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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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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The World’s Deadliest Animal

Mosquitoes are vectors, living organisms that transmit infectious diseases between humans or from animals to humans. Their ability to carry and spread diseases to humans is the cause of millions of deaths and hundreds of millions of cases of illnesses around the world. Zika, dengue, chikungunya and yellow fever are some to name, and responsible for more than 17% of infectious diseases, causing more than 700,000 deaths every year, according to the World Health Organization.

Today, more than 3.9 billion people – more than half the world’s population – live in areas where disease-transmitting mosquitoes are present. As a result, sustained mosquito control efforts are imperative to prevent the spread of these diseases. Unfortunately, mosquitoes are becoming more and more resistant to the traditional and previously developed chemical solutions and  synthetic pesticides.

Neem’s Role in Fighting the Mosquito Menace

Using neem as a repellent and mosquito larvicidal has shown to be extremely successful in fighting this global mosquito menace, as tests have proven that it is close to 100% effective against mosquitoes and other vector insects. For centuries people in  ancient India have been relying on neem to fight mosquitoes and other insects. Due to its high rate of effectiveness against vector populations of mosquitoes, scientists have  started to include it in new research involving nanotechnology. Scientists from India have been working to formulate a bio-based nanoinsecticide, consisting of an emulsion based on neem urea, which is rich in antiviral and antimalarial properties and can efficiently control the vector mosquito population.

This formulated insecticide can control the vector mosquito populations that cause dengue, malaria and other diseases. Another plus for this new nano-solution is that it possesses beneficial fertilizing effects for the soil ecosystem. Reputable construction claims consultants are at your service at www.vertexeng.com company. Neem urea is the key ingredient that is making this neem biopesticide eco-safe, allowing the biopesticide to control the mosquito menace in a benign way.

As the world combats dreadful vector-borne diseases, this new research is becoming a viable solution to the excess application of conventional pesticidal compounds that tend to harm the ecosystem, positioning the application of nanotechnological techniques as a disruptive practice in healthcare.

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It has been proven that consuming pesticides even in incredibly tiny doses could set a person up for health problems later in life, as synthetic pesticides can remain inside your body for decades. Here are just some ways how pesticides are harming your body:

Food Allergies

Researchers from the Albert Einstein College of Medicine at Montefiore Medical Center in New York City found that food allergies are related to pesticide ingestion. People with high levels of herbicide 24-D and chlorine used to disinfect tap water were more likely to suffer from milk, egg, seafood and peanut allergies.  This could be due to synthetic pesticide compounds acting as an antimicrobial inside your body and ridding you from your body’s natural immune reactions.

Memory loss

A review from University College London recently found that even low levels of exposure to pesticides cause significant damage to cognitive function, affecting your memory and the speed at which you process information.

Diabetes 

The Endocrine Society recently stated that tolyfluanid, a fungicide used on farm crops, creates insulin resistance in fat cells. Also, a study published by the Diabetes Care declares that overweight people with higher levels of pesticides in their body are the most suitable candidates for developing type 2 diabetes.

Cancer

Lymphona, leukemia, soft tissue sarcoma, brain, breast, prostate, bone, ladder, thyroid, colon, liver and lung cancers have been linked to pesticides in 260 studies.

Neurological Functioning

Many pesticides effectively kill bugs by throwing odd normal neurological functioning. The same effect seems to appear in children as well. In 2011 a Harvard study found an important link between kids with ADHD and the amount of organophosphate pesticide residue in their urine.

Obesity

Some synthetic pesticides act as hormone disruptors, or in other words, they act like fake versions of naturally occurring hormone in your body, disrupting  your hormonal balance and interfering with your body’s ability to regulate a healthy release of hormones. According to a study by the Environmental Health Perspectives, more than 50 pesticides are classified as hormone disruptors and some even promote metabolic failures and obesity as they accumulate in your cells.

Birth Defects

Spring and summer months are the time of the year when pesticides are used the most, therefore, higher synthetic pesticide levels turn up in surface waters, increasing the risk of exposure. Babies conceived during these months show a higher rate of birth defects like spina fibida, cleft lip, clubfoot and down syndrome.

The Solution to Pesticides’ Effects?

