Behind the Organic-Industrial Complex

        In Behind the Organic-Industrial Complex, Michael Pollen poses the question is “organic” food really better than non-organic food when its farming has been integrated in the industrial agribusiness. It seems that organic food may just be a new trend as a way for consumers to eat “healthier”, as some believe that it isn’t any better than non-organic food, rather as just a means for the corporations to sell food at a higher price. However, while organic food is more expensive, it is true that there are better benefits to consuming it. These benefits include foods, not only produce but meat-products also, that are pesticide free and chemical free.Unfortunately although organic food is healthier for consumers to eat, is it healthier for the environment is a question that needs to be answered.

It seems odd to think that food that is pesticide and chemical free could cause harm to the environment. You think that while these crops aren’t being sprayed with pesticides, unlike non-organic produce, that the land and waters would be healthier too from the lack of toxic chemicals entering the earth. However, it seems that while “organic” used to mean that produce came from a small local farm, the term has been redefined. With the uprising of technology and industrial advancements, “organic” has been assimilated with the industrial agribusiness. This means that most organic food that is found in supermarkets such as Wal-Mart and Kroger, are imported from other regions of the country, even world. Thus, while organic growing methods don’t contaminate the land and water, the transportation of these products creates a higher carbon footprint into the Earth’s atmosphere.

While organic food is initially healthier for consumption, it isn’t beneficial to the environment. Hopefully in future there is an advancement that allows for organic foods to be rewarding in both ways. That there end up being better options, such as utilizing more forms of local produce. Thus, although, Pollen’s article answered several questions about the organic-industrial agribusiness, it develops an even greater question of what ways can better improve organic, and even non-organic, industries.