Organics: Reaching the Core Truths

The Science of Organics: Peeling the Onion to Reach Core Truths
Zoe Helene Interviews Dr. Charles Benbrook, Chief Scientist of The Organic Center

ZH: Why is Science so important to the Organic Movement?
 CB: Science is important because we need solid facts and clear messaging to bring about major changes in the purchasing patterns of the average American. Clearly, there is a segment of the population that is already convinced organic foods deliver more than enough benefits to justify premium prices, but if we’re going to reach the majority of consumers on a daily basis, we have to give them stronger evidence of personal, as well as broader environmental and societal benefits. (more…)

The Science of Organics: Peeling the Onion to Reach Core Truths (continued)
Zoe Helene Interviews Dr. Charles Benbrook, Chief Scientist of The Organic Center

ZH: Have you noticed a significant rise of interest in understanding organics?
CB: It is a relatively recent phenomenon that people have come to question the quality of the foods they’re buying on a daily basis. Ten years ago the majority of people might have heard about certain foods with potential risk. Once in a while there was a food poisoning episode that was widely covered by the media, but for the most part the general public bought into the idea that American food was the best quality, most diverse food in the world and that it was also the safest and cheapest food in the world. (more…)

The Science of Organics: Peeling the Onion to Reach Core Truths (continued)
Zoe Helene Interviews Dr. Charles Benbrook, Chief Scientist of The Organic Center

ZH: How would you describe the role of bringing science into the comparative evaluation of organic farming and conventional farming?
CB: When studying the unique benefits of organic farming, in comparison to conventional farming, careful science is needed to control for a number of variables like plant genetics, the weather, and harvest and storage practices that have either direct or indirect impacts on nutritional quality, food safety, and taste. (more…)

The Science of Organics: Peeling the Onion to Reach Core Truths (continued)
Zoe Helene Interviews Dr. Charles Benbrook, Chief Scientist of The Organic Center

ZH: I worked the booth at a grassroots Organic Festival here in Asheville, NC, earlier this month on behalf of the Organic Center. I would ask people, “Are you interested in the Science of Organics?” I got a lot of interest from just regular folks, which was just great. But there was this one fellow who looked to be about 50, and he says, “Yes! My wife and I made the discovery about six months ago and we’ve lost 40 pounds just by changing to organic food.” (more…)

They are the most widely produced alklaine fruit in the world and now scientists in Japan have discovered that tomatoes contain a nutrient which could tackle the onset of vascular diseases. The research, published in the journal Molecular Nutrition & Food Research, reveals that an extracted compound, 9-oxo-octadecadienoic, has anti-dyslipidemic affects. (more…)