* Several shops and chain stores (Biocoop, Nouveaux Robinsons, Naturalia …) offer a range of products covering most of the food items at the same price as non organic products.
* Large supermarkets (Carrefour, Cora, Monoprix / Inno …) created their own organic range at affordable prices.
* The AMAP Campania, Jardins de Cocagne organic baskets and other supplies offer baskets of fruit and vegetables from the farmer directly, without intermediaries (and therefore without the often outrageous margins of large retailers), at reasonable prices.
* Compare farming and traditional agriculture:
- The land area cultivated in organic is about 2% in France (4% in the EU, 11% in Austria, 10% in Switzerland, 8.5% in Italy)
- The performance of agriculture varies from 80 to 200% (according to studies and crops) compared to traditional agriculture, contrary to a popular notion is that organic gives a low yield, particularly due to fallow (in fact an alternation of plants with high and low in nitrogen uptake and the possibility of grazing ruminants).
Golam, R. et G. B. Thapa. 2003. Sustainability analysis of ecological and conventional agricultural systems in Bangladesh. World Development 31(10): p. 1721-1741.
. Nguyen, M. L. et R. J. Haynes.1995. Energy and labour efficiency for three pairs of conventional and alternative mixed cropping (pasture-arable) farms in Canterbury, New Zealand. Agriculture, Ecosystems and Environment 52(2/3), p. 163-172.
. Reganold, J. P., J. D. Glover, et coll. 2001. Sustainability of three apple production systems. Nature 410(6831): 926
. Lotter, D.W., R. Seidel, et W. Liebhart. 2003. The performance of organic and conventional cropping systems in an extreme climate year. American Journal of Alternative Agriculture 18(3), p. 146–154.
. Mäder, P.,et coll. 2000. Soil Fertility and biodiversity in organic farming. Science 296(5573), p. 1694.
. Martini, E. A., J. S. Buyer, et al. 2004. Yield increases during the organic transition: improving soil quality or increasing experience? Field Crops Research 86(2/3), p. 255-266.
. Bromm, J. 2002. An economic and productivitiy comparison of organic and conventional farming in Saskatchewan. Honours thesis, Lakeland University.
- The cost of organic energy is not higher than the traditional, it seems even according to an organic study under certain conditions it can consume half the energy.
Entz, M.H., R. Guilford and R. Gulden. 2001. Crop yield and soil nutrient status on 14 organic farms in the eastern portion of the Northern Great Plains. Can. J. Plant Sci. 81, p. 351-354
- The cost of labor and agricultural equipment are higher in organic farming but largely offset by the absence of herbicides and fertilizers extremely expensive (not to mention the creation of jobs)
- Traditional agriculture is heavily subsidized (the share of income guaranteed by subsidies in the EU ranges from 30 to 40%!) Even though it consumes too much water, pesticides and other pollutants and is threatens the planet
- Organic promotes local and seasonal production at the expense of imports (and hence relocation), so it is good for the local economy while fighting against global warming due to goods imported by air.
In light of this and reported the volume of production / sales, organic products are not more expensive than their “competitors”, they are comparatively quite cheap!
Imagine if instead of subsidizing industrial agriculture were encouraged processing or the establishment in farming!
Imagine the jobs created when we know the need for a culture more arms that industrial bio!
Imagine the drop in price if the volume of organic products grew at the expense of industrial products!
No, this is not a dream, it is quite possible and is the only thing to do. You can fight for it by buying at least part of your food organic.
http://agridape.leisa.info/index.php?url=getblob.php&o_id=80768&a_id=211&a_seq=0
Eating organic is not a luxury, Lylian Le Goff, Editions Terre Vivante, 2006.
