WE AGREE that we all need to improve our diets by eating more fruit and vegetables but in a recent letter to the SNJ, H Saunders incorrectly claims that facts about organic farming – supported by independent, peer-reviewed scientific literature – are “myths” and “falsehoods”.

A series of international meta-analyses have found key positive nutritional differences between organic and non-organic fruits, vegetables, crops, legumes, dairy products and meat.

The frequency of occurrence of pesticides in non-organic food is four times higher than in organic food, and there is a wealth of scientific evidence that organic farming methods are better for the environment than conventional farming.

Organic and agro-ecological farming is recognised by scientists globally as the key to tackling the huge greenhouse gas emissions from agriculture and food, particularly by avoiding the use of fossil fuel-based manufactured fertilisers and through sequestering carbon in healthy soils.

Chemical pesticides which have been found to be damaging wildlife populations (particularly bees and other pollinators) are prohibited in organic farming, and a global meta-analysis has found that organic farms have 50 per cent more wildlife than non-organic farms.

Another recent meta-analysis arrived at the same conclusion, finding on average a third more species including nearly 50 per cent more pollinators and 75 per cent more plants on organic farms.

H Saunders also claims that GM crops will reduce pesticide use but is apparently unaware of the impact of GM crops, many of which have been engineered to withstand very high pesticide exposure.

In particular, RoundupReady crops have been produced to tolerate repeated applications of the herbicide glyphosate, which was recently found to be a “probable human carcinogen” by the World Health Organisation.

Indeed, a recent review has found that applications of glyphosate have increased 15-fold since the introduction of GM.

Contrary to what H Saunders asserts, organic farmers do not “demonise” farming techniques, nor do they refuse to endorse new technologies.

Organic farmers are frequently at the forefront of innovation and technology in agriculture, such as with the Innovative Farmers programme, which works with organic and non-organic farmers alike.

It is a common mistake to conflate our current system of conventional agriculture – with its reliance on chemical inputs and fossil fuel-based fertilisers – with progress.

Organic farming is our best option to feed the world healthy diets, in a way which is environmentally sustainable diets.

Georgia Farnworth

Policy officer Soil Association