100% Organic by 2022

            Refreshing news out of the small, Himalayan country of Bhutan yesterday:  the agricultural industry aims to be entirely organic in the next 10 years.  Bhutan’s primary crops are oranges, apples, rice, and potatoes, and while only a small portion of the country’s mountainous and forested landscape is farmable, about 80% of the population relies on agriculture as their source of income.   Such a progressive goal is hardly surprising coming from a country that values Gross National Happiness over Gross National Product, but it is reassuring to see that the reasoning behind setting such a goal is rooted in science as well as an effort to keep Bhutan competitive within the agricultural industry without compromising traditional farming techniques and biodiversity.

There is plenty of science to support the fact that organic and “non-conventional” farming practices, such as the avoidance of synthetic pesticides and fertilizers, crop rotation, and use of compost enhance soil quality, increase plants’ ability to sequester carbon and recycle nutrients, reduce erosion, and increase productivity.  A wonderfully comprehensive study produced by the Organic Farming Research Association in August 2012 explains that not only are organic farming practices better for the environment, but also for businesses - organic products are in demand and the organic agricultural sector has experienced consistent growth for the past decade.  Critics often argue that organic agricultural practices cannot produce as great a yield as conventional farming techniques, but a study published in Nature in May of 2012 scoured literature on organic farming to show that disparities in productivity are often contextual and that  organic practices can in fact be competitive with conventional methods provided the conditions are right.   Bhutan and the US are certainly operating on a different scale in terms of the agricultural industry, but what if our government set such a goal?  Something to keep in mind as we approach Election Day!  Where does your candidate stand on the importance of organic farming practices?