Organic movement

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The organic movement broadly refers to the organizations and individuals involved worldwide in the promotion of organic farming, which they believe to be a more sustainable mode of agriculture. Its history goes back to the first half of the 20th century, when modern large-scale agricultural practices began to appear.

Contents

[edit] Overview and Origin

The organic movement began in the early 1900s in response to the shift towards synthetic nitrogen fertilizers and pesticides in the early days of industrial agriculture. It lay dormant for many years, kept alive by a relatively small group of ecologically minded farmers. These farmers came together in various associations: Demeter International of Germany, which encouraged biodynamic farming and began the first certification program, the Soil Association of the United Kingdom, and Rodale Press in the United States, along with others. In 1972 these organizations joined to form the International Federation of Organic Agriculture Movements (IFOAM). In recent years, environmental awareness has driven demand and conversion to organic farming. Some governments, including the European Union, have begun to support organic farming through agricultural subsidy reform. Organic production and marketing have grown at a fast pace.

The term “organic” can be broadly described as food grown without the assistance of man-made chemicals (businesssweek.com). The beginnings of the organic movement can be traced back to the beginning of the 1800’s. In 1840 Justus Von Liebig developed a theory of mineral plant nutrition (Cartv.com). Liebig believed that manure could be directly substituted for mineral salts. Many years later in 1910, preceding the First World War, chemists Fritz Harber and Carl Bosh developed an ammonia synthesis process, making use of nitrogen from the atmosphere. This form of ammonia had already been used to manufacture explosives, so after the war, it was implemented into the fertilization of agriculture (cartvquebec.com).

The organic movement is truly not as new as we all tend to believe it is. Organic food was initially seen as a fad observed by the eccentric few, however today it has become more widespread. “Organics have come to represent a safe house in a disturbing world where food quality and safety are constantly under siege” (Blythman). Today, we see whole foods stores as integral parts of the grocery shopping market, specifically, whole foods, wild oats, and others.

Sociologist Pierre Bourdieu categorizes class groups by their varying levels of cultural and economic capital. However, class groups can also be distinguished by cultural tastes and lifestyle choices, e.g., fashion, music, art, even eating habits. Increasingly, individuals are engaging in certain leisure pursuits as a means to draw the line between high culture, and mass culture. John Storey uses this concept, mass culture vs. high culture, as a means to define popular culture in his text, An Introduction to Cultural Theory and Popular Culture. One can view popular culture as that which contrasts to high culture, but at times the lines between high culture and popular culture are blurred, and that which was deemed as high culture can transition into popular culture. Differences in consumption and lifestyle can be looked at through the trends certain societies have adopted. One trend of particular interest is the organic movement, which can help to explain a more insightful understanding of this concept. The choice to live organically is being adopted by those within the realm of high culture today. However, this trend is slowly becoming more available, or popular, to the mass culture. Environmental awareness as well as ecological sustainability is at the height of importance to the movement. To spread this sentiment, the method of farming organically has become more popular and widespread. Due to its costly production process, which results in a limited availability, the movement has been aligned within the cultural parameters of high culture society. Getting involved with the production methods, rather than consuming, is also somewhat exclusive to those within the high culture. Programs like WWOOF (worldwide opportunities on organic farms) are a cultural privilege within which the wealthy get to enjoy due to travel prices and other fees dependent upon membership.

[edit] Structure

At its core, the organic movement is about environmental awareness and ecological sustainability. That philosophy is expressed through its method of farming and its support of that farming through paying higher prices.

[edit] Organic Companies

The recent interest in the organic industry has sparked the interest of many business. Among these businesses are large companies that seek to distribute many products in large amounts to the American public. The organic market is now a 14 billion dollar a year industry, that continues to grow especially from large corporations such as Wal-Mart that are now offering organic choices to there customers. Other companies leading the organic revolution include food companies such as; General Mills and Kraft that are making the switch to offer more organic option for customers. Along with major companies now offering more organic choices many large companies are buy up smaller already established organic companies such as Earth’s Best, Rice Dream soy milk, Garden of Eatin', Celestial Seasonings and Health Valley. By having large companies buy up the already established smaller organic companies it exposes these companies to the popular culture, therefore making them popular because they are in large quantities.

[edit] Organic Cosmetics

Cosmetic products that are made with organic ingredients are made without the use of harsh chemicals like pesticides, herbicides, fungicides, and fertilizers. The Environment Protection Agency (EPA) approved pesticides to be used long before research was done that now has linked these chemicals to cancer, and other diseases. Many manufacturers are misleading when it comes to labels on the back of organic cosmetics. As a cautious consumer you must pay close attention to what the term organic means because some manufacturers label organic in its scientific meaning of “containing carbon in it.”

In order for cosmetics to truly be organic, the Organic Consumers Association suggests that all the cleaning and conditioning ingredients be made from organic materials, the manufacturing process should be simple and ecological, and non-agricultural water like floral water or botanical water should not be used.

[edit] Organic farming

Organic farming methods have proven to be more effective than many conventional farmers realized, but they are still placed at a relative disadvantage by their lack of synthetic nitrogen. Thus they rely on price premiums, but these price premiums often allow them to reap higher profits than conventional farms.