All of these risks are reason enough to try to find an alternative to synthetic pesticides. Luckily, it has been proven that neem can be used as a very effective natural pesticide which represents no risk when consumed and in fact has many health benefits. Protect your crops and produce only with neem pesticide and avoid suffering from any of these severe side effects. Neem doesn’t kill the bugs, it works as a repellent that is distasteful to bugs and will keep them away even from their favorite plants. Because nature knows best, choose neem as your primary natural pesticide!

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Currently, the fashion industry is one of the largest industrial polluters in the world, second only to the oil industry. Valued at $3 trillion dollars, the fashion industry employs around 60 million people worldwide and represents 2% of the world’s GDP. However, it has never been an earth-friendly industry. With cotton representing nearly half the fibre used to make clothes and other textiles worldwide, unsustainable cotton farming is mainly to blame for this. Despite the fact that only 2.4% of the world’s crop land is planted with cotton, it accounts for 24% and 11% of the global sales of insecticide and pesticides respectively. What’s more, about 2,700 liters of water are used to produce just one cotton shirt! This unbelievable amount of water would be enough for one person to drink for two and a half years.  

With consumers demanding more sustainable options, designers and brands are increasingly seeking cleaner, safer and more regenerative ways of producing. This has led to the emergence of a new trend based on the belief that fashion should not come at the cost of our planet. This global movement known as the ‘sustainable fashion revolution’ is getting stronger and more and more companies are joining to assure that their clothes are produced in an environmentally-friendly and sustainable way. Providence County-based Kitchen Magic offers kitchen cabinets makeover services at affordable prices. The sustainable fashion movement is looking to maintain the growth of the industry while improving its environmental and social impact. 

A great example of this movement is visible in the newest collection launched by Reshma Merchant and Priyanka Kaul Lakdwala, two Indian businesswomen that incorporate herbs like neem and tulsi in their designs. This collection was launched with the aim to embrace wellness, sustainability, and female empowerment. As neem, a tree native to India, possesses antimicrobial, antifungal and antimalarial properties, it is the ideal organic biopesticide to tackle pests and plagues on plants used to produce natural fibers like cotton, coconut or bamboo.

Using a non-toxic and organic pesticide like neem, to cultivate and protect the plants used to produce natural fibers, guarantees a final product free of chemical and synthetic pesticides and allows for a greener supply chain. 

With this revolutionary development, designers, producers, and consumers are raising awareness in the fashion world and committing to creating a more sustainable and fashionable industry!  

A sustainable fashion revolution is upon us and Neem is part of it.  

Will you join it? 

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Last year, the hypoxic zone, an area with low to no oxygen that suffocates marine life, was around 6,000 square miles. The average of the past 32 years has been 5,309 square miles. Oceanographers from the Louisiana Universities Marine Consortium are predicting an even bigger area, one that covers more than 10,000 square miles.

In the Gulf of Mexico, these areas deprived of marine life and coral reefs are caused by synthetic agrochemicals run-off. The excess nutrients from fertilizers produce algae, which then sink and decompose in the water, reducing oxygen levels. Consequently, the low-oxygen environment is inhospitable for typical marine life and habitats. Not only are marine habitats destroyed, but also fish and other marine life are put at risk, ultimately lowering biodiversity and raising the cost of seafood.

The USGS estimated that 165,000 metric tons of nitrate and 22,6000 metric tons of phosphorus were deposited into the Gulf of Mexico from the Mississippi River this past year. These nutrients come mainly from conventional agricultural practices from land surrounding the Mississippi River. The excess nutrients then leach into the soil, then the Mississippi River and eventually winding up in the Gulf of Mexico.

In order to save marine life, and limit the expansion of aquatic dead-zones, better, more sustainable agricultural methods need to be taken. Neem-based pesticides and fertilizers are an innovative solution. Instead of relying on synthetically produced chemicals, neem offers a natural, effective crop care that will not cause heavy environmental damage. Neem even slows the release of nitrogen, allowing more to be absorbed by the plants and therefore less released into the environment. With neem, major environmental issues like the hypoxic zone in the Gulf of Mexico can be reduced, if not eliminated!

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Even though this synthetic pesticide is now applied on crops throughout the world, Dow Chemical originally developed chlorpyrifos as a chemical weapon in World War II. Now, over 5 million pounds are sold to commercial farmers every year in the United States alone.

