>the fellow from the Dana Association in Mexico suggested that ALL farmers
should be
>certified organic as a requirement for allowing them to farm),
Guy--surely you're joking! I certainly wouldn't suggest such an imposition.
My only point was that most organic standards, such as OCIA's, explicitly
seek sustainability as a goal. If farmer's using clearly non-sustainable
practices are getting certified then organic standards are being violated.
Apparently, from the comments being posted, people feel this does happen. Not
good.
Standards are changing constantly as we learn more. OCIA farmers discuss
standards for two or three days every year and change them democratically. I
suspect that the use of copper fungicides (already restricted, though
permitted, by organic standards) will eventually (I hope soon) be put on the
prohibited list. Just like other agrotoxics, we used to think that copper in
ppm doses was OK; now we discover otherwise...
At least organic standards give us a place where all this is put down in
writing and can be discussed by everyone. I think that is a big step towards
better, more responsible farming practices.
As for chemical pesticides I believe the burden of proof should fall on those
who claim they are necessary rather than requiring us to prove, after the
fact, that their negative effects are unacceptable.
Ronald Nigh
Dana Association
Mexico