by Barry Marcus

Created on: October 13, 2009   Last Updated: October 16, 2009

The roots of the organic food industry were sewn in the late 1960s with the dawn of a new wave of environmental awareness.
The industry has since shown astonishing growth that has surprised its critics. According to the Organic Food: Global Industry Guide published in February 2009, the industry has a global value of $52 billion with a forecast to reach $83.1 billion by 2013.

The growth in organic foods from a fringe industry to a mainstream part of the food supply is partly the result of growing environmental awareness, partly the result of the growing scientific evidence of the superior nutritional value of organic food.

These benefits include superior health and nutrition, environmental protection and improved animal welfare.

Health and Nutrition Benefits

Many scientific tests of organic foods against conventional have been inconclusive. In his article, Health Benefits of Organic Food, Shane Heaton examined much of this testing. He found that many of the tests lacked rigor and were poorly conceived and conducted. Those tests that were executed to a high standard support the belief that organic food is indeed healthier.

Heaton himself has no doubts about the health benefits of organic food. As he says, "decreasing one's toxin burden and increasing one's intake of vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants can have a significant impact on health, especially when trying to improve or restore health."

In a comprehensive study of the nutritional value of organic against conventional foods, a March 2008 report "New Evidence Confirms the Nutritional Superiority of Plant-Based Organic Foods," State of Science Review, cites strong evidence of the nutritional superiority of organic foods. In particular, organic foods were found to contain more than 20% more antioxidants, polyphenols, quercetin, vitamin C and vitamin E. Conventional foods contained higher quantities of nitrogen, again favoring organic foods. Of course, organic produce is largely free of the pesticide residue cocktails found in great quantities in conventional foods.

A 2009 report conducted by the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine concluded that there were no nutritional benefits of organic foods. However, the organic scientific community disputed the conclusions of this report. The London report did not consider pesticide or fertilizer residues in its study.

Organic milk has been shown to be healthier as it has been found to "include more Omega 3, more CLA, more antioxidants and more vitamins

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