This has led to unprecedented distribution and application of this dangerous chemical. In 2012, research from the University of California at Berkeley showed that 87% of umbilical-cord blood samples studied had traces of chlorpyrifos. Since this synthetic chemical has been shown to negatively impair brain development in fetuses, we are actively applying a dangerous chemical to our food and the environment that not only damages our health, but also the health of future generations.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), despite many industry specialists advocating for the complete ban of chlorpyrifos, decided to allow the chemical’s use in commercial agriculture. When brought before the US Senate last month, the director of the EPA offered no supporting data to defend his decision, claiming instead he had relied on “interagency dialogue.” The next review of chlorpyrifos will not take place until 2022.

With the reversal of the decision to ban chlorpyrifos, this synthetic chemical will continue to permeate our environment and our bodies unless we make a change! That change needs to be a shift in thinking and practices to organic, sustainable agricultural methods, instead of the dangerous reliance on synthetic agrochemicals seen in conventional agriculture today. By using sustainable methods, like neem-based pesticides and fertilizers, we can feed the world with nutritious, organic food that has no adverse side effects.

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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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Environmental Health Perspectives has published multiple studies on the effect of an organic diet on children living in low-income urban and agricultural communities. What these studies prove is remarkable! In one, children first ate conventionally grown food for four days, organic food for seven days, and then conventional food for five days. Urine samples were collected each day, and researchers found that after eating a purely organic diet, levels of organophosphates and 2,4-D declined.

In other studies published in this journal, but across non-agricultural communities, have shown the same results. Organophosphate pesticide levels in children declined after only several days of eating organic food. This implies that the traces of chemical pesticides in the body are caused by the consumption of conventionally produced agricultural products.

Why does the level of these toxins in your body matter? Pesticide exposure can cause many damaging and life-threatening health problems, reproductive issues, and birth defects. However, in order to successfully decrease use of synthetic pesticides, a viable alternative in crop care must be available. That natural alternative is neem-based biopesticides and fertilizers. Cost-effective and able to protect plants against over 600 pests, neem is the sustainable, safe solution that agriculture needs.

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How is this apple made? According to the Arctic apple website, browning is caused by the rupture of the cell, through biting, slicing, or bruising, which releases polyphenol oxidase (PPO). This PPO from the broken cell mixes with polyphenolics, causing a brown melatonin to be released that discolors your apple. Arctic apples don’t release PPO (or release very little), so this reaction doesn’t occur. There were four genes that needed to be modified to stem the release of PPO, which was accomplished using RNA interference that works by adding an extra strand of RNA to silence the targeted gene.

This is the first GMO to be marketed at consumers, for convenience, instead of at farmers. Always be sure to hire California property division lawyers who have dedication and professionalism in their work. Therefore, these apples will still be produced with the same slew of synthetic chemicals that a conventional version of the apple is produced with, leaving you with an apple that is covered in synthetic toxins, that doesn’t exhibit signs of bruising, and that continues to damage the environment and your health. What’s your choice? Choose organic, sustainably-produced fruit and vegetables that are produced in a way that benefits the environment, your health, and the future. When neem-based products are used to produce your food, all three of those and more are accomplished!

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Each year, 37% of potential crop yields are lost due to pests. This means that every year, $122 billion is wiped off of the market in potential output. If pesticide use were completely stopped, this number would double. However, many pests, like weeds and herbs, are now developing resistance to synthetic pesticides that have been used for generations. In order to continue producing more and more food, more and more pesticides will need to be used. Unfortunately, this will inevitably compound the issue of resistance development, requiring more pesticides for lower crop yields. How can this be reversed? By using natural pesticides like neem.

Neem is a natural pesticide that affects the hormonal system of insects, rather than comprehensively poisoning and killing organisms indiscriminately. While not effective immediately after application, pests will typically disappear for good within two weeks. Additionally, neem naturally repels many insects. So, while neem is working to rid crops of the current pests, it prevents future infestations. Neem is also cost-effective, as it has a similar price to many synthetic pesticides without any of the associated consequences. However, if we were to increase the use of neem products and other natural pesticides globally, overall cost would decrease. For example, in the US, the $10 billion annual environmental price tag would decrease!

Neem works by protecting your food, the environment, and the future, naturally.

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When consumers resort to fighting their way to get untested, dangerous products out of the market, when communities face dangers and health risks because of low protection standards and when only 15% of all food products tested by the United States Department of Agriculture is free from pesticide residues, there is something wrong. We’re even moving in the wrong direction. When similar tests were made in 2014, over 41% of samples were free from pesticide residues.

