PROBLEM
98
Cana-Coin
Incorporated
Modern Agriculture Impoverished Soils,
Impoverished Crops
Soil depletion through unsustainable agricultural practices results in an inevitable loss of nutrient content in our crops. Historical data shows that the mineral content of vegetables grown in US has declined precipitously over the last century. l Research published in the Journal of the American College of Nutrition in 2004 found significant declines in the mineral and vitamin content of 43 garden crops grown in the US market.
US data corroborate findings for vegetable crops grown between 1940 and 2002 in Great Britain, which show mineral losses ranging from 15% to 62% for common minerals and trace elements. In an earlier study, detrimental changes were found in the natural ratio of minerals, such as calcium and magnesium, in the foods tested. Similarly, a Canadian study found dramatic declines in the nutrient content of produce grown over a 50 year interval to 1999. During that time, the average Canadian spud lost 57% of its vitamin C and iron, 28% of its calcium, 50% of its riboflavin, and 18% of its niacin. The story was the same for all 25 fruits and vegetables analyzed. The Canadian data revealed that nearly 80% of the foods tested showed large drops in their calcium and iron content, three quarters showed significant decreases in vitamins.