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FACTS
Eating Organic Reduces Body’s Pesticide Levels
A new University of California study found that eating organically grown
food for one week can greatly lower pesticide levels within the body.
Researchers found the levels of toxins decreased by an average of
60.5 per cent after six days of organic food consumption. Exposure to
pesticides has been linked to many adverse
health outcomes including asthma,
infertility, hormone imbalances, and
impaired cognitive development. This
study followed four families from across
the US (Oakland, Minneapolis, Baltimore, and
Atlanta). From days one through five, participants
ate as they normally would. From days six
through 11, they followed a strictly organic
diet, including condiments and spices. Urine samples were
collected to test pesticide levels. The most significant decrease —
a 95 per cent drop — was with malathion organophosphates, a highly
toxic insecticide linked to brain damage in children. Neonicotinoids
also saw a significant decrease — an 83 per cent drop.
— foodtank.com
Scientists Say Foam Grows Crops Faster Than Soil
Researchers from the new Institute for Sustainable Food at the University of
Sheffield have found that crops planted in polyurethane foams at an urban
farm grow two to 10 times faster than plants grown in soil. Using a network
of pipes, nutrient solutions, controlled growing environments, and foams,
scientists are growing everything from salad to tomatoes — demonstrating
a potential solution to the global crisis of soil fertility. Some 24 billion
tons of fertile soil are lost globally to erosion every year. So, experts
developed specialist foams that chemically, physically. and biologically
resemble soil. Professor Duncan Cameron, director of the Institute
for Sustainable Food at the University of Sheffield, says: “The world is
facing a crisis of soil fertility. If we’re going to fix this, we need to do
something radically different. Urban farms that use foam instead of
soil could take a lot of pressure off existing agricultural systems.”
— phys.org
Plant Virus Helps Target Pests Beneath Soil
Researchers have discovered a particular plant virus can deliver pesticide
molecules deep below the surface, targeting areas usually beyond pesticide
reach. In an article published in Nature Nanotechnology, scientists detail how a
biological nanoparticle — a plant virus — can deliver pesticide molecules deep
into the soil. This means farmers and growers can better manage difficult
pests like parasitic nematodes, which wreak havoc on plant roots deep in
the soil. Because pesticides are sticky molecules, they strongly bond with
organic matter in soil, making it difficult to penetrate deep down into
the root level where pests like nematodes reside and cause damage. To
compensate, farmers end up applying large amounts of pesticides, which
cause harmful residues to build up in the soil and leach into groundwater.
Researchers found Tobacco mild green mosaic virus can transport small
amounts of pesticide down to 12 inches below the surface.
— sciencedaily.com
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