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Understanding Organic Beef

Understanding Organic Beef  Organic beef is meat that comes from cattle that have been raised on organic farms. The cattle feeds are free of genetically modified organisms (GMOs), synthetic pesticides, and chemical fertilizers. Farmers must also raise their cattle according to certain standards set by regulatory agencies, such as the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). The meat industry is considered the largest segment of United States agriculture. According to Statista, a leading market and consumer data provider, the total beef production in the US in 2022 was about 27.17 billion pounds. At the same time, beef accounts for the highest retail sales of any fresh meat. This makes the US the highest beef-consuming country in the world. To meet the demands, farmers use conventional farming methods that have raised concerns. One concern is the environmental impact, such as water pollution, deforestation, and greenhouse gas emissions. Animal welfare critics also claim that conventional beef production is inhumane. This is because, in most firms, the cows are confined in small spaces and have no access to pasture. Conventional beef production has also raised health concerns due to the use of hormone growth and antibiotics. Calves may be injected with hormones to boost growth and maximize cattle size. This practice aims to reduce costs and increase the volume of cattle produced. The cattle are also mass-treated with antibiotics to help their bodies fight any health issues. These substances may have adverse effects on human health. As a result, people are increasingly turning to organic beef. The recent increase in the use of organic foods is driven by various factors, such as growing awareness of the potential health benefits of organic foods and increasing concerns about the environmental impacts of conventional agriculture. Consumers who are conscious of animal welfare also demand transparency regarding the meat consumed. They want information on how the cattle were raised, if they had outdoor access or whether any growth hormone was used. They will also check labels on meat packaging before purchasing. Since organic beef is produced as per USDA standards, the cattle are raised in healthy environments. This means that the meat is healthier as it doesn’t contain chemicals potentially harmful to human health. Also, the strict USDA requires that organic animals have access to pasture, giving them more space to roam and better treatment. As a result, organic meat is considered to be humanely produced. Additionally, organic farming practices promote biodiversity as regular cattle movement helps spread manure over the land where they feed. It also helps preserve the topsoil by reducing soil erosion, unlike grain-fed or factory-produced beef, which uses less land per animal and is attributed to damage to the surrounding environment. Although organic beef offers various benefits to animal welfare, the environment, and human health, it tends to be more expensive than beef from conventionally raised cows. Multiple reasons lead to the high cost, including that organically grown cattle are labor-intensive and organic feed is often more costly. In addition, getting the necessary organic certification requires a long auditing process, which also adds to the costs. via Blogger https://ift.tt/vXyt5uH January 12, 2023 at 08:27AM

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The Benefits of Eating Organic Foods

The Benefits of Eating Organic Foods   Organic foods have become popular among consumers, garnering attention for their supposed sweeter taste and higher nutritional value. This is because organic farming methods prohibit the use of synthetic fertilizers and pesticides, allowing plants to grow at their own pace rather than being artificially forced to mature quickly. This slower growth allows more complex flavors to develop in fruits and vegetables. Produced and processed without synthetic chemical pesticides or fertilizers, organic food is theoretically free of dangerous chemical components. Natural methods like using green manure for fertilizer and rotating crops to get rid of pests and diseases work very well to make food that is safer, healthier, and smells better. Hence, good food equals healthy individuals and better nutrition for a higher quality of life. Eating organic can lessen exposure to toxins, particularly those that linger in the body, such as persistent insecticides. Organic farming strictly regulates synthetic pesticides, herbicides, fertilizers, and fungicides. Cancers, headaches, digestive issues, birth deformities, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, premature death, and impaired immune systems are a few of the conditions associated with chemical pesticide intake. If an organic farmer uses pesticides, they're primarily natural. The National Organic Standards Board and the National Organic Program keep a list of permitted ingredients for organic cultivation. These natural insecticides must be on that list. Members of the public, farmers, business owners, and consumer activists help compile this list. The food people consume plays a significant role in the strength and function of their immune systems. The food's quality and purity can impact how well their bodies can defend against viruses and infections. Research shows that a diet rich in organic foods can help improve overall health by contributing to a stronger immune system. Eating organic food has been associated with improved digestion, better heart health, and a decreased risk of chronic diseases. When animals are allowed to graze on natural grass, they produce higher levels of conjugated linoleic acid (CLA). Natural grass efficiently absorbs solar energy during photosynthesis, and the herbivores who eat it transform it into the highest quality organic CLA. CLA is a heart-healthy fatty acid that has the potential to enhance cardiovascular protection, and it is found in higher concentrations in the meat and milk of animals raised on pasture. Organic foods also contain more antioxidants than non-organic foods. Antioxidants help to protect your cells from damage, and they have been linked with a lower risk of some chronic diseases, such as heart disease and cancer. Furthermore, organic meat and dairy products contain higher levels of certain nutrients such as omega-3 fatty acids, than their non-organic counterparts. Due to the extra time to grow and mature, organic food's mineral and sugar structures taste better. Organic food products taste better due to natural and environmentally friendly agricultural production processes. According to reports, organic veggies and fruits taste better than conventionally farmed ones. Opting for organic options promotes sustainable farming practices. Organic farming practices help conserve water, reduce soil erosion, and promote biodiversity. Furthermore, organic farms emit fewer greenhouse gases than conventional farms. These practices are important for the environment and the health of farm workers and nearby communities. When you buy organic foods grown locally, you help support your local economy. Buying local organic foods also cuts down on transportation costs and helps reduce your carbon footprint. via Blogger https://ift.tt/RUTdOeX November 29, 2022 at 04:26AM

