In the last few month’s I’ve been paying close attention to picking out organic produce. Being a university student on a budget, I never considered this before. I always thought that I was young, it doesn’t matter that much, and that it’s all the same. I even thought at one point that it was just a “fad” and the cost didn’t justify the benefits of eating organic.

After watching the  “OMG-GMO” documentary on Netflix one day, my view has changed. I’ve since then learned to budget better to enjoy the benefits of less pesticides in my food, fresher produce, and richer nutrients – most of all enjoying the fact that I know what’s going into my body.

What I didn’t consider was that eating organic is not just good for me, but actually great for a sustainable planet as well!

Organic production is currently only 1% of the global agricultural land, and I believe that will be expected to change in decades to come. Environmental benefits of organic production has been proven. Overall, organic farms tend to store more soil carbon, have better soil quality, and reduce soil erosion (Science Daily). Organic agriculture also creates less soil and water pollution and lower greenhouse gas emissions. It is also associated with greater biodiversity of plants, animals, insects and microbes as well as genetic diversity.

To my surprise, it is actually more energy efficient and that is because it doesn’t rely on synthetic fertilizers or pesticides. It’s great knowing that my shift towards organic purchase decisions was great for me, but now that I can be assured it’s also good for the planet makes me feel much better about the value of my choices.