The conventional food industry often blocks research on the impacts of produce grown with chemical fertilizers. It is very rare for large firms to care about preserving the environment, living species or the health of consumers. What generally counts are the financial profits! This therefore makes it difficult for the consumer to acquire a complete understanding of the literature on the subject and the issues that arise from it.
This article summarizes the things you need to be aware of when it comes to chemical fertilizers. Especially when it comes to fruits and vegetables that will sooner or later end up on your plate!
Biological agriculture
Organic farming is a specific production system which therefore avoids the use of synthetic and harmful pesticides. There are no chemical fertilizers, growth regulators and livestock feed additives. Organic products are those that have been grown in this way. Much confusion surrounds the term organic. For a product to be labeled "organic", 95% of a product's ingredients must be of organic (organic) origin. Whereas if 100% of the ingredients are organic, the product may be labeled "organic 100%". Another type of label says "made with organic ingredients" and that's when at least 70% of the ingredients are organic.
The environmental impact of chemical fertilizers
A fertilizer is a natural or synthetic substance applied to soils to provide one or more essential nutrients for plant growth. They contain the main plant macronutrients like nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium. They also contain secondary plant macronutrients, calcium, magnesium and sulfur and micronutrients like copper, iron, manganese, molybdenum, zinc and boron. In general, fertilizers can be classified as organic fertilizers and chemical (or inorganic) fertilizers.
Organic fertilizers ≠ chemical fertilizers
Organic fertilizers are not used commercially due to lower productivity. These fertilizers break down in nature, making them less effective for commercial purposes, but much more environmentally friendly. Instead, conventional agriculture uses chemical fertilizers, which provide a much higher yield. However, these chemical fertilizers have a widespread detrimental impact on our ecosystem. One of these impacts is eutrophication or hypertrophication of fresh water. This means that freshwater bodies become highly enriched in minerals and nutrients due to runoff. This results in a number of downstream effects. Eutrophication induces excessive growth of aquatic plants and algae which can kill marine animals, as well as an overgrowth of cyanobacteria which can produce harmful toxins which can accumulate in the food chain and be harmful to humans.
Water pollution…
Phosphate is the main contributor to the eutrophication effect. It clings tightly to the ground and is transported to fresh water by erosion. In addition, the chemical fertilizers that have polluted the rivers, lakes and even the oceans are rich in nitrogen compounds. This causes a depletion of oxygen in the water. It doesn't take much imagination to anticipate what will happen to life underwater when oxygen runs out.
It has been reported that chemicals found in fertilizers, especially nitrates, are major contributors to water pollution in general. The effects of chemical fertilizers on the soil are as follows. Acidification, which limits the bioavailability of nutrients, the accumulation of toxic elements such as cadmium, fluoride, radioactive elements, lead, arsenic, chromium and nickel, and finally the disruption of the biology of the ground.
The impact of chemical fertilizers on humans
As far as human health is concerned, the effects of chemical fertilizers are serious. This is due both to their direct toxic effect and to the indirect effects linked to the reduction in the nutrient density of the plants consumed. There is an important role of nitrosamine exposure in Alzheimer's disease, diabetes mellitus and non-alcoholic steatohepatitis. This exposure arises from a chemical reaction between nitrites and secondary amines or proteins and causes DNA damage, oxidative stress, lipid peroxidation and pro-inflammatory cytokine activation, which together result in cellular degeneration and increased death. Nitrite is generally used in all processed and preserved foods. Since it is widely used in fertilizers, it therefore becomes a major component of polluted water.
Detoxify food and water before human consumption!
Thus, researchers suggest eliminating the use of nitrites in food. But also to reduce nitrate levels in fertilizers and water used to irrigate crops. Finally, to employ safe and effective measures to detoxify food and water before human consumption. These results were later confirmed by many other studies. This clearly demonstrates the role of chemical fertilizers in Alzheimer's disease. Toxic levels of cadmium and aluminum in soil due to the use of chemical fertilizers also play a role in the process and pathophysiology of Alzheimer's disease, which was also reported by another research group. in Hungary. Overall, all the serious research shows that chemical fertilizers pose a significant health risk. They also contribute to the development of chronic diseases!
Nutritional Differences Between Organic and Inorganic Foods
Many studies report higher levels of antioxidants in organic produce compared to conventional produce. A decade-long study conducted at the University of California in the Department of Food Science and Technology as well as the Department of Plant Science showed that organic tomatoes contain 79% and 97%, respectively, with higher levels of the antioxidant. quercetin. Another study also showed that the level of vitamin C was higher in organic oranges. Organic foods are good for your health. They also limit the damage that is caused by cultivation with chemical fertilizers.
Change your diet and less exposure to chemical fertilizers
When you consider all the research presented, organic foods are a game changer in the process of preventing and reversing Alzheimer's disease and other chronic diseases. Eating seasonal organic products is certainly the best solution! It's the way we grew and ate decades ago. This not only reduces the harmful effects of chemical fertilizers, but also provides better nutritional quality. Unfortunately, organic foods are more expensive and force people to make a choice between their wallets, their health and the preservation of our planet. Today, with Blumeo, this should never be the case again!
Our hydroponic solutions allow you to grow your own fruits and vegetables independently and with ease. Consuming differently, protecting our planet and making significant savings are criteria now accessible to everyone. The purchase of a connected greenhouse is indeed a significant investment. However, if you take into account how much you would spend each month to buy quality fruits and vegetables, you will find that you will quickly save a lot of money in the medium term. So think about your health, protect the planet and at the same time save money with our solutions!