Organics just aren't sustainable

This post was originally dated 30 September 2007; technical difficulties have prevented its publication until now. Publication should now resume as "normal"...

Following Elizabeth Finkel's blistering critique of organic food (which suggested that organic food is not better for you or the environment), Cosmos Online has published an opinion piece from Craig Meisner, an American professor based in Bangladesh.

Professor Meisner's intimate knowledge of the true conditions in a developing country refute the assumptions often made when researchers try to determine if organic farming can feed the world. According to Meisner, the assumption that organic fertilisers and mulches are plentiful, even for the poor, is incorrect. Any change to current agricultural practices would require major changes, such as sacrificing fields growing food for fields growing legumes for fertilisers (the bacteria in legumes' roots can fix nitrogen), which is too risky for the very poor when it means they might go hungry.

To me, the solution is simple: since the evidence shows the organic farming isn't really that much better than modern conventional methods, those promoting organics should get off their high horse a little bit. For those who want (and are able) to pay the extra cash for the feel-good sensation of food with no "chemicals" (but possibly extra parasites and insects), that's great -- even more so for the farmers making money from it. But there's no reason to foist that on everyone else, particularly if they live in a developing country.

Of course, there are issues with the toxicity of pesticides in the quantities used by farmers, including language barriers preventing sufficient understanding of warnings, but this needs to be addressed separately to the issue of organics vs conventional farming. Farmers deserve the best they can get out of their land.

A luxury the environment can't afford

According to Ecos, CSIRO's bi-monthly environmental magazine, luxury hotels are big sinners when it comes to wasting resources such as water and electricity.

Luxury travel is a growing sector and until recently, has not been closely scrutinised by environmentalists. With little or no legislation tackling luxury hotels' wasteful practices, the sky has been the limit for clients seeking an expensive holiday.

Fortunately, however, there is a growing trend towards sustainable tourism. Simple measures such as limiting the number of linen changes, laundering in cooler temperatures, and sourcing food locally all make a difference. These changes should also prove more economical for the hotels, which will hopefully encourage broader uptake.


More information:
Ecotourism Australia
Green Globe
Sustainable Tourism CRC

Also in the current issue of Ecos: All parents need to read about nappies and the environment.