Coming from a home that placed an emphasis on the importance of organic products and being someone who is highly skeptical of industrialized agriculture, the question of the impact of  organic foods is one I know I need to research. This question is especially relevant in light of the growing popularity of these movements. I find the philosophical reasons alone behind eating organic to be appealing, and I always tend to favor the natural over the synthetic. But I also acknowledge that it is important to weigh the real effects that an organic food system would have on the world. The practical goals of the organic movement are to avoid chemicals involved in conventional farming (I know this was the case in my home) as well as to protect the environment. But Paarlberg makes it seem that it is uncertain whether organic food production fulfills these standards more than conventional farming.

Thinking practically it would seem that the best method of agriculture would exist in a balance with the environment, not cause any adverse health effects, and most importantly be sustainable in the long-term. These goals are all inter-related as no form of agriculture can be sustainable in the long-term without first meeting the first two standards. Paarlberg notes how organic farming is usually far more environmentally sustainable, as long as the farmers know what they are doing, but argues that the optimal method combines both conventional and organic practices. The trouble here comes with the need to feed 7-9 billion people while trying to responsibly use the least land possible. It is very clear that to grow enough grains to feed enough livestock to feed the world would already take a huge amount of land, an amount which is only greatly increased by organic farming methods. Paarlberg acknowledges that this option is environmentally and economically impossible. I personally dislike conventional agriculture but also do not find organic farming sustainable in the long-term for everyone. This issue is one of the reasons why I abstain from eating any animal products as I consider it an irresponsible use of resources.