Backed by Research
Because the onus has been placed squarely on the organic farmer to prove his claims, the expense of that proof has largely been borne by him as well. While conventional farmers do not have to prove their produce is fit for human consumption, the organic farmer must. In order for the grower to be accepted as a certified organic producer, he must show that his produce is free from all unnacceptable chemicals and growing methods. Conventional farmers do not have to prove anything.
Innovative organic agricultural research has been carried out for over 30 years in many countries. Mankind is now benefiting from these initiatives. Conventional practices require little study or knowledge. On the other hand, organic farmers have spent long hours studying various aspects of farming that would not require the use of potentially harmful practices and the avoidance of over 40 billion pounds of petrochemicals applied to conventionally-grown food and fiber crops. Such research includes the use of beneficial insects and companion planting for pest control, cover cropping and the use of green manure, crop rotation and diversification, composting, studying natural soil content, and the wildlife and native plant eco-systems.
The following are just a few of the organizations that have pulled together some of the research that has been done on organically grown produce.
- Organic Farming Research Foundation - This organization was founded in an effort to sponsor research related to organic farming practices and disseminate research results to organic farmers and growers. In addition, it helps to educate the public and decision-makers about organic farming issues.
- Organic Research Database - While this site does require a hefty subscription fee, it is an excellent resource for authors, reviewers, as well as the serious grower and others. The site does have access to over 140,000 organic research abstracts from the last 30 years and from 125 countries with some 9,000 records being added each year.
- Organic Farming Research and Information -
Based at the University of California, this site was formed at the request of the California legislature and given three mandates:
- administer competitive grants for research on sustainable agricultural practices and systems;
- develop and distribute information through publications and on-farm demonstrations; and
- support long-term research in sustainable farming systems on UC farmlands.
- Organic Agriculture Centre of Canada - This organization fosters the scientific methods used to improve the sustainability of organic farming. Any research results are made available to farmers and the public through their web site and web-based courses. The centre is affiliated with agricultural schools at the universities of British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Guelph, McGill, and Laval, as well as the Nova Scotia Agricultural College.
- Research Institute of Organic Agriculture (FiBL) - FiBL (Forschungsinstitut für biologischen Landbau) is the European Union’s leading information and documentation centre for organic agriculture. Since 1973, it has been the main link between different fields of research and the rapid transfer of knowledge from research to advisory work. Its efforts are available in English, French, Spanish, and German.
- Research and Development Corporation - Based in Australia, this site is sponsored by the Australian government and provides links to various organic research results.
- Organic Research Station - Several research projects were established in 1996 at Rugballegaard by the Danish Institute of Animal Sciences. This organic research station at Research Centre Bygholm in Horsens provided scientists with a place to carry out analytic and comprehensive research involving a combination that focused on the conditions and welfare of various animal species along with the interplay between animals and crops (feed supply, grazing systems, utilisation of manure, crop rotations). The overall aim has been to develop and demonstrate new techniques relevant to organic farming. As far as possible, other institutions and organisations are also welcome to take part.
- Nature - This journal has many articles on the outcomes of scientific research, including those involving organically-grown foods.
