Transcript PowerPoint Presentation - Why American’s are turning to

The Organic Food Debate
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Amy MacGregor
Berkeley Bliss
Susan Butler
Jeremy Steinmeyer
Organic Foods
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An agricultural revolution?
A consumer fad?
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Depends on who you ask
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‘Organic’ Defined
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Basic definition means ‘living’ and used to
define carbon based life forms
‘Organic’ is more of a description of the
agricultural methods used than the food
itself
Texas Department of Agriculture
says...
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“a system of ecological soil management
that relies on building humus levels
through crop rotations, recycling organic
wastes, and applying balanced mineral
amendments and that uses, when necessary,
mechanical, botanical, or biological
controls with minimum adverse effects on
health and the environment.”
What’s Available?
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Almost anything
sugar
corn flakes
fruits
vegetables
meats
pasta
Historical Context
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1940, Sir Albert Howard published An
Agricultural Testament, advocating that Britain
preserve the ‘cycle of life’
1960, the Soil Association opened first shop
selling organic produce
The 60’s saw interest in organic techniques grow
throughout Europe and the United States
The Revolution Continues
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1990, federal government set standards for the
production, processing, and certification of
organic food in the Organic Food Production Act
of 1990
National Organic Standards Board established by
this act (USDA oversees the program)
Recent years have seen impressive economic
growth
Impressive Market Growth
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Last few years have seen significantly increased
interest in organic food
Close regulation of organic food production has
contributed to an increase in consumer
confidence
Sales have increased from $178 million in 1980
to $4 billion in 1998, a 2,147 % increase
…a few other Growth Facts
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Now growing at a rate in excess of 20 % a year,
compared to 2 - 3 % a year for traditional food
market
Fastest growing chain is Whole Foods Market
(founded in Austin) with growth of 900% in the
90’s and now has 78 stores in 17 states
Traditional food stores have added organic foods
sections
Typical Organic Consumer
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Six out of ten people would choose organic food
if it was easily available and cost no more than
conventional food.
Reasons for buying organic food
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46% say health is the main reason
40% say it taste better
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Reasons for not buying organic food
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42% say the costs are too high
15% say they are not seen in shops
10% say there is not enough variety
4% say they don’t buy because it does not taste better
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Age 25-34, and shopping mostly at specialty
stores
(source: MORI report Institute of Food Science and Technology)
Why American’s are turning to
Organic Foods
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Concern over toxic pesticide residues
Concern over antibiotic drug residues
Concern over food poisoning
Concern over genetic engineering
Concern for the environment
Why eat organic foods?
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Protect future generations
Protect your own health
Save energy
Prevent soil erosion
Protect our water supply
Protect farm workers
Eat nutritious and delicious foods
Support a true economy
Why should you pay more for
organic food?
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Common complaint: organic food is
EXPENSIVE
Reality: inorganic foods really are more
expensive
Things to consider when
contemplating price differences
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Most farms are small family run operations
that are not highly profit-driven and seldom
receive government subsidies or support
for research
Organic food takes longer to grow than
inorganic as chemical growth hormones
and fertilizers can speed up the growth rate
of inorganic crops
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Organic Produce is usually picked when it is ripe
unlike inorganic food, which allows for
transportation time and is picked unripe and
before it is fully developed.
The majority of organic distribution is done on a
small scale so the transportation cost are often
higher, pushing consumer prices up
Organic certification bodies charge their members
for annual inspection and use of their certification
labels, once again driving prices higher
Environmental Concerns
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Superweeds
Insect Resistance
Herbicides
Wildlife
Natural Resources
Superweeds – Pro-Organic
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The fear that crops will transfer altered
genes to other plants or that the crop itself
will become an unwanted weed
Examples:
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Johnson grass
Multiflora rose
Kudzu
Superweeds – Anti-Organic
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Genetically modified plants have the same
weaknesses as their traditional counterparts
and cannot survive the wild because of
different conditions
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Insecticides and herbicides are useless in the
wild
New method of inserting DNA into
chloroplasts
Insect Resistance – Pro-Organic
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Bacillus thuringenesis (Bt) bioinsecticides
are one of the few insecticides available for
organic farmers. Many genetically
engineered plants have their own Bt toxins
which cause greater resistance in insects,
leaving this type of insecticide ineffective.
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Can be harmful to beneficial insects such as
the monarch butterfly
Insect Resistance – Anti-Organic
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This problem can be resolved by planting
traditional corn around the perimeter of Bt
corn leaving a buffer zone in between the
toxic pollen and the insects.
Herbicides – Pro-Organic
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Crops that are genetically engineered to
resist chemical herbicides have specific
limits to toxicity. Changing patterns of
herbicides could have the environment.
Herbicides – Anti-Organic
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EPA approved a new herbicide containing
diflufenzopyr which has low acute toxicity
to humans and other animals
Wildlife – Pro-Organic
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Animals could eat the debris left over from
genetically engineered plants.
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Using fish with metal-sequestering proteins
to clean up pollution
Natural Resources – Pro-Organic
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Inhibits sustainable agriculture
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Soil erosion
Water quality
Natural Resources – AntiOrganic
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Helps biodiversity of indigenous organisms
to improve the natural ecosystem.
Government Regulation
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Organic Food Production Act of 1990
USDA
National Organic Program
National Organic Standards Board
NOP Proposed Rule
NOP Proposed Rule
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Final Rule:
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SUMMARY: This final rule establishes the National Organic Program (NOP or
program) under the direction of the Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS), an
arm of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). This national
program will facilitate domestic and international marketing of fresh and
processed food that is organically produced and assure consumers that such
products meet consistent, uniform standards. This program establishes national
standards for the production and handling of organically produced products,
including a National List of substances approved for and prohibited from use in
organic production and handling. This final rule establishes a national-level
accreditation program to be administered by AMS for State officials and private
persons who want to be accredited as certifying agents. Under the program,
certifying agents will certify production and handling operations in compliance
with the requirements of this regulation and initiate compliance actions to
enforce program requirements. The final rule includes requirements for labeling
products as organic and containing organic ingredients. This final rule also
provides for importation of organic agricultural products from foreign programs
determined to have equivalent organic program requirements. This program is
authorized under the Organic Foods Production Act of 1990, as amended .
Standards
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The organic standards require that:
each organic farmer and food handler develop an
organic plan for their operation;
the plan would be evaluated and approved by an
accredited certifying agent;
the farmer/handler would abide by the list of
approved substances for their system;
imported organic products would be recognized as
equivalent if they were produced in accordance
with the national standards (or under stricter
standards).
(Dr. Lineberger’s HORT 315 site)
National Organic Standards
Board
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Established by 1990 Act
Regulates certified organic claims
USDA oversees
Certification
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http://www.ams.usda.gov/nop/nop2000/nop
/finalrulepages/finalrulemap.htm
Labeling
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Must meet federal standards
Imported products must meet equivalent
standards as the NOP
Implications for the Mainstream
Food Industry?
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Possible to see the current interest in
organic foods as a reaction to consumer
unease over use of pesticides, recent food
scares and a reluctant lack of trust in the
mainstream food industry
The way these issues are handled by
traditional marketers will influence how the
organic market will develop
Local Organic Retailers
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Brazos Natural Foods
Kroger
Albertson’s
Check your local grocer!
Links
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http://www.nofavt.org
http://www.ifst.org/hottop24.htm
http://www.fao.org
http://www.ams.usda.gov/nop
http://envirolink.org
Feedback
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Now we’d like your comments and
questions…
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How do you feel about the organic
movement?
What benefits/detriments do you foresee?
Is this just a fad?