(NaturalPath) Ronnie Cummins, the executive and co-chair of the Organic Consumers Association, wants to bring attention to the chemical fertilizer industry, as he thinks it’s under-covered in the media, despite being the largest segment of corporate agribusiness. Cummins says it’s a major destructive force in polluting the environment, disrupting the climate and damaging public health. He goes on to suggest that “Monsanto’s evil twin” the chemical fertilizer industry gives consumers another reason to boycott chemical/GMO/factory-farmed foods and go organic and grass-fed instead.
Chemical Fertilizer is largest industry in Global Agribusiness
A watchdog organization, the ETC group, noted that the pesticide market totals $93 billion. The global, energy-intensive chemical fertilizer industry is almost twice as large, at $175 billion. With money comes power and with that much money and influence, are correct safety studies and procedures being followed? That is the question.
Fracking
Due to fracking, which is known as the process of extracting gas from rock formations by bombarding them with pressurized water spiked with toxic chemicals, there are large amounts of climate-disrupting methane and toxic chemical-laden fracking liquids that can permanently pollute underground aquifers.
Self-Monitoring Enforcement
According to Cummins, while the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) acknowledges the harm or nitrogen fertilizer, the so called “enforcement” is lacking and is basically self-monitoring. He continues noting that, “Self-monitoring by private industry is of course a government trend across the board. In the late 1990