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Journey of ORGANIC…
Development of organic farming occured in a series of stages like the amplification of organic concepts and methods, polarization around them, their recognition, accommodation and their extension. Priorities in agriculture research are gradually moving from a focus on individual crop performance to a total system productivity with due attention on product quality, environmental safety and human health.
Organic refers to food grown without the use of artificial fertilizers, sewage sludge, conventional pesticides, herbicides, antibiotic, genetically modified organisms or human waste and processed without the use of insecticides, ionizing radiation, artificial colouring, food additives, or artificial flavouring.
Organic certification is the public’s affirmation that the products have been grown and handled according to strict procedures without persistent toxic chemical inputs. When you see that product has been certified organic, you can rest be assured that the product is genuinely organic and that the reliability of the product is maintained from farm to plate.
It is also called ‘Biological’ or ‘Ecological’.
Why organic……
Till three decades ago the importance of food as a major determinant of health has been based on the fact that it contains essential nutrients such as carbohydrates, proteins, fats, vitamins and mineral essential for growth, development and normal upkeep of body tissues. As well as it also contains large array of chemical substances that influence cell metabolism and thereby exert significant effect on health/disease processes. On the other hand organic food, which has no chemicals, pesticides, harmful fertilizers, herbicides residue etc play not only a health promoting but also a disease-preventing role.
The major benefits of organic food like……..
- Organic crops has significantly higher levels of all 21 nutrients analysed compared with conventional produce including vitamin C (27% more), magnesium (29% more), iron (21% more) and phosphorous (14% more).
- It reduce the risk of Diabetes, Asthma, Cancer, Heart related problems etc… thus plays not only health promoting but also a disease preventing role.
- Farmers can grow number of produce on land, thus preserving diversity.
- It prevents water contamination and erosion of soil.
- Organic food has no chemicals, pesticides, harmful fertilizers, herbicides residues etc.
- It is eco friendly and natural.
Organic thought……
In most of Doctors, Researchers, dieticians’ opinion Organic foods are a modest way to reduce an individual's toxin burden of pesticides and food additives, increase their nutrient intake, safer, and healthier than non-organic food. Research and the available evidence indeed support that the levels of certain nutrients, especially vitamin C, some mineral and some polyphenols, -- naturally occurring antioxidants that may help bolster the immune system – are higher in organically grown crops.
Non organic food contain…
Substances found in non organic food* |
Disease |
| Pesticides – (Organophosphates) |
cancer, decreasing male fertility, foetal abnormalities, chronic fatigue syndrome in children and Parkinson's disease |
Food colourings tartrazine
(the yellow food colouring) |
allergic reactions, headaches, asthma, growth retardation and hyperactivity in children |
Food Additives
(hydrogenated fats) |
directly linked with increased rate of heart disease, cancer and skin disease |
| Antioxidant |
Lower in non organic food and cause heart disease and cancer |
| Genetically modified organisms |
Gut lining |
| Phosphoric Acid |
Causes Osteoporosis |
| Antibiotics |
Allergies, Reduces immunity. |
* Above substances are not found in organic food products.
Membership:
- Agricultural and Processed food products Export Development Authority (APEDA)
- International Competence Centre for Organic Agriculture (ICCOA).
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