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Different Technologies for Harnessing Renewable Energy

Different Technologies for Harnessing Renewable Energy  Renewable energy is defined as energy that does not deplete its source when used, or energy drawn from a source that replenishes faster than it depletes. In the United States, several types of renewable energies have been explored as potential replacements for fossil fuels, which produce harmful carbon emissions that are trapped in the atmosphere and contribute to the negative effects of global climate change. These energy types include solar power, wind power, and hydropower. In terms of annual electricity production in the United States, hydropower leads the way, with a national share of 6.3 percent, which equates to nearly one-third of the electricity produced through renewable energy sources. As the most commercially developed form of renewable energy, hydropower is a valuable barometer in terms of the nation’s shift to sources of clean and renewable energy. Hydropower is harnessed and processed at massive hydropower facilities. The exact approach used to generate electricity through hydropower varies from one facility to the next, but turbines and generators are a staple at any hydropower plant. The kinetic energy produced by rushing water is converted into electricity, which is subsequently stored at the facility or fed directly to a local electrical grid supporting homes, stores, and other community institutions. Wind power ranks second to hydropower when it comes to producing usable energy for the nation. Wind power increased by a record 273 terawatt-hours in 2021, a 17 percent increase and a larger year-to-year jump than predicted. Wind power represents clean energy for power production, though not all private properties are suitable for wind power installations. Wind power is harnessed through the use of large installations called turbines. There are a variety of turbine designs, but the typical wind turbine resembles a large windmill that produces electricity via the energy produced when wind moves the turbine blades. Most turbines stand nearly 230 feet tall, with a series of blades measuring nearly 165 feet in length. Turbines are sometimes installed as standalone structures, or as part of a multi-installation project. The Gansu Wind Farm is the largest in the world, with approximately 7,000 turbines. In 2020, solar power accounted for about 3 percent of the electricity generated in the United States. By 2050, this figure could increase to 20 percent. Solar power draws energy from one of earth’s most abundant and readily accessible power sources: the sun. With proper strategies and optimized technology, humans could meet a year's worth of the earth's power needs in just one hour. Energy produced by the earth’s sun can be harnessed through multiple solar technologies, including photovoltaic (PV) panels and mirrors that focus solar radiation. Solar PV technology can be observed on the roofs of businesses and homes. These panels trap photons, which generate heat against the upper layer of the PV installation; the heat, in turn, charges the panel with an electric current. After passing through the PV wiring and converting from DC electricity to an alternating current, the electricity can be used as a clean source of power. Other forms of renewable energy include tidal power, a subset of hydropower that uses drive turbine generations to take advantage of twice-daily tidal currents, and geothermal energy. via Blogger https://ift.tt/woPrcnK November 15, 2022 at 01:39AM

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Understanding USDA Organic Standards

Individuals interested in improving the nutritional value of their regular diet may consider the advantages of consuming organic food. The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) distinguishes such foods with the USDA Organic Label. Before exploring the various health benefits of an organic diet, individuals should first learn about the USDA Organic Label designation and process.

The USDA Organic Label is particularly important considering the various, and often nebulous, dietary claims that can be found on food packaging. When handling a USDA-certified product, individuals can rest assured that the food in question has been produced in accordance with federal guidelines that govern various areas of food production. These areas include the quality of the soil in which the food was grown, the manner in which animals involved in the process were raised, the introduction of additives to ingredients, and methods of pest and weed control.

A food can only be considered organic if it has been grown in approved soil. Soil is only approved by the USDA if it has not incorporated prohibited substances for at least three years prior to harvesting the produce. Individuals can visit USDA.gov to review the complete list of banned substances, which are prohibited due to their effect on human health and the surrounding environment, but they mainly involve synthetic fertilizers and pesticides. Similarly, a food cannot be genetically modified or handled via genetically modified organisms and carry the USDA Organic Label.

If a farmer has no alternative but to use a synthetic product, they must submit the product to the USDA for approval in order to maintain USDA Organic Label certification.

When it comes to organic labeling for meat, criteria include both humane treatment and natural food production strategies. Animals should develop in environments that closely resemble their natural habitats; cows, for instance, should be allowed to graze on pasture, as opposed to being kept in the smallest spaces possible as a means of maximizing production. Furthermore, animals used for meat should only be fed 100 percent organic feed and should never be given hormone injections or antibiotics.

Multi-ingredient foods are subjected to intense scrutiny by USDA representatives. Each ingredient must be individually evaluated. By extension, a food featuring any kind of artificial preservative, dye, or flavoring cannot receive the USDA Organic Label, with a few small exceptions. These exceptions range from enzymes in yogurt to baking soda in certain baked goods.

If a product does not feature the USDA Organic Label, consumers should be wary about how exactly the ingredients in question were prepared. If the labeling on a food product states that it is “made with organic” ingredients, at least 70 percent of the ingredients have been prepared through organic means.

There are many benefits to eating all organic foods beyond supporting the environment and avoiding food that has been soaked in fungicides, herbicides, and insecticides. Among the most notable benefits, organic food is often fresher than comparable products due to the lack of preservatives. Furthermore, organic meat and milk are rich in important nutrients, including up to 50 percent more omega-3 fatty acids.

#Hidalgo Rafael Socorro