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Organic Food

Is It Worth the Money?

By Suzanne R. Carpenter, Richard H. Wallace

Organic Food


 

Abstract

Currently there is considerable confusion surrounding the use of the term "organic" as applied to food and other consumer products, but within the agriculture industry the term has a well-defined meaning related to the practices that are allowed in the production of a crop. This case study was written to inform students about organic agriculture and its implications with regard to food nutritional value as well as its costs.  The case is presented as a dilemma in the context of buying produce in the grocery store. Concepts presented include the difference between organic and conventional agricultural practices, the analysis of food to quantify nutrient levels, the history of the organic movement, and the economic and environmental impacts of organic agriculture. The activity was designed for use in a lower level general science course (with a cursory review of the scientific literature) or in an upper level chemistry course (with a thorough analysis of the literature).

   

Date Posted

12/13/2017

Overview

Objectives

  • Describe some of the differences between organic and conventional agricultural practices.
  • Define antioxidant and identify the structural characteristic of phenols.
  • Interpret data from a scientific study.
  • List the major events in the organic agricultural movement from the 1940s to the present.

Keywords

organic food; agriculture; scientific studies; food; farming; antioxidants; phenol;

  

Subject Headings

Agriculture
Botany / Plant Science
Chemistry (General)
Environmental Science
Food Science / Technology
Organic Chemistry
Science (General)

EDUCATIONAL LEVEL

High school, Undergraduate lower division, Undergraduate upper division, General public & informal education

  

FORMAT

PDF

   

TOPICAL AREAS

History of science, Regulatory issues

   

LANGUAGE

English

   

TYPE/METHODS

Directed, Discussion, Journal Article

 

 

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