Organic plant production is not the best: Considering produce cost, plant pest problems, plant nutritional and sensory qualities, environmental effects and consumer protection

Abstract

Discussion based on research evidence highlighted the superiority of toxic, chemical-free plant production (TCFP) to organic plant production (OPP) from various aspects. The results of research have demonstrated that TCFP not only offers toxic, chemical-free plant produce but also is superior to OPP in having a lower produce cost, less plant pest problems, superior nutritional and sensory qualities of produce, lower detrimental environmental effects, lower nitrate contamination in plant produce and better conservation or improvement of soil or both. In addition, it is deduced that OPP imposts consumer protection problems while TCFP does not. Therefore, TCFP should be practiced instead of OPP without toxic plant-pest-control chemicals. However, in most agricultural areas it is not possible to produce plants without using toxic plant-pest-control chemicals. Plant production based on good agricultural practice should be applied, which allows appropriate uses of toxic plant-pest-control chemicals and of chemical fertilizer in combination with organic fertilizer and bio-fertilizer suitable to each soil and each kind of plant. It was also deduced that OPP imposes a problem in consumer protection. Examples were presented with discussion of the research methodology and how misinterpretation of the research results may lead to mistaken support for OPP.