[edit] Criticisms of the Organic Movement

The organic movement has transformed the mentality that the general public held about food. However, not everyone is a fan of organic products, higher prices for instances are one of the first things critics attack. Originally, organic farming was characterized by family farming, which, contributed to its wholesome image. Perhaps, this view of the organic movement represents that of high culture. Initially, organic products were for a small portion of the population, the portion that is left over after what society determined was popular culture. Over the years the idea of organic food and products caught on, becoming more popular and widespread. The event of organics becoming more normative marked the transition from high culture to popular culture. Today, organic farming is not representative quality family farming, it is dominated by big corporations and has become big business. “A single company controls 70 percent of the market in organic milk, California grows about 400 million dollars per year in organic produce and the Organic Trade association includes the biggest names in agribusiness, such as Archer Daniels Midland, Gerber, and Heinz ” (Miller, 9). Despite the modest beginnings of the organic movement, organic farming is now a lucrative source of revenue, and its humble beginnings are no longer representative of the organic products on the market today.

Some organic food advocates claim that organic food tastes better, and often it does. However, being organic isn’t really the reason why food tastes better. The organic movement emphasizes eating local produce that is in season, which in turn, produces fresher food. Essentially, the food being tastier is not attributable to the fact that it’s organic (Miller, 9). “Organic food may be fresh, but it’s fresh from the manure fields” (Miller, 10).

Critics’ further protest against the idea that organic food is healthier. Miller, the author of The Organic Myth asserts, “organic food is no more nutritious than food fueled by industrial fertilizers that are sprayed with synthetic pesticides and genetically altered in science labs.” He goes on to say that bacteria are a source of disease in organic food and organic farming is incredibly inefficient (Miller). Moreover, there is no scientific evidence whatsoever that proves organic food to be healthier. Even Dan Glickman, President Clinton’s administrative secretary stated that the organic label is a marketing tool.

The logistical problems with organic farming will be further aggravated in the future. The manure used in organic farming will not be sufficient to grow the amount of food we will need for the entire world. Miller points out that the head honchos of organic associations such as Ronnie Cummins were pleased with the diagnoses of one cow with mad-cow disease in the United States. This type of public scare is beneficial to such entrepreneurs; however, Miller reminds them to be careful. In Germany, their first case of mad-cow disease was identified in a slaughterhouse specializing in organic beef. With that being said, Miller suggests that organic farming is more wasteful than most activities, noting that only 4 billion people could be fed on an all-organic diet. Perhaps the idea of organics is merely wishful thinking particularly for those making profit, and really isn’t a better option. People may feel better about eating organic products, but whether it is really healthier id debatable. By eating organic-food, people aim to make a statement, which the successfully do; they are supporters of population control and enemies of environmental conservation (miller, 10).


[edit] Timeline

  • The first use of the term "organic farming" is by Lord Northbourne (aka Walter James, 4th Baron Northbourne). The term derives from his concept of "the farm as organism", which he expounded in his book, Look to the Land (1940), and in which he described a holistic, ecologically balanced approach to farming. Northbourne wrote of "chemical farming versus organic farming". http://www.orgprints.org/10138.
  • Sir Albert Howard's 1940 book, An Agricultural Testament, was influential in promoting organic techniques, and his 1947 book "The Soil and Health, A Study of Organic Agriculture" adopted Northbourne's terminology and was the first book to include "organic" agriculture or farming in its title.
  • In 1939, strongly influenced by Sir Howard's work, Lady Eve Balfour launched the Haughley Experiment on farmland in England. It was the first, side-by-side comparison of organic and conventional farming. Four years later, she published The Living Soil, based on the initial findings of the Haughley Experiment. It was widely read, and lead to the formation of a key international organic advocacy group, the Soil Association.
  • During the 1950s, sustainable agriculture was a research topic of interest. The science tended to concentrate on the new chemical approaches. In the U.S., J.I. Rodale began to popularize the term and methods of organic growing. In addition to agricultural research, Rodale's publications through the Rodale Press helped to promote organic gardening to the general public.
  • In 1962, Rachel Carson, a prominent scientist and naturalist, published Silent Spring, chronicling the effects of DDT and other pesticides on the environment. A bestseller in many countries, including the US, and widely read around the world, Silent Spring was instrumental in the US government's 1972 banning of DDT. The book and its author are often credited with launching the environmental movement.
  • In the 1970s, worldwide movements concerned with environmental pollution caused by persistent agrichemical increased attention on organic farming. One goal of the organic movement was to promote consumption of locally grown food, which was promoted through slogans such as "Know Your Farmer, Know Your Food".
  • In 1972, the International Federation of Organic Agriculture Movements (IFOAM), was founded in Versailles, France. IFOAM was dedicated to the diffusion of information on the principles and practices of organic agriculture across national and linguistic boundaries.
  • In the 1980s, around the world, various farming and consumer groups began seriously pressuring for government regulation of organic production to ensure standards of production. This led to various legislation and certification standards being enacted through the 1990s and to date. Currently, most aspects of organic food production are government-regulated in the US and the European Union.
  • In the 2000s, the worldwide market for organic products (including food, beauty, health, bodycare, and household products, and fabrics) has grown rapidly. More countries are establishing formal, government-regulated certification of organic food: in 2002 in the US, in 2005 in China http://eprints.utas.edu.au/895/ and projected for 2006 in Canada, among others. Monitoring and challenging certification rules and decisions have become a regular, high profile aspect of activists in the organic movement.

[edit] See also

[edit] External links

[edit] Sources

The organic Agriculture: History and background is an excellent source for the origins of the organic movement. (http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/content/06_42/b4005001.htm)

Blythman, J. (2005). The Trouble with Organics. Academic Search Complete, 35(6), 24-25

Miller. (2004). The Organic Myth. Ebscohost, Vol 56(2). 7-10.

http://www.organicfacts.net/

http://www.oof.org

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