|
What do you call farmers who don't use synthetic fertilizers or even organically approved pesticides and also avoid animal-derived products? (This is not the first line of a joke.)
Though still obscure in the farming world, these farmers are called “vegan organic,” or “veganic” (also referred to as “stock-free” farming). Instead of using
fertilizers and byproducts derived from animals (i.e., manure and bone meal), these farmers rely solely on plant-based fertilizers, like "green manures" (composted plant matter).
Sure, when misapplied, manure can transfer harmful bacteria, like salmonella and e. coli, onto food crops. But these contamination events usually occur on industrial-scale conventional farms, not carefully managed organic operations. And livestock has long been heralded as a crucial part of any farm. Yet veganic farming is giving some farmers (and consumers) a peace of mind when it comes to their food.
Two organizations have been created to support this way of farming: the Veganic Agriculture Network and the Vegan Organic Network. There are only about a dozen veganic farms in the U.S., but a commitment to these methods is growing in places like Europe, where many farmers don't have the space to keep animals.
Source: Associated Press
|