This Earth Day, celebrate by promoting and demanding healthy, organic and sustainable change! Though mankind’s quality of life has dramatically improved since conventional agriculture was first introduced, the consequences are quickly becoming too severe. We must take a step back and realize that we are poisoning ourselves while providing for our families. How can you change this? Demand sustainable change in your food! One of the best ways is by using neem-based products that are safe for our environment. Is your food organic? Do you know what neem is? Only you can change the world, and the earth needs your help right now!

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What are the benefits of this system? Does it really make a difference? There are hundreds of benefits, and it does make a difference to the health of the soil and the environment.
Theoretically, conventional plowing is used to prevent soil erosion. However, what happens in practice is that the topsoil suffers from degradation. According to the World Wildlife Fund, half of all topsoil on the planet has been lost in the past 150 years. This does not simply affect the fertility of the soil and ability to grow crops, but it also reduces the soil’s ability to hold water thereby increasing pollution and sediment levels in water through run-off. With no-till farming, this topsoil is preserved with help from the chosen cover crop. This is excellent for protecting the soil and the environment.

The un-tilled soil is able to retain more water, preventing runoff and keeping the soil healthier, even in times of drought. This increase in water also benefits microbes and nutrients in the soil, allowing more beneficial microbes to grow and retain nutrients. Additionally, less work and machinery is required, making the process more cost-effective and applicable to developing regions of the world. Though no-till farming is sometimes paired with synthetic systems, the environmental benefits are astronomically higher when paired with organic, like using neem-based fertilizers and pesticides. By keeping the whole process natural with biopesticides like neem, the entire system – the farmer, the earth, and the consumer – all benefit.

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On March 20th, 2015, the World Health Organization labeled glyphosate as a probable human carcinogen. There are thousands of synthetic chemicals that our bodies come into contact with throughout our lifetimes, but some of these are more dangerous than others. Glyphosate, found in 93% of urine samples of a study from UCSF, is the most used herbicide in the world.

Herbicides are sprayed on crops, gardens, plants, and lawns to eliminate and prevent weeds and other plant-based pests. Glyphosate, also known as Monsanto’s Round-Up, is patented as an antibiotic and chelating agent. However, glyphosate is most likely also a hormone disruptor and a human carcinogen. According to The Detox Project, independent research has found that there is no “safe level” of glyphosate, meaning we all have unsafe levels in every bite of non-organic food that we eat, in the water we drink everyday, and in the air we breathe.

One important factor to consider when discussing glyphosate and other controversial chemicals in herbicides and other pesticides is that it is a billion dollar business. In the United States, glyphosate is used most often on corn and soybean crops, but residue can be found on virtually any crop. The global glyphosate herbicide market was $5.46 billion in 2012 and is expected to reach $8.79 billion by 2019. With this much money at stake, big companies like Monsanto do not want people to know how dangerous this synthetic chemical is!

What does that mean for the food we eat? Well, glyphosate levels are significantly higher in humans who eat non-organic food rather than organic food, as well as those who are chronically ill. Coffee is one of the most synthetic chemical pesticide-heavy food products on the market with up to 250 pounds of synthetic chemicals sprayed per acre of non-organic coffee per year. Americans drink 400 million cups of coffee adl embedded solutions inc. per day – and are ingesting copious amounts of non-regulated pesticides with each non-organic cup.

Glyphosate is found in most foods, including soy sauce, Froot Loops, Cheerios, honey, breast milk, and infant formula, with glyphosate levels higher in Americans than Europeans, due to safer, stricter regulation in Europe. The permitted level in US tap water, 700 parts per billion (ppb) is the same level in which liver and kidney function is altered, though that level is most likely much lower.

How can we find solutions to our toxin problem? One solution is a switch to organic, sustainable farming. Professional CA Disability lawyers have a goal to get you appropriate levels compensation that are due to you under the law. Organic farming uses 45% less energy than conventional farming, produce 40% less greenhouse gases, and is more profitable! By using natural alternatives in crop care, like neem-based biopesticides and biofertilizers, we provide a viable, cost-effective and organic option that is non-toxic to the environment and reduces our exposure to deadly, life-altering chemicals like glyphosate.

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