Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
farmers in developing countries use the methods developed in organic farming to preserve and
improve soil fertility without expensive inputs. Since commercial cereal farming tends to
require extensive subsidies as a result of the high costs of fertilisers and pesticides, and exten-
sive fallow is no longer possible when population densities rise (Buerkert
et
al
. 1998), based on
the scientific evidence, only organic methods have demonstrated the ability to improve both
yield and nutritional quality at the same time (Brandt and Kidmose 2002).
Perspecties
Once it becomes possible to determine some of the consequences for human health of the
methods used for food production, and if the organic methods turn out to have a positive
effect, an immediate result would very likely be increased demand for organic food. At the
same time, such knowledge is also likely to lead to changes in farming methods in either
organic or conventional production systems or both, since both farmers and regulating author-
ities are motivated to optimise the health value of all agricultural products, once it becomes
known how to. In the slightly longer run, this could easily diminish or even abolish any advan-
tage existing for organic food, by enabling other systems to improve. Thus, it is quite impossi-
ble to predict the long-term consequences of such research for organic agriculture. Nevertheless,
it will lead to improved food safety and quality for the consumer.
Rather than focusing on specific safety issues, many consumers as well as producers see
organic food as representing the precautionary principle on their behalf (Torjusen
et
al
. 2004).
That organic principles effectively protected against BSE is perceived as an indication that they
could also protect against other, as yet unknown threats to health, which may develop from
the various types of 'unnatural' technology used in modern agriculture. Some authors even
consider this type of 'naive' conviction as a threat to consumer safety and health, by diverting
focus to unknown, possibly imagined safety risks rather than concentrating on efforts to
improve the overall diet, such as increasing vegetable intake, which would have greater and
more certain health benefits (Avery 1998, Trewavas 2001 2004).
Although any amount of data probably will not affect the convictions of those who repre-
sent the more extreme views at either end, this Chapter indicates where consistent patterns can
be detected instead of just isolated observations, and points towards a future where knowledge
regarding cause and effect will guide efforts to improve food quality in organic production
and other systems.
References
Adam S. 2002. Vergleich des Gehaltes an Glucoraphanin in Broccoli aus konventionellem und
aus ökologischem Anbau. In:
Bundesforschungsanstalt
für
Ernährung
(Hrsg
.
)
Jahresbericht
2001
. Bundesforschungsanstalt für Ernährung und Lebensmittel, Karlsruhe.
AFSSA [Agence Française de Securite Sanitaire des Aliments] 2003.
Evaluation
des
risques
et
bénéfices
nutritionnels
et
sanitaires
des
aliments
issus
de
l'agriculture
biologique
. AFSSA,
Maisons Alfort. <http://www.afssa.fr/Object.asp?IdObj=15490&Pge= 0&CCH= 0403091
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Accessed
21/8/05.
Alfvén, T., Braun-Fahrländer, C., Brunekreef, B., von Mutius, E., Riedler, J., Scheynius, A., van
Hage, M., Wickman, M., Benz, M.R., Budde, J., Michels, K.B., Schram, D., Üblagger, E.,
Waser, M., Pershagen, G., the PARSIFAL study group. 2006. Allergic diseases and atopic
sensitization in children related to farming and anthroposophic lifestyle - the PARSIFAL
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