Re:Roundup’s Risks Could Go Well Beyond Cancer
by chicob on Wednesday June 05, 2019 @11:48AM
(#20105630)
Your second paragraph pretty much resumes what Integrated Farming is. That is exactly what I do.
And everything you do in Organic Farming can be done in Integrated Farming - you only resort to chemical solutions if there are no other options left. And even then, only if you've gone beyond a certain point beyond which the damage will out-cost the benefits of the spraying.
Re:Roundup’s Risks Could Go Well Beyond Cancer
by bluGill on Wednesday June 05, 2019 @12:04PM
(#20105783)
Not that the other is not the case. Organic farming is not allowed to use chemical solutions even they are better for the environment.
edit: as others have pointed out, some chemicals are allowed. However the points remains, environmentally friendly means to control weeds is often not allowed in organic.
Re:Roundup’s Risks Could Go Well Beyond Cancer
by xipho on Wednesday June 05, 2019 @12:09PM
(#20105835)
This is a common falacy. Organic forming can only use organic chemical solutions, some of which are far more toxic than their synthetic alternatives. Explore this idea by checking out strawberry production.
Re:Roundup’s Risks Could Go Well Beyond Cancer
by tracker1 on Wednesday June 05, 2019 @08:08PM
(#20110324)
Berries iirc are particularly sensitive to various pesticides, more so than a lot of other produce. It's one of the few products I will seek out Organic over not, when I have them.
Re:Roundup’s Risks Could Go Well Beyond Cancer
by chicob on Wednesday June 05, 2019 @12:11PM
(#20105854)
One can use chemical solutions in Organic Farming, if these are organic, e.g. rotenone, insect-killing viruses, bacteria and fungi.
In some rare cases, synthetic mineral solutions are allowed, like copper sulfate.
If there were a standard out there that instead embraced a systems-thinking view on safe practices - both chemical use and general land management, emphasizing safety for the long term health of the ecosystem, the farm economy, and the humans consuming the product - I would embrace that standard instead. Even if it were (as it might be) initially quite expensive.