Next week is Ag Policy week in class...

...and everyday brings more and more news stories about this year's farm bill. 

Here's one of many.  This one is from NPR.  Click here to go to the story.

ORGANIC FOOD AND AGRICULTURE

By Carlen Stadnik 

 

Based on:  Prof. Edward Jaenicke and National Organic Program, USDA.

What is Organic?

Organic is a label for agricultural products that are produced with approved substances under specific biological, mechanical, and cultural methods that support biodiversity, ecological balance, and the recycling of natural resources.

Under what conditions can the USDA organic seal be used?

            The USDA organic seal can only be used to label, sell, or represent raw or processed products under the USDA organic regulations.  Processors or “handlers” must be certified.  For example, a dairy farm that processes organic cheese needs to be certified for both milk production and cheese processing.  Misuse of the label can result in a fine of up to $11,000 for each individual violation.  The USDA performs investigations and enforcement activities to confirm that organic labeled products satisfy the USDA organic regulations.  CFR Section 205 displays USDA organic standards, prohibited practices, requirements, and the National List of Allowed and Prohibited Materials.

Suppose you were considering buying organic poultry and you saw competing (non-organic) poultry product labeled “no added hormones.”  What would you think of this competing claim?

            In addition to the organic label, “no added hormones” and “raised without hormones” are examples of other labels for livestock that are verified by the USDA Food Inspection Service.  Synthetic growth hormone or steroid use in poultry, pork, or goat has never been permitted by federal regulations.  When considering hormones, organic poultry is no different from non-organic poultry labeled as “no added hormones.”  Therefore, this label should not influence the choice of the consumer.  Other differences between the organic and the non-organic option should instead influence the consumer’s decision. 

            In addition, consumers often confuse hormones with prophylactic antibiotics.  Prophylactic antibiotics are used for prevention purposes.  Antibiotics are fed to chickens, hogs, and cows to keep them healthy, so they can grow faster.  They protect the animals against their exposure to stress, such as being enclosed in a small space with many other animals.  Organic regulations require antibiotic use when animals are diagnosed as sick, but prohibit prophylactic use. 

            Synthetic hormones are only permitted in milk production.  The use of the rBST synthetic growth hormone is permitted for dairy cows.  The use of this hormone was very common, but not anymore because it’s not worth the sum of the direct and indirect costs.  The direct costs indicate the price of the hormone and the indirect costs denote the possible poor long-term health of the cows. 

Based on: National Organic Program, USDA. FAQ: Becoming a Certified Operation.

What are the four (big) things that may not be used in organic agriculture?

            Genetically modified organisms (GMO’s), synthetic fertilizers and pesticides, radiation, and sewage sludge may not be used in organic agriculture.

Suppose you are a small farm growing a few crops using organic methods.  Do you need to get USDA certification to use the word “organic” in any marketing or sales materials?

            A small farm that grows a few crops using organic methods and sells less than $5,000 of products per year does not need to obtain USDA certification to use the word “organic” in any marketing or sales materials as long as the USDA organic seal is not used.  The farm must become certified if sales increase beyond the $5,000 per year threshold.  To become certified, there is a specific organic certification process that must be followed.  The farm owner must apply to a USDA-accredited certifying agent and provide specific information for acceptance.

Is USDA organic certification free?  If not, what can you tell me about certification costs?

         The USDA organic certification is not free.  The certification costs depend on the type, size, and complexity of the operation and the certifying agent.  The costs may be between a few hundred to several thousand dollars. Before applying, it is important to understand the certifier’s fee structure and billing cycle. There is an application fee, assessment on annual production or sales, annual renewal fee, and inspection fee.  The USDA Organic Certification Cost-Share Programs can reimburse the operation up to seventy-five percent of the certification costs after certification. 

Supposed you, a small farmer, became convinced that you wanted to convert to organic methods immediately.  How long, if at all, would you have to wait before you could sell certified organic products?

            An owner of a small farm must use organic methods for three full years before using an organic label.  Labeling with the USDA organic or certifying agent’s seal, selling, or representing products as “organic” is prohibited before three years.  Land used for raw organic produces must not have prohibited substances applied to it for three years, as well.

Based on: Emerging Issues in the U.S. Organic Industry, USDA/ERS, June 2009

Name and explain three challenges facing the U.S. organic industry.

            The U.S. organic production has more than doubled, since the 1990’s.  However, the more rapid growth of the consumer market has caused an input and product shortage in organic supply chains.  High cost products and competition from new environmental labels are also challenges facing the U.S. organic industry.

Extra resourcers of Thurday's discussion of organic food and agricutlure

On Thursday, Jan. 30, we will try to discuss three topics:

1. Links between organic food and health.  See this blog post from last year:  click here.  If you look at one thing, look at this!

Questions:
Is organic food healthier?  Does it matter?

2. Organic food in France: 
A. Here's a short presentation (in English) about the market for organic food in France: click here.
B. A Canadian report on the market for organic packaged food in France:  click here.

Questions:
How similar (or different) is the market for organic food in France to here in the U.S.?

3. Stump Jaenicke on organic.  I think I know a lot about organic food.  Think up (hard) questions and ask me.

4. If time:  Beyond organic - local food, sustainable, and other related labels and issues.  Have a look at this NY Times article:  click here.

More Resources on GMOs: Comparings Apples and Oranges

For class on Thursday, Jan. 23, we will be literally compare apples and oranges, at least as they relate to GMOs.

Here are some resources:

An NPR story on GMO apples by Dan Charles from January 08, 2014: click here.

A NY Times story on GMO oranges by Amy Harmon from July 27, 2013:  click here.


A 28-part (!) series in Grist on GMOs by Nathanael Johnson, from July 2013 to January 2014: 
click here.

Genetically Modified Organisms

Garrett Lattanzio 1/21/14 INTAG 470

Genetically modified organisms

 

Based on:  UN/WHO, 20 Questions On Genetically Modified (Gm) Foods, http://www.who.int/foodsafety/publications/biotech/20questions/en/

1.      How does WHO define genetically modified organisms?  List any lingering questions or concerns about this definition

The WHO defines a genetically modified organism as one that has had its DNA altered artificially and does not occur naturally.  I think the way that they state “not occur naturally” is not accurate to a point.  Most of the traits do occur naturally in some organism, but just not in that specific organism that is being modified.

2.What are some of the policies and outlooks of the EU in relation to GMO’s?

    The European Union has very strong legislature against GMOs; for a GMO to be made available for use it must go through a rather complex process which involves the agreement by all EU countries.  There have been no GMOs allowed on the market since 1998 in the EU.  There is also mandatory labeling for any GMOs used in consumer food products within the EU. Basically the European Union is against most things involving GMOs.

3. What does the U.N.’s WHO say about GMOs’ environmental and food safety concerns?

In regards to human health and safety the FAO and the WHO have not found any GMOs that cause allergic reactions based on their research.  They also agree that the possibility of genes transferring from GMOs to humans is very unlikely.

As for the impact of GMOs on the environment, the WHO has found some cases where genes did transfer from GMOs to conventional crops.  Another concern is that with the introduction of GMOs we will lose some biodiversity in our agricultural commodities.

Based on: Amy Harmon, “A Race to Save the Orange by Altering Its DNA.”  The New York Times, July 27, 2013. (http://www.nytimes.com/2013/07/28/science/a-race-to-save-the-orange-by-altering-its-dna.html?pagewanted=all&_r=1&)

4. Briefly, describe the problem facing the Florida citrus industry, described in the article, that might be solved by GMOs.

There is a disease that reached Florida in 2005 which causes oranges to become sour and not ripe; the disease also stunts the growth of the oranges. This is a major problem since Florida produces much of our country’s orange supply.  They did not find a citrus tree which was immune to this disease, but there other species which carried a gene that made it immune to the disease.  The idea was to take this gene and splice it into the DNA of the orange crop, so that hopefully they would thus become immune to the disease thanks to their new gene.

5. The article mentions at least four possible sources for the gene that might save the Florida citrus industry.  Try to find these four sources (near the middle of the article) and list them.

-Two types of vegetables

-A virus

-A pig

6. Opinion:

a.  What is your opinion on whether GMO orange juice might gain consumer acceptance?

Like it said in the article people will either have to accept the fact that the oranges have been genetically modified or choose not to consume orange juice.  I think if people were given the facts about GMOs then they would accept the notion of their use in our food supply.  The media is biased against GMOs and people always believe what they hear from media without doing their own research, which is a shame.  I do think it will gain acceptance though because it will be the cheaper option for people compared to organic, and in today’s world saving money is a big deal.

b.  Is your answer affected at all the European Union regulation that all food products containing GMOs must be labeled?

No, I think that the EU is wrong in the way they treat GMOs.  Having done plenty of my own research into studies done on GMOs, I stand by the notion that the benefits outweigh the risks.  I think that they are just scared of using them because GMOs are rather new, but as more and more positive research comes out I think the EU will come to their senses.  I don’t think we need to label GMOs because until there is proof that any harm comes from them then they are no different than conventional products.

c. Is your answer affected by Whole Foods’s announcement that it will avoid stocking most GMO foods by 2018 (as noted near the end of the article)?

Again, the only reason Whole Foods is doing that is because they are taking advantage on society’s ignorance about GMOs. They think that this non-use of GMOs will draw in more consumers willing to spend more money on products just because they are “Organic” or “Non-GMO”.  And if people continue to stay in the dark about GMOs then companies like Whole Foods win because they can charge more money for “Organic, Non-GMO containing” products.

I think that people need to educate themselves about GMOs, and not just trust everything they hear in the news.  The fact of the matter is that most of the scientific community is in favor of GMOs.   They can see that GMOs have the potential to supply our growing population with a sustainable food source.  GMOs could eliminate certain problems which affect agriculture today such as, crops dying from: droughts, pests, weeds, and disease.

GMO blackberry vs organic blackberry

 

Personally I would rather have the one on the left which is cheaper and greater in volume.