Rural Economy As Government policies force farm labourers off the land, the rural economy declines. Money earned and spent locally circulates several times and supports rural communities. A farmer who buys in chemicals and machinery, and ships out products, has little effect on the local economy. Many Midwestern states in the US are now suffering rural de-population and some farm families are now dependent on food donations.
Animal Welfare Organic standards for animal care are strict. In 2002 Compassion in World Farming compared the standards for organic farms against 15 criteria for animal welfare. Organic farming achieved between 11 and 14 out of 15 for five different livestock groups. Conventional systems scored between four and seven. Much of the growth in the sale of organics has come from vegetarians, many of whom have converted to eating organic meat because they approve of the animal welfare standards.
People often choose organic food for specific reasons - avoidance of a particular pesticide such as lindane or horror at the cruelties inflicted on battery hens. However, as the whole range of issues is further understood, the commitment to eating organically deepens.
About 2,000 million hectares of soil have been degraded through human activities - thatÔ³ 15% of the EarthÔ³ land area, an area larger than the US and Mexico combined.
Organic Farming, Food Quality
and Human Health
Soil Association
