2 minutes-''The Organic vs. Conventional Agriculture''-survey?

Question

Hi..I'm Taylor's University College's student, currently taking pre-U prog. In my course work, I was asked to produce a 'mini-thesis'. Hopefully U could spend some time by taking part in this survey.

Before answering the survey, please state general background about yourself in PART A according to the sequence GENDER/AGE/NATIONALITY/EDUCATION LEVEL/OCCUPATION

For each question in PART B, please answer:

A - Yes/Agree

B - No/Disagree

& U are encourage to comment in the space provided.

eg.:

PART A

F/32/Australian/pre-U study/student

PART B

1.A not fulfilling the market demand

2.Z

3.Z

4.A

Thank you

Questions PART B:

1.Do U agree, organic farming is no longer practical to be applied in today agriculture? Based on what factors?

2.Does organic food is more nutritious and delicious?

3.When shopping for veg. & fruits, do U willing to pay extra money to buy the organic products?

4.Should the farmer turn back to organic albeit conventionally grown is more lucrative?

Answer 1

F/44/USA/BA Anthropology/Farmer

1)organic will become more and more practical as petroleum becomes more and more expensive. Conventional ag is dependant on cheap oil, without it is will be a disaster

2) There are more and more studies being published that say organic is more nutritious. makes sense as a well managed organic farm has soil that is alive and full of nutrients (far more than NPK). As far as taste. Well grown non mass produced food will taste better because it is grown better and will be fresher. Industrial organics taste no better than conventional

3)Is conventionally grown more lucrative? And will it stay that way when the oil runs out? I say yes farmers should go organic. I won't say turn back for that assumes organic farming is simply farming without chemicals and has not changed one whit in 100 years, that would be a wrong assumption. Organic ag, like anything else, does not live in a vacuum and is not static. In other words, there have been great advances in organic ag especially in the past 15 years and is nothing like pre WWII agriculture (which was not organic at all)

Answer 2

F/58/EU/MS/Retired (software devlpmnt)

1. I disagree. This allows small farmers to create niche markets for locally grown produce. Therewill always be non-organic produce available due to lower cost.

2. I find it a better product because I get it from locally grown farms thus produce goes quickly from picking to consumption - a fresh product batter than something picke 1/2  raw for shipping.

3. Yes, I am willing to pay extra to get something that is organic because I believe it is healthy and testes better. Also it is produced in USA rather than Mexico or elsewhere. I don't like to buy food from other countries, especailly not from China.

4. It is not maybe possible to do large scale organic farming. I believe the a small local farmer can make as much money with organic local produce per acre as conventional farmer per acre.

Due to world's need for cheap food it is not reasonable for large scale industrial farms to go organic. I do not believe they could make a profit as they do today.

Answer 3

Female/29/white/trade school/beautician

1.disagree, our food is a precious resource and we should have higher standards if we expect higher quality of life.

2. Yes it is more nutritious and has allot more flavor.

3. Yes I will pay more. Organic is always my first choice.

4. Yes please go back to organic. I would love to live in on a earth where it's more Eco friendly.

Answer 4

Male/USA/PhD/Agriculture teaching and research at university/Managed a large farm in Nigeria for 10 years/Now retired.

B: 1) Disagree, Organic farming has a permanent niche market in American farming. It is growing all of the time, but will never replace conventional agriculture.

2) Disagree, organic is neither more nutritious nor delicious.  People tend to think that it is because they buy it local or through farmer's markets.  That makes it taste better than produce bought at the grocery store, but locally grown conventionally produce would taste just as good and be as nutritious.

3) No, personally I generally would not pay more, but there are a lot of people who are willing to do so.  That is why the niche market will always be there, and is growing.

4) Again I would have to disagree.  If every farmer gave up conventional farmer and turned to organic we would see mass starvation in the world.  If individual farmers chose to give up conventional farming and turn to organic, I think that it is their right to do so and I would support that 100%.

Answer 5

F/56/USA/B.S. Biology/Med Tech and raise horses

1. Disagree. There is a demand for organic food that makes it practical for small producers.

2. Organic food may be more nutritious since it is usually local and therefore fresher.   Taste is subjective.

3. I wouldn't pay more, but some people will.

4. There is a need for both markets.  That being said however,  USDA has changed organic standards and requirements making it easier for Big Ag to qualify, and harder for small farms to meet the costs.  Big Ag doesn't like sharing their market and USDA is comprised of Big Ag reps.

Answer 6

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/706710...

Answer 7

M/57/Australian/ semiretired enviro scientist.

1. B  It is practical but would require a major restructuring of agricultural thinking and practices.

2  A I grow my own 100% organic fruit and veg. It categorically tastes better, and I believe it is more nutritious.

3 A  I rarely buy fruit or veg, but if I do I buy organic.

4  ?  Farmers have to make a living. If there is no readily accessible market for organic produce then they won't go organic. Many older farmers do not understand organics.

Answer 8

Male/white/8th. grader/future farmer

Part A

1.  student

Part B

1.  Yes, not many people are willing to do all the work of cultivating many times losing yields and such, it just doesn't pay in my opinion, yet my neighbor has farmed this way for years.

2.  Yes, it doesn't have all the chemicals being applied to it.

3.  No, I don't think it really matters, no matter what foods you buy, no one knows where it comes from (for the most part) and you are putting so many probably harmful products, that you don't even know about in just regular food you buy.

4.  No, I believe it just would not pay, on my family farm, we aren't organic, though in our garden obviously it is, but for our cattle, especially the ones we have butchered, we don't fill it with any growth enhancers or anything like that.

I realize I am only an eight grader, but what I say is true.  Good luck with this!