Understanding Organic Agriculture: The History and Benefits of Organic Food

In point of fact, the practices associated with organic agriculture and organic gardening have been around in one for another since the point in history when people stopped hunting and gathering and took up farming as a means of subsistence. The history of organic food/agriculture can be traced back literally thousands of years.

The production of organic food and the utilization of organic agricultural and organic gardening practices ultimately became overtaken by the so-called industrial approach to crop cultivation and farming. The industrial style advocated the utilization of synthetic or chemical herbicides, insecticides and fertilizers the production of crops. By the 1950s, the industrial agricultural scheme gained predominance in many countries the world over, including all countries of North America and Europe.

The belief was that the use of chemical treatments in process of cultivation crops and growing animals for consumption was efficient and a proper course to enhance agricultural production. However, the early 1970s, some agricultural experts came to realize that the chemicals that were being used in the treatment and production of food products were having a seriously negative effect on both the environment and on people’s health. At that point in time, according to the documented history of organic food/agriculture, a sound movement began whereby an every growing number of people the world over began to recognize the benefits of eating organic food.

Initially, small number of people took up organic gardening for their own purposes. In time, small scale organic farms began operation. In today’s world, there are now some large scale organic food enterprises producing all types of organic food and related products in many countries around the world.

In contemplating the future of organic food/agriculture, most industry analysts believe that organic agriculture is destined for significant expansion over the course of the coming twenty years. Observers believe that more and more people in different points the world over will come to understand the benefits of organic food. Indeed, there are many benefits to organic food that include:

• Higher nutritional value than many traditionally grown, raised or produced food items
• Significantly lower levels (ideally, none whatsoever) of chemical toxins commonly found in traditionally grown, raised or produced food items
• Better taste -- in many instances, people consider organic food to be better in taste
• Improve appearance -- again, in many instances people consider organic food to be better looking and better appearing than its traditional counterparts