I try to buy local before I buy organic but when it comes down to organic apples versus apples from some unknown source, I'll take organic every time (well, unless they're $5 a pound and then I pass ... quickly). I do this automatically because I believe that organic is better for me and my family. The question is, how much of what I believe is fact and how much is myth? A recent
article by Ronald Bailey would have me believe that nearly everything "good" about organic is a fallacy.
- Organic milk requires as much as 80% more land use than conventional. This has the potential to raise global warming and release more nitrates into groundwater.
- Organic farms use more fuel per vegetable because each acre has a smaller yield than conventional farming.
- There is no correlation between pesticides and rising cancer rates. In fact, cancer rates are falling.
- There is no conclusive evidence that organic food is healthier. As soon as one study comes out claiming it is, another one is released rebutting it.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
5-06-2008 @ 4:46PM
Deborah said...
Also, I heard about farms using methane from their cows to power everything.
One problem.
If methane, alone, is 20x worse for the ozone than CO2, how much worse does it become by BURNING it??
**is honestly wondering**
Reply
5-08-2008 @ 3:00PM
Harlan said...
@Deborah: When methane is burned, it becomes CO2. (CH4 + 2 O2 -> CO2 + 2 H2O). Since one methane molecule is about 20 times worse for global warming than one CO2 molecule, it reduces warming effects by 95% to burn the methane rather than to release it directly into the atmosphere. So your worries are, in this case, unfounded.
5-08-2008 @ 3:31PM
Deborah said...
Oh, for real? I figured that some molecular change must come into affect, but I didn't think such a radical one!
Thanks for answering my random q! :)
Reply
5-08-2008 @ 9:43PM
DanGarion said...
@Deborah
To answer your question... Burning methane in the presence of oxygen produces carbon dioxide and water.
Reply
5-08-2008 @ 9:45PM
kelly.leahy said...
Great question Deborah and thanks to Harlan and Dan for the replies!
Reply