Organic farming represents not only an alternative but rather an evolution in the way human beings grow food while at the same time benefiting the environment and protecting the species that help maintain balance in our ecosystems. Research published in 2016 by the Journal Nature shows that three-quarters of the world species are threatened by agriculture, compared to 19% by climate change.

How Commercial Farming Threatens Wildlife

According to the World Animal Foundation, agriculture already occupies about 40% of Earth’s landmass and accounts for 75% of global deforestation. This rapid destruction is causing species to disappear, and is negatively impacting the biodiversity of native ecosystems and furthering our path into the 6th mass extinction of all species on Earth.

Wildlife habitats are constantly being cleared in order to make way for farmland, which leads to a competition for territory between humans and other species – one in which wildlife is often the losing side. In Indonesia the Tree Kangaroo has been brought to the brink of extinction due to the palm oil industry, which has rapidly destroyed most of its habitat and that of many other creatures such as elephants and jaguars.

Commercial agriculture has also led to the degradation of soil due to the use of toxic chemicals that destroy nutrients and render the land sterile.

According to researchers, the degradation of soil due to the continual ploughing of fields, combined with heavy use of fertilizers, has affected soils across the world, with erosion occurring at a pace of up to 100 times greater than the rate of soil formation. It takes around 500 years for just 2.5cm of topsoil to be created amid unimpeded ecological changes.

Organic Farming Respects Wildlife

The degradation of arable land under the hands of commercial farming is unsustainable and threatens to be the cause of a mass extinction. Follow efficient house cleaning tips from experienced Florida house cleaners. Organic farming protects every living organism in the environment, from pollinators like bees, whose numbers have been steadily decreasing over the last decades, all the way to the microorganisms living in the soil which guarantee that the soil remains fertile for many years.

One of the best tools in organic farming is neem. Azadirachta, an active substance within the neem tree, can be used as an organic pesticide and fertilizer. It protects crops against 600+ species of insects without harming pollinators, and it provides the soil with nutrients, helping guarantee the health of the land and benefiting yields.

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Why Should We Change to Organic Farming?

Traditional farming involves the use of thousands of chemicals such as synthetic pesticides, which have severe effects on the environment. For one, pesticides allow disease resistance to build up in plants, weeds, plant-eating-insects, fungi, and bacteria. The chemicals used to produce synthetic pesticides not only contaminate the soil, but also our water supply and air, and can stay adhered to the ground for decades.

Healthy soils grow healthy food, but if the soil is contaminated with thousands of synthetic pesticides and chemicals, these will adhere to crops. Over the past 9 years, the USDA Agricultural Research Service has shown that compared to conventional farming, organic farming methods are more successful in building up organic soil matter. This means that one teaspoon of compost-rich organic soil can have as many as 600 million to 1 billion beneficial bacteria from 15,000 species. One teaspoon of soil treated with chemicals on the other hand may carry only around 100 beneficial bacteria.

Erosion is another reason why you should support organic farming. Issues related to erosion can affect land, food supply, and humans. Luckily, organic farming practices help diminish erosion. A study that compared organically and chemically treated wheat fields showed that organic fields featured about eight inches more of topsoil and that erosion was only 2/3 of the erosion present in chemically treated field.

Organic farming can also diminish the effects of global warming. A test run by the Rodale Institute since 1981 has shown that a healthy organic agriculture system can actually reduce carbon dioxide and help slow climate change. If around 10,000 medium sized farms in the U.S converted to organic production, they would store as much carbon in the soil as the equivalent to taking 1,174,400 cars off the road or reducing car miles driven by 14.62 billion miles.

What is Neem’s Role in Organic Farming?

Neem is a completely natural pesticide that doubles as a fertilizer. It is eco-friendly and does not contaminate soils, nor does it cause any damage to the fauna that surrounds the plantations, as it repels bugs instead of killing off beneficial insects. Neem has the potential to be used on thousands of organic farms, as it is easily accessible and can grow even in the least fertile conditions.

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What are the causes and consequences of soil degradation?

Soil degradation can be caused by chemical-heavy farming techniques, deforestation and the resulting erosion and, of course, global warming. Soils play a key role in absorbing carbon and filtering water, and their destruction is creating a vicious cycle: less carbon is stored, resulting in global temperature rises and further land degradation. 95% of the food we eat comes from the soil, making it the basis of human life. In order to ensure food security for a growing population, it is therefore necessary to adopt new farming methods that avoid the loss of arable and productive land. Unless we change the way we produce crops, researchers estimate that the amount of arable and productive land per person in 2050 will be merely a quarter of the level in 1960.

While scientists are yet to find a definite solution to this global threat, it has been confirmed that organic farming is humanity’s single best option humans to preserve the soils.

Could neem be the solution?

