Organic Farming (1+1)

Chemical Food Contaminant

Pesticide Residue

• Organically produced foods contain less residues than conventionally produced foods.
• Organic certification schemes specify that land must be free from chemical inputs for 2 or 3 years prior to organic production.
• Low levels of pesticides due to previous land use and pesticides drifts from conventionally managed farms may be present.
• It should be below the maximum residue limits (MRL).
• In organic management, biological control is the preferred method of pest management.

Nitrates From Fertilizers

• Nitrates content of organically-grown crops, particularly nitrophilic leaf, root and tuber crops, is reported to be significantly lower than in conventionally grown products.
  E.g.
• Methaemoglobinaema (a disease that interferes with oxygen carrying capacity of blood).
• Nitrosomine illness is caused by presence of secondary amines, which causes cancer in human beings.
• Feroxyl nitrates, alkyl nitrates, vapours of HNO3 and nitrate aerosols causes respiratory illness.
• Entrophication
• Under certain conditions, nitrates may be converted to nitrosamines which are carcinogenic.

Environmental Contaminants

• Due to industrial activity (mining, smelting activities), the energy sector, agricultural practices or disposal of hazardous and municipal wastes.
• The use of biosolids (sludge) leads to contamination of food with heavy metals, toxic organic compounds (such as dioxin, PCB) and persistent microbial pathogens.
• The codex and EU organic standards prohibit the use of sewage sludge.

Veterinary Drugs and Contaminants in Animal Feeds

• According to EC regulations, the livestocks are to be fed on organically-produced feed stuffs, the potential for contamination with pesticide residues and other agricultural chemicals is greatly reduced compared to conventional farming methods.
• Contaminants in animal feeds such as pesticide residues, agricultural and industrial chemicals, heavy metals and radioactive nuclides may pose problems.
• In Denmark, organic milk currently account for 20 per cent of total milk production.