to organics for strictly economic reasons began to enjoy farming again after the transition. Many also enjoy being part of the organic community.

To hear more about farmers’ satisfaction with organic agriculture, read the profiles of organic farmers at Newfarm.org and The Canadian Organic Grower.

Self-reliance

Many conventional farmers switch to organics after “getting sick of writing cheques to the fertilizer companies.” With organic farming, you are responsible for providing the soil fertility – it’s not something you buy, rather it is something you help produce through the use of green manures, crop rotation, applications of compost and other methods of organic soil management. This independence appeals to many farmers, both intellectually and financially.

Contribution to rural communities

Connection to the rural communities help organic farms thrive, and connections to organic farms can help rural communities survive. As opposed to purchasing inputs such as chemical fertilizers and pesticides, organic farmers use local inputs (e.g. composted manure, straw) and labour. Building relationships with local community members is essential to shift away from the commodity system and mindset (i.e. just thinking about price).

OACC's Report on Organic Farmers and Rural Development

Next – Is Organic For You?