by Ricky Jimenez
American consumers are told there is solid, scientific evidence to show that commercially grown vegetables and fruits today are significantly less nutritious than these foods were 100 years ago, or even just 30 years ago, according to the Mother Earth News, a U.S. magazine on sustainable agriculture (June/July 2009 issue).
Citing a study conducted by HORTSCIENCE, 2009 entitled “Declining Fruit and Vegetable Nutrient Composition,” the article from the magazine written by Cheryl Long said the decline is caused by the so-called “environment dilution effect” and “genetic dilution effect”.
To explain this point, researchers have known since the 1940s that yield increases produced by fertilization, irrigation and other environmental means tend to decrease the concentration of minerals in those plants. While modern farming techniques (wide use of inorganic fertilizers) produce higher yields for the farmers and less expensive foods for consumers, there is a downside: lower food quality.
The same study shows the other force to blame is “genetic dilution effect”, or the decline of nutritional concentration that happens when plant breeders put emphasis on broad nutrient content.
Analyzing this, there appears to be some sort of tinkering with the natural nutrient composition of plants from the pre-seed stage. To prove our point, the magazine says “In fruits, grains and vegetables, usually 80 to 90% of the dry weight yield is carbohydrates (sugars and starches), the last thing we need in the diet. Growers choose varieties for high yields, mostly for their highest amount of carbohydrates”.
In the Philippine context, what can consumers do? Nutritionists and agriculturists in the government service do not tell us anything in this regard. To think that our richest sources of vitamins and minerals are vegetable and fruits.
Our conventional farming practices, patterned after Europe and North America, allow the use of “high tech, high finance, high debt mono crop systems that have a built-in expiration date” according to Keith Mikkelson, a practitioner of natural farming methods which is proving to be quite a success in Palawan.
In his book “Sustainable Agriculture (2005), Mikkelson said natural farming (sustainable, organic or agro-ecological agriculture) is the most economical way to solve the two-fold global food production crisis: declining quantity and quality. The author is quick to add that there is an economically viable way to make crop fertilizer (instead of the imported, inorganic fertilizer available in the market) out of compostable materials which are commonly discarded as useless.
“The current paradigm is man-centered. Farmers who sit in the board meetings and make decisions based on profitability or return of investment (ROI) run the largest farms (in developed countries). Food quality and nutrition take a backseat to satisfy investors and shareholders”, Mikkelson explained.
As of now, the only way for consumers to be sure about the safety and healthfulness of the vegetable and fruits they eat is to grow the foods themselves. But if this is not possible, look for organic foods in some supermarkets. To be practical and realistic about it, very few consumers can afford the price of organic foods. This brings us to the newly approved Davao City Organic Agriculture Ordinance. It is there now. The only thing missing is the Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR).
There is something to look forward to in the near future, the possibility of having our vegetable and fruits, not only safe and healthy (being free from toxic chemicals), but also nutrient-rich if ,once and for all, organic agriculture will become the main agricultural practice in the farmlands of Davao City.
Things are looking up in the agriculture industry, especially so when consumers are becoming more conscious about the food they eat. (email me at rjrjrajimenez@gmail.com)
