1. Overview Conventional Farming Organic farming Video: My Father’s Garden The difference between conventional farming and organic farming Why are organic foods more expensive?

2. Conventional Farming 1940’s began farming with agri-chemicals Fertilizer, pesticides, herbicides, fungicides and rodenticides 1972 Congress ordered the EPA to test all pesticides for potential hazards. All agri-chemicals can remain until EPA proves dangerous 1990’s pesticide companies focus on genetic engineering Using agri-chemicals and GE seeds is the predominate way food is grown in U.S. so it is now called “conventional” farming

3. Organic Farming Based on : Using natural, renewable fertilizer and pesticides Compost, manure, Bt Farming in a way that maintains and replenishes the life and nutrients in the soil. The farmer feeds the living organisms in the soil. Handful of organic soil – 5 billion microorganisms Primary methods used: Crop diversity Crop rotation Biological pest control

4. Organic Foods Grown without conventional pesticides or fertilizers Animals are fed organic feed and raised without use of antibiotics Produced without genetically engineered seeds Processed without irradiation or food additives

5. Why are organics more expensive? 1.Small number of organic farmers (less supply means higher price). 1.Labor intensive farming techniques. 1.True cost of growing our food in a way that replenishes the soil & preserves water. No soil degradation No surface water (lake and river) pollution No ground water contamination

6. Agrichemicals in Produce Dirty Dozen app by Environmental Working Group (www.foodnews.org) The Dirty Dozen: A list of produce with the highest agrichemical residue Clean 15: A list of produce with least amount of agrichemical residue