Myth busting at Natural Products Expo West: How organic can feed the world
March 22, 2016
I have to admit that I’ve fallen for all of the myths that the Organic Myth Busting: How Organic Can Feed the World panelists discussed at Natural Products Expo West. I thought organic was too expensive for the mainstream consumer, and I had no idea how organic could feed the world. The Expo West session was a not-to-be-missed myth-busting hour featuring organic industry leaders. Here are some key myths and the facts to bust them.
Myth: Organic agriculture cannot feed the world/organic production is inefficient.
According to organic farmer Bob Quinn, industrialized agriculture makes up only about one-third of farming worldwide. Meanwhile small and local farmers provide most of the food in China and Africa, the countries that comprise most of the earth’s population. These smaller, less-industrialized farms can reap a three-fold production increase by going organic.
Arjan Stephens from Nature’s Path noted that the large biotech companies are telling us that we need pesticides and tech to feed the world. He talked about the Rodale Institute in Pennsylvania, and its side-by-side trials of conventional and organic agricultural methods. In non-drought years, yields were the same and in drought years organic beat conventional agriculture in a significant way. However, during transitional periods, yields might be less.
The panelists noted that some things are more difficult for organic farmers. Produce crops are more difficult to harvest over cereal crops. With produce crops you have pests and pest management on top of weed management. Soil building is also a timely process, but necessary to create fertile soil year after year—and to leave the ground the same or better than it was found, a tenant of organic.
Stephens was quick to mention that production isn’t the biggest issue. Rather, food system issues such as food waste and distribution need to be solved, even among organic businesses.
Myth: Organic businesses are stagnant and not growing.
According to New Hope Network, “Organic Monitor estimates the global market for organic food in 2014 to have reached $80 billion. The market has been steadily increasing from its $15.2 billion in 1999.” New Hope also writes, “The Organic Trade Association forecasts that by 2030 organic sales in the U.S. will total $90 billion annually, with organic food representing 10 percent of all food consumed.” If you ever doubt that organic business is not growing, feel free to visit a Costco, Target or Walmart. Check out Target’s