As a completely natural pesticide and fertilizer, neem is an ideal tool in organic farming. It does not pollute soils or the air and is a completely environmentally friendly alternative to efficiently replace commonly used synthetics. It strengthens plant roots and promotes foliage growth by increasing nutrients in the soil. Neem also offers numerous benefits for the human health, and is harmless when ingested – unlike synthetic pesticides which have been linked to numerous serious illnesses. If you have your own garden, try to grow foods organically! If not, remember that buying organic foods not only offers improves your health and nutrition, but also makes you help preserve the earth’s soils. Protect yourself and Planet Earth by using and supporting neem as a natural pesticide!

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Instead of being rendered indifferent by bleak information relating to worst-case scenarios, we must begin to effectively motivate ourselves and make sure that these situations, whether in 50, 100, or 300 years, never happen. Maybe it is time that fear, emotion and most importantly, positive reinforcement, are included in the rational discussions about climate change. Some people may need rationality, while others may need fear, to understand and act on behalf of Planet Earth. Everyone can be inspired by the prospect of a clean and sustainable future, where natural beauty, vibrancy and health have returned to the world. Instead of describing tales of flooded cities, inhabitable deserts, and forced mass climate migration, some people may be motivated by visions of clean water for everyone, the elimination of polluted air in big cities, and healthy, sustainable food systems free of chemical pesticides. What is an easy way to start saving the planet? Begin to buy local, organic food and learn more about the harmful effects of conventional agriculture.

By utilizing sustainable, organic systems in agriculture, you can help protect the environment while strengthening health for you and your family. Sustainable systems are more efficient at absorbing carbon, support beneficial insects and organisms, and produce healthier food without poisoning the air, water, and soil with poisonous synthetic chemicals. Neem-based pesticides and fertilizers go hand-in-hand with these organic systems, as they promote healthy soil, more nutritious food, and protect crops from pests naturally. The planet is your home, and it is your responsibility to keep it safe, for you and for future generations.

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By explaining concepts using large, hypothetical figures and percentages, people “yawn.” For example, saying that coal use in the United States has dropped by 20% in just two years, people immediately turn off and their eyes glaze over. How could we present this type of information in a sizeable, bitable chunk for people to understand? Perhaps by presenting it in a relatable way. You could say, “that drop in coal use will save 3,000 American lives this year by reducing air pollution” or that if you have glyphosate, the active synthetic ingredient in RoundUp, the most ubiquitous herbicide in the world, residue in your system while pregnant, your child is 30% more likely to have autism. Those are head-turners. One of those lives could be yours, or your children’s.

So, what does that mean for all of this talk about climate change? Instead of driving fear in far-off numbers, talk about progress and innovation that will drive the world forward. Conversations must shift from large-scale sweeping facts to digestible, personal conversations. Without personal conversations, you may feel like climate change won’t affect you. So, instead of focusing on large-scale, focus on how progress and innovation can improve lives.

For example, the push for renewable energy sources has driven over 100,000 new solar and wind jobs over the last year alone! And there are a total of 475,000 solar and wind jobs compared to only 175,000 coal jobs in the United States. Is the future sticking to the technology of the past, or relying on innovation across all sectors of the economy?

What does this shift in climate talk mean for agriculture? By having conversations about health, risks of synthetic pesticide exposure, and dangers to pollinators and other animals our planet relies on, we can strengthen our health by developing the way we produce and consume food. Without shifts in thinking, technology, and practices, climate change will affect each and every person on earth, so how will you talk about the future of our earth?

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This has not only led to a rise in the demand for organic food, but has also ushered in an era of urban organic gardening throughout the world. From major developed cities in the United States to developing countries like Vietnam, urban gardens are providing a space for people to grow their own healthy, organic food in a sustainable way for their personal consumption.

What does an urban farm consist of? Simply put, urban farming is growing or producing food in a city or heavily populated town or municipality. It could be anywhere, ranging from a small pot of vegetables to utilising unused office space to grow a variety of produce at work! When growing their produce, gardeners use alternatives to synthetic pesticides, and that is where neem-based natural pesticides and fertilizers come in! These gardeners utilize a more natural, regenerative and sustainable approach leading to increased freshness and quality of food, and to improve the quality of their food supply.

While many urban gardens are small, individual ventures, there are also large-scale urban farms that are tackling the problem of available farmland in urban areas. Instead of using the land, they have used technology to innovate large-scale farming processes and become a viable resource of fresh produce for the surrounding urban area. For example, BrightFarms has utilized a commercial rooftop by building a glass greenhouse covering 15,000 square feet in Brooklyn, New York. They are able to sell over 500 pounds of fresh produce daily and provide their crops to local supermarkets the very day they are picked!

Organizations are working to bring together communities of urban gardeners, such as Urban Organic Gardener, a community dedicated to providing urban gardeners resources and seeds for their gardens. Due to technology’s amazing connecting ability, this movement has become a global community in emphasizing sustainable food production and reducing the environmental footprint of traditional farms.

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In November, the EPA released a report that concluded that, as it is currently used, chlorpyrifos contaminates water and is a dietary risk due to its above normal safety standard residues on food crops. Additionally, the pesticide poses a risk to farm workers that come into direct contact with it every day. However, according to scientists, this synthetic chemical is correlated with lower IQ, attention deficit disorders, and developmental delays, like the loss of working memory, delayed motor development and decreased cognitive functioning. It has even been linked to autism, increasing in risk when mothers are exposed during pregnancy.

How can we avoid this scary chemical that is poisoning our children? Very difficult – it is currently being used on the majority of crops: corn, strawberries wheat, citrus, apples, and many others! Even though the chemical was banned for residential use in 2000, it has continued to prevail as a major insecticide used on golf courses, turf, and in greenhouses.

Since chlorpyrifos was on track to being banned – the EPA reversed the move just before the federal court deadline to make the final decision – the agency cannot revisit the health risks of this health-damaging synthetic chemical until 2022. Dow Chemical has claimed that there is not enough science corroborating the claims made by the EPA, however other scientists have compared chlorpyrifos with the health risks associated with lead.

Instead of continuing to use a proven health-damaging chemical to produce our fruits and vegetables, there are a multitude of other, safer and natural alternatives. One solutions is to use sustainable, neem-based biopesticides and fertilizers. Neem is cost-effective and is non-toxic to pollinators, animals, humans, and the environment, meaning you and your loved ones can stay safe, while enjoying healthy, sustainably produced food! Demand change, demand safety for you, your loved ones, and farmers!

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That’s exactly what has happened.

In a recently released report, Spinning Food, by Friends of the Earth, an independent, grassroots international environmental network with over 2 million members globally, the group outlines the role that big agriculture and food companies have played in the media misleading the global narrative on food.

The report found traces of hidden relationships, funding, and front groups, along with bribing of bloggers, scientists, and many others. What is the purpose of this secrecy and deceit? Profit at all costs.

The food and agriculture industry is worried that if people begin to read the real, independent science, demand for their products will drop. Instead of investing money in finding sustainable and healthy solutions to the current synthetic pesticides and agricultural methods, these huge companies are throwing money to PR firms, social media experts, and scientists, in order to lie to the public through “independent” and “third-party” sources.

Between 2012 and 2014, food and agriculture companies spent over $103 million in public relations to try and defeat groups supporting the labeling of non-GMO products. They offered exclusive invitations to “mommy bloggers” and offered them monetary compensation to to write about the benefits of the current agricultural system and the needlessness of labeling non-GMO products. They even paid scientists to produce research promoting their products and methods, even though there are countless studies proving the opposite. And that’s not all! These big companies have been funding front groups, organizations like the International Food Information Council (funded by Coca-Cola, Kraft, and Hershey), Center for Food Integrity (Monsanto), Center for Consumer Freedom (Coca Cola, Tyson Foods), and the U.S. Farmers and Ranchers Alliance (Monsanto, Dow Chemical). These front groups do not outwardly list their affiliation with the big companies, instead claim to be independent entities providing consumers with information, information that conforms to the messages that fit with their goals of selling product.

Source: Spinning Food, 2017

With all of this doubt, the food industry has succeeded in prolonging their products, but they will not succeed like sure comfort hvac prices. With education, research and greater awareness than ever before due to the spread of information through technology, consumers are realizing the benefits of organic food and sustainable agriculture, and the health risks brought on by conventional agriculture and Big Food. With more work, you can bring us into the sustainable future that our planet and mankind requires to survive! What’s the first step? Learn more about neem and its role in sustainable agriculture!

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Today, Cuba has 383,000 organic farms spanning 50,000 hectares. The most productive of these farms yield up to 20 kg of food per square meter every year. An incredible feat, not only because this is one of the highest rates of food production in the world, but also due to the fact that the country achieved this without using any synthetic pesticides or fertilizers!

With the unavailability of chemical imports, Cuba turned to more sustainable methods. Instead of growing sugarcane, people began to grow food crops and use oxen instead of tractors. They became experts in vermicomposting, crop rotation, soil conservation, and utilizing biopesticides, like neem. Neem trees were grown in large farms around the country and were used to recover over 1,000 hectares of land that were once eroded by sugarcane plantations.

This transformed the nation. With higher food production, calorie intake was able to return to a sustainable, healthy level. Cuban organic farmers produce 65% of the country’s food on just 25% of the land, truly achieving sustainable development with the help of the neem tree! However, today, this achievement may be at risk due to less strict trade embargoes, tempting farmers with synthetic inputs that may synthetically increase yields in the short term, but will eventually erode and degrade the soil and the environment.

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