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	Growth of Organic Farming Offers Environmental Benefits an article by Charlie and Tony For years, organic farmers have been quietly advocating the environmental and health benefits of natural agriculture. What began as a fringe movement, however, has broken through to the mainstream, with organic farming showing impressive growth and potential to provide an environmentally sustainable solution to the worlds hunger problems. Organic farming is now practiced in over 100 countries, with the US market predicted to grow to $30.7 billion by 2007. Organic products are new used by 39% of the population, and The Rodale Institute, which promotes organic farming, aims to certify 100,000 organic farmers by 2013, representing 5% of all farmers in the United States. This growth ensures that the environmental and health benefits of the organic farming industry continue to spread throughout the country. Organic crops require 50% less energy to cultivate, and actually reduce greenhouse gases by locking carbon into the soil rather than the air. On an individual level, consuming organic food prevents exposure to harmful chemicals found in pesticides. To learn more about the health and environmental benefits of organic food, visit www.ota.com. You can support organic farmers locally by buying produce from farmers markets, starting your own organic garden, and increasingly, just going to the store. Thanks to the mainstreaming of organic farming, food companies such as Kraft and General Mills now offer organic food as well, making it widely available even in urban areas and places with unfavorable growing climates. Ultimately, organic farming is clearly here to stay, so start taking advantage of the benefits now. Your family, and the earth, will thank you for it.		DISCUSSION Question(s) related to this article: The role of organic farming, Can it help preserve the planet and end world hunger? * * * * * LATEST READER COMMENT: If ever there was a liberating technology for the planet it is agroforestry.  It works because trees, with trunks and branches, holding up their leaves to the sun, are efficient solar collectors.labor, energy and soil damage due to plowing.   Trees add organic matter to the soil in the form of leaves, and dead branches and roots.  This organic matter is the biological basis for invaluable topsoil with its community of worms, insects and microbes.   Trees provide innumerable opportunities for increasing agricutural productivity.  For example, mulberry trees can be planted in chicken yards.  Mullberries which fall from the sky onto the chickens provide good fresh food for the chickens.  And of course the chickens can fertilize the mulberry trees. . ...more.
This report was posted on October 5, 2004.