Critiques of Organic Agriculture: The Balancing Act

Some argue that the environmental impacts and costs of industrial agriculture are justified, because people are fed, and food costs are low. We must ask ourselves however – at what cost? Industrial agriculture is the largest cause of water pollution and erosion. It overproduces cash crops, the excesses of which are disposed of either in the sea or in foreign nations, where it puts poor farmers out of work because they can’t compete with below-cost American corn. This unnecessary excess is encouraged by subsidies and pork-barrel politics, not the actual market or needs of the people. (see previous post on Jesus’ sentiments on the love of money). We have better ways of food production, namely organic and polycropping, which improve the soil and work with God’s created natural cycle rather than against it, which seek to help the environment and people, rather than exploit them.

Opponents of an organic food system claim that it cannot provide enough food for current populations but this view has been proven incorrect by studies that prove it can.[1] Some studies have even found that organic food production results in a higher yield, especially in developing countries. Other critics argue that it would take too much space to grow organic food because of a lower yield per acre, but repeated studies on biointensive farming (a type of organic food production) shows that 1 acre can meet all food needs for a year for ~12 people. In America, we must remember that our overproduction of cash crops (corn in particular, but also wheat, rice, and sorghum) takes up millions of acres producing unneeded and unwanted goods. Scaling back to meet the actual market desires would be a good thing, environmentally and economically and would free up any necessary space for organic farming. In addition, there are currently millions of acres of farmland that farmers are paid not to farm by the government as an attempt at price regulation. These unused acres could also be called into play.

Thus, the question regarding switching to organic isn’t space or productivity limits, it’s the system and subsidies, which currently prohibit market competition from unsubsidized organic agriculture.

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[1] WorldWatch Institute. Brian Halweil.

Sustainability - Biblical and Delicious

Sustainability
Sustainability is arranging actions, such as agriculture, to do no harm, and if possible, be beneficial to the environment so that it might continue indefinitely. Unsustainability would then be acting in a way that cannot be sustained. Mathematically, you might put this as one taking a resource at a faster rate than you and/or nature can replenish it. Current examples would be most fisheries. The fish are being taken at faster rates than they can reproduce. (for information on which fish are and are not sustainably harvested take a look at Monterrey Aquarium’s Seafood Watch page http://www.mbayaq.org/cr/SeafoodWatch.asp) Another example would be, surprisingly, soil. Take a look at my post on soil for more information.

The Bible concerns itself with sustainability through the Sabbath principle. Leviticus and Exodus both command that the land be granted a Sabbath, just as people are. (Lev. 25:4, Exo. 23:11) Allowing nature to reclaim land for periods of time helps to restore nutrients and give shelter to wild animals. As theologian Calvin B. Witt writes, the Sabbath principle means that the land, “creatures and ecosystems should not be relentlessly pressed.”[1] Industrial farms usually do not give land a Sabbath. Instead, they press the land and use increasing inputs of chemicals to make up for the decreasing fertility of the land, to maximize profits. While profits are obviously a necessity, this relentless exploitation is not ethical, from a Judeo-Christian standpoint. It shows that our quest for money has become an overzealous love of it which is expressly banned by Jesus. 1 Timothy 6:10 says, “For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.” (NIV)[2] We have wandered from the faith by abandoning Biblical wisdom in our rule over the land.

Biblical principles on sustainability also teach concern for the actions of our forebears and for the good of our descendents. The Old and New Testament are consistently concerned with genealogies, showing the importance of generations. This means that we must make wise, sustainable decisions in agriculture that leave our soil and natural resources in good quality and quantity for future generations. Thus, when I speak of sustainable agriculture I mean local, diversified, organic farming on small to medium-sized farms, because polycultured (having many crops and animals, as opposed to monoculture which is just one crop or animal) local, organic farming adds to the soil (through composting and careful management of animal waste), creates no waste, creates healthier food (through healthier soil and animals), minimizes our dependence on oil (through no petroleum-based chemical inputs and less need of machines), and reduces pollution (through less run-off of chemicals into waterways and environment, minimized use of machines, less transportation of goods because local food systems exist, etc.). Of course, this is utopic, but every move towards a system like this brings us closer to a food system that is healthier for everyone – the environment and people.

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[1] Calvin B. Witt and __ Nash on the environment. http://apologetics101.net/free/DE403.pdf

[2] In Steven Hall’s article on sustainable agriculture.

Dirty Sustainabilty

Soil is one of the essential ingredients in food production. Happy food for us = happy soil, sun, and fresh water. Whatever is in the soil ends up in the food. This is one reason why wines taste different from different areas - the soil lends the grapes a unique flavor. (Box wine probably all tastes the same however.. like distilled Dimetapp) Not only does the flavor change with different soil, the nutrients do as well. Hence, a soil that is mineral-rich will produce a mineral-rich food. A tomato does not have standard nutritional details as that handy-dandy nutritional table might lead you to believe. It all depends on the soil.

Our industrial agriculture system largely ignores the soil. For fertilization, industrial companies spread chemical fertilizers (made from petroleum largely) and pesticides and herbicides to control weeds and pests. Industrial companies also understandably plant crops in patterns that are best suited for machines to get through for ease of fertilizer, pesticide, herbicide placement and planting and harvesting. Unfortunately, these inputs and planting patterns have negative impacts on the soil (let alone on the flora and fauna of the region and humans.. but that's another post).

Soil is made from weathered rock, decayed plant and animal matter, all of which is broken down by time and a symphony of microbes and fungi. New soil is formed at different rates all over the world based on different factors.

Soil is also taken away. When it rains, the water in essence, washes away the soil. Plants hold on to the soil, so it doesn't go anywhere, but in industrial agriculture, there are typically no trees to hold onto the soil, and all the soil gets washed out in the rows, particularly if the crops are planted on a hill. Usually industrial agriculture razes the fields and leaves them bare in the off-season, which further exposes the soil to rain and weathering, resulting in more erosion.

And, let's not forget our favorite friends, pesticides and herbicides. Pesticides have the effect of killing most everything in the soil, including worms and other creepy crawlies that are good for soil. Herbicides kill off other beneficial plant life in the soil.

Overall, soil has it rough. With industrial agriculture, it's being lost at a rate that far exceeds its creation. Some industrial agriculture uses better practices that helps slow soil loss rates, but it's only 16% of US agriculture, and way less worldwide.

Closing, we got to be better to our soil, because it's ultimately what we eat. As Roosevelt said, without soil, a country is done for, or something to that effect. Some interesting articles have linked the rise and fall of civilizations to soil loss patterns globally. Once you use the soil up, it's gone, and your civilization too.

More Info:
For all the scientific information you'd want to know on soil, from UNC - Soil

Health, Happiness and Nature

Environmental issues affect quality of life, and quality of life and social justice are things that Jesus demonstrated he cared about time and time again.

People are happier and healthier in well-planned neighborhoods. By that, I mean that people are happier when they have green spaces, community gathering spaces, and strollable neighborhoods.

The Journal Health Promotion International published a study that promotes loss of contact with nature as one reason behind the sky-high rates of depression plaguing the developed world. The study authors also push forth the idea that nature should be incorporated into public health plans.

Key Points:

"People with access to nearby natural settings have been found to be healthier overall than other individuals. The longer-term, indirect impacts (of ‘nearby nature’) also include increased levels of satisfaction with one's home, one's job and with life in general’ [Kaplan and Kaplan, 1989 (p. 173)]."

Studies have found that people with views of nature in hospital rooms recovered faster with less pain and fewer complications than people with views of city scenes. Inmates were less stressed and sick when they had a view of nature. University students with a view of nature had better scores on tests than those without. (Paraphrased from the article)

One study found that "an experience of nature can help strengthen the activities of the right hemisphere of the brain, and restore harmony to the functions of the brain as a whole (Furnass, 1979)"


The scientific evidence is mounting, and it is on the side of nature. Is it surprising that the world that God created is where our heart longs to be? Where did Jesus take his walks of solitude when he needed recharging? In nature.

Why Christians Should Support Sustainable Agriculture: A Series Introduction

Everybody should support sustainable agriculture because it will help alleviate health problems, environmental pollution and help strengthen communities, - as I will show in later posts - but Christians have added incentive to do so, since it is mandated by Biblical principles and through teachings of Jesus.

Why should agriculture be so important to Christians, you may ask. Well:

~~~~~~First, agriculture is Biblically relevant - agricultural and food themes are ever present through allegory and metaphor in describing our faith. God is concerned with the way animals are raised and killed, crops are grown and food eaten, which he showed through numerous dietary and agricultural laws and guidelines in the Old Testament. Yes, we have the new covenant with Jesus which allows us freedom in eating choices, but the sentiment behind God's Law in the Old Testament still is important to us today, and was upheld by Jesus in the New Testament.

~~~~~~Second, agriculture has served as a cleavage between faith and works; our current industrial agriculture does not reflect biblical stewardship principles, it reflects exploitation. It is rife with human rights atrocities from pesticide-laden workers in banana farms to the unfairly shrinking salaries of small American farmers in the face of government-subsidized big agri-businesses. It also damages our environment, which in turn damages us and entire ecosystems. Continually through this blog, I will illustrate some of the biggest negative environmental and human impacts of industrial agriculture and explain why Christians should not support these practices.

~~~~~~Third, agriculture is important because food, the lack thereof and also too much, is a source of much human suffering, which Christians seek to alleviate as Christ did. Food security is an issue for millions of people worldwide. Malnutrition and obesity plague many countries. In America, over 13% of people are food insecure, which means they are unsure of where their next meal is coming from or they are actually hungry, while 60% are obese. (centeronhunger.org) Supporting sustainable agriculture means supporting a system that will provide people with access to healthful food. This is important because some people argue that industrial agriculture is good because it feeds more people, ergo, fewer people go hungry. In a later post, I will address the flaws of this statement.