Deciding to eat organic food can do wonders for your health, but did you know that organic farming is better for the environment too? 

Modern farming uses a plethora of pesticides and chemical fertilizers to increase their harvest size and to improve the aesthetics and shelf-life of their produce. All these chemicals can have a detrimental impact on our environment so opting for organic produce is the best way to protect it. 

We look at some of the reasons why organic is best for our environment: 

Protect against pesticides 

Although you would think that pesticides would help protect crops, overuse of them could build up disease resistance in plants, weeds and plant-eating insects making the problem even worse in years to come. Once pesticides are sprayed on crops, they affect not only the plant itself but the soil, water sources and air around it, and traces of these chemicals could be left in the environment for decades to come. 

Protect against soil erosion

Soil is the most important factor when growing crops or having livestock feed off grass. It needs to be rich in nutrients and minerals to help aid the harvest process or feed a herd with lush grass. By sticking to organic farming methods, the pesticides and chemicals we spoke about will not be draining into the soil, so will help keep it naturally fertile for future crops. 

Organic farming methods also promote the age-old techniques of covered farming and crop rotations, which gives the earth a chance to recover from the previous harvest. This helps prevent soil erosion, which is a major concern for farmers across the globe as their land becomes depleted of its fertile top soil and nutrient-rich base. 

Protect against drought 

Drought is not just an issue in the hottest countries of the world, even the dampest climates have seen bouts of drought brought on by poor soil condition. Non-organic farmers may experience bad drainage and dry soil as the abundance of chemicals takes it toll on soil quality leaving it barren and lacking in nutrients. 

To add to this, organic farmers tend to use natural fertilizers, including mulch which conserve natural water supplies. 

Protect animal welfare 

When humans over-farm land and contaminate water supplies with chemical waste from pesticides and fertilizers hundreds of animals, birds and fish are affected in the process. As their natural habitats are being disrupted they are forced to migrate and their natural reproductive cycle is being affected. Organic farming not only helps to preserve natural wildlife habitat areas but ensures that the livestock they are raising are healthy and happy and will in turn, provide high quality produce. 

Protects against algae blooms 

Algal blooms are a common side effect of over-farming and constant use of petroleum-based chemicals on land. The green, scum like substance that grown on the surface of the water in lakes, streams and rivers is not only unsightly and affect possible tourism opportunities within an area, but also affects the animals and fish living off the water. Organic farming insures that all water sources are left as unpolluted as possible and protects the natural habit of the animals dependant on it.