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Living Maxwell

Better Choices

Another Reason to Support Organic – It Will More Effectively Feed the World During the Global Drought

When people get into a debate about whether organic food is worth it or not, the first issue that always comes up is price.

While organic can cost a little more, there are numerous ways to make it less expensive, such as buying in the bulk bins or purchasing directly from local organic farmers.

Yet, what is often missing in this discussion is how organic is so much better for the planet.

And this is something that absolutely must be part of the narrative as to why organic is the superior choice, particularly because the global food system is responsible for 44-57% of global greenhouse gas emissions.

From the Center for Food Safety’s excellent report Food & Climate: Connecting the Dots, Choosing the Way Forward, we know that organic agriculture uses 30-50% less fossil fuel energy than industrial farms.

And in a new study published in Nature Plantsresearchers have concluded that organic yields are consistently greater than conventional farming yields during periods of global drought.

This should be of immediate importance to everyone, and not just to those people living in California.

According to NASA, the water table is dropping all over the globe, and 21 of the world’s largest 37 aquifers have passed their sustainability tipping points, which means that water is being taken out faster than it is being replaced.

In the U.S., 50 billion gallons of water per day are being used for agricultural purposes, and approximately 40% of the world’s grain comes from irrigated land.

With our water reserves running low and not being replaced, groundwater depletion raises the likelihood of global food crises.

So, if we want to feed the 9 billion people expected to be on the planet by 2050, water must be a major consideration when selecting how we grow our food.

And that is exactly why the findings from the Nature Plants study are so critical.

Given that organic soil is built up and maintained with organic material, it is much more able to hold onto water. Therefore, by the time a farmer is ready to plant or harvest a crop, the plant has more access to water, which results in higher yields.

John Reganold, Professor of Soil Science and Agroecology at Washington State University and co-author of the new study, said that for every inch of rainwater soaked up by soil, a plant can produce another 7-8 bushels of wheat. That is very, very significant.

So, the next time someone is telling you that GMOs are the only way to feed the world, educate this person that with no water, there is no food.

And the best way to preserve our dwindling water supplies while also achieving increased yields during periods of drought is through organic farming.

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Living Maxwell

Better Choices

Organic Restaurants – A Very Important Question To Ask

I get asked all of the time by people “how do I know that the food that I am eating is organic?”

Well, when we buy food in the supermarket, there is an organic certification process managed by the USDA. Those organic food products have the organic seal.

Yet, what do we do when we go to restaurants?

While there are very few restaurants that have actually been certified organic (there used to be one in NYC called Gustorganics), most of them are not.

In this video, I share with you the one question that I always ask when I go to a new organic restaurant. The answer gives me a good idea about how serious they are about organic.

Living Maxwell

Better Choices

The Mystery Behind Organic Honey

One question has been really bothering me as of late: Is there such a thing as USDA certified organic honey?

Despite the picture you see above, there is good reason for me to have serious doubt.  Here is why.

In the past, I have spoken to numerous local beekeepers and when I asked them if their honey is organic, they have all told me that there is no such thing as USDA certified organic honey.

Yet when I go to the market, I see one or two brands of honey that have the USDA organic seal on the label. Almost all of the honey that has the seal on it comes from Brazil, which has made me wonder whether there is some type of corruption going on with the certification.

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Living Maxwell

Better Choices

Why Organic Almonds? Because of the Super-Toxic Fumigant Propylene Oxide

As more and more people are moving toward a plant-based diet and migrating away from animal products, organic cannot be forgotten in this equation.

Unfortunately, I see far too many people who think that as long as it is plant-based, that is sufficient. It’s not.

Case in point: almonds.

In the early 2000s, there were a few outbreaks of salmonella traced to raw almonds from California, a state where nearly 100% of America’s almonds are grown. As a result, the USDA implemented a rule that required all almonds grown in California to be pasteurized. This holds true for both organic and non-organic varieties.

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livingmaxwell: a guide to organic food & drink