Maximum Yield USA 2015 November | Page 82

POINT OF VIEW Is Organic Farming Sustainable? by James E. Kostrava The word organic has become a major buzz word these days, with more and more people making the switch to food products with this label. So, with the increasing popularity of organic foods, and a willingness to pay more for them, why aren’t more farmers converting to organic farming methods? James E. Kostrava offers his opinion. As more people express concerns about genetically modified foods, many are turning to organic fruits and vegetables. Organic food continues to increase in popularity amongst Americans of all backgrounds, and many farmers are transitioning to organic farming. While many American farms are still controlled by corporations or semi-government organizations, there is a growing number of individual organic farms popping up all over America. 80 Maximum Yield USA  |  November 2015 Unfortunately, there is a common misconception that organic farming is difficult and not financially lucrative. This is based on an antiquated notion that land farmed organically produces less marketable crops due to the lack of chemical fertilizers and pesticides. This theory was largely debunked by a study published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. According to 44 specialized studies conducted over the past 40 years in 15 countries and