Organic has been found not only to be better for consumption and the environment due to its lack of pesticides, hormones, and additives, but it’s apparently also just a better way to farm.

The researcher of a 22 year long study, Cornell Professor David Pimentel, explains:

“Organic farming approaches for these crops not only use an average of 30 percent less fossil energy but also conserve more water in the soil, induce less erosion, maintain soil quality and conserve more biological resources than conventional farming does.”

Another study conducted in Africa by the United Nations found the same benefits and more:

“An analysis of 114 projects in 24 African countries found that yields had more than doubled where organic, or near-organic practices had been used. That increase in yield jumped to 128 per cent in east Africa.”

This is huge. Organic farming requires less energy, needs less water, conserves soil, and does not require pesticides. The world is in the midst of a global food crisis according to most news outlets, and you’d think it’d be a no brainer to switch over to organic practices. Unfortunately, too much money and policy is tied up in making food in the less productive, more harmful, chemical-laden, “conventional” way. Non-organic foods can contain pesticides, growth hormones, antibiotics, and genetically modified ingredients. Chemical companies like Bayer and Mansanto control much of our farming, and our now expanding their revenues by creating genetically modified (GM) crops. GM food is on the rise, but it has not been proven to be better than organic food.

GM crops have been failing in India (prompting thousands of farmers to commit suicide and Prince Charles to speak out). Not only are the seeds were more expensive to purchase, they require twice the water, and and are extremely susceptible to parasites (even though these crops were supposedly engineered to be resistant). This unfortunate situation certainly does not support a GM food movement.

While the effects of GM ingredients on consumers is being debated, it has at least been proven that GM farming is less efficient than organic. As for conventional farming, several studies have already found extremely negative effects of pesticides and hormones on human health and the environment, including birth defects, infertility, and bee colony collapse. No further debate should be needed here either.

Without even getting into speculations about the nutritional content of GM foods and conventional crops versus organic, organic comes out on top. It preserves the soil to allow for more crop rotation and longevity, enables farmers, and produces higher yields to benefit everyone. Organic farming is a clear way out of our food crisis.

Stephanie Whited is an independent researcher living in Brooklyn, NY dedicated to spreading awareness about health news, proven alternative treatments, and unsafe mainstream products.