Fifty years ago, 11% of American corn crops were treated with pesticides. Today, more than 95% are treated. DDT, a pesticide and persistent organic pollutant used in the 1930's to 1970's, is present in nearly every single living organism on the planet today because it is extremely hyrophobic and well absorbed by soil.
Along with reducing your meat, eggs and dairy consumption, David Suzuki (among many other environmentalists) recommend buying organic or natural products from local sources whenever possible.
Here are some more fun facts from Dr. Suzuki's Green Guide, that will make you think twice about your food (that is, if you don't already!):
-The use of chemical pesticides increased by 600% in the US during the last 60 years
-Worldwide, the use of chemical fertilizers tripled between 1945 and 1960, and then, tripled again by 1970, and doubled by 1980!
-Agriculture is a factor in the decline of more than half the species listed as endangered or threatened under the US Endangered Species Act.
-The US Environmental Protection Agency estimates that agriculture is responsible for 70% of the nation's water pollution.
So, what I am getting at here is that changing your diet can have a bigger impact than say, trading in your normal car for a hyrbid.
Consuming organic produce, dairy, milk or meat (or, alternatively, buying from a farmer that isn't necessarily organic but uses more traditional methods and doesn't use hormones/pesticides) helps the planet in many ways.
Organic and/or traditional farming practices such as crop rotation, plant/ animal diversity, natural fertilizer/pest control methods helps to improve and protect soil quality, reduce green house gas emissions and the amount of synthetic fertilizers, hormones, pesticides and other toxins leaching into our soil, water and food.
Many studies have been done that show the benefits of eating organically grown food. A 2006 study done on a group of children in Seattle, Washington had the children's diet switched from conventionally grown foods to organic foods. Pesticide residues in the urine quickly dropped to non-detectable levels (Suzuki 59)
While organic foods may seem more expensive up front, it is the conventional foods that seems so cheap that have many hidden environmental and health costs. In my way of reasoning, good food makes me healthy and is well worth the investment.
So, what I am getting at here is that changing your diet can have a bigger impact than say, trading in your normal car for a hyrbid.
Consuming organic produce, dairy, milk or meat (or, alternatively, buying from a farmer that isn't necessarily organic but uses more traditional methods and doesn't use hormones/pesticides) helps the planet in many ways.
Organic and/or traditional farming practices such as crop rotation, plant/ animal diversity, natural fertilizer/pest control methods helps to improve and protect soil quality, reduce green house gas emissions and the amount of synthetic fertilizers, hormones, pesticides and other toxins leaching into our soil, water and food.
Many studies have been done that show the benefits of eating organically grown food. A 2006 study done on a group of children in Seattle, Washington had the children's diet switched from conventionally grown foods to organic foods. Pesticide residues in the urine quickly dropped to non-detectable levels (Suzuki 59)
While organic foods may seem more expensive up front, it is the conventional foods that seems so cheap that have many hidden environmental and health costs. In my way of reasoning, good food makes me healthy and is well worth the investment.
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