Think Organically Not Industrially

Yesterday, in global class we discussed the importance of water supply and endangered rivers. Just like me, you might wonder what does food have to do with this topic? So, I went beyond our class discussion and discovered some pretty interesting stuff.  Surprisingly, both issues share a close symbiotic relationship. Did you know that U.S. agriculture provides sustainable economic and humans benefits, yet according to the organization Save the Colorado, it consumes nearly 90% of the Colorado River entry. That is equivalent to 4 TRILLION GALLONS! just to have some fresh fruits and veggies at your dining table. Wait fresh? How fresh are the fruits and veggies you consume? Treehugger informed that the U.S. food systems contribute to almost 20% of the nation´s carbon dioxide emissions.  As mentioned in yesterday´s post, the only real difference between organic and regular food is the chemicals and preservatives and the differences in prices. What about organic farming? Curiously, Treehugger introduced that this type of farming removes about 7,000 pounds of CO₂ emissions per year! Currently the U.S. has 434 millions acres of cropland. Imagine if each cropland engaged in organic farming. It could help reduce CO₂  emissions to the equivalent of 217 millions cars operating in the streets.

Organic farming not only bring benefits to the environment, but also to the agricultural industry. During wet season it limits the erosion, but in droughts more carbon in the land helps the organic farming retain more water. Organic farming feeds itself from its natural ingredients, hence providing a more fresh meal for you. In contrast, current agricultural practices spend a lot of money on pesticide and other chemicals that affect not only the environment and yourself, but also the producer´s pocket. Thus, organic farming is win-win situation, don’t you think?

As all of you might know, cutting down trees for suburban expansion triggers CO₂ emissions, hence global warming. Guess what? Deforestation in search for useful fertile land has the same effect as the one previously mentioned. I think we should reconsider the myth we learned in elementary school. If you cut down one tree, it is necessary to plant 10 more; sadly that is not enough. As environmentalist Bill McKibben explains in his book, “Eaarth”, there is no way back, so it is important to learn how to thrive in this new eaarth. Stop thinking globally. Think locally! Because being smaller is now the new GREEN!

Click on the following links to read more about organic farming and U.S. agriculture:

http://www.treehugger.com/corporate-responsibility/organic-farming-could-stop-global-climate-change.html

http://www.savethecolorado.org/river.php

http://www.treehugger.com/green-food/how-to-stop-global-warming-and-hunger-at-the-same-time.html

http://www.crwua.org/ColoradoRiver/RiverUses/Agriculture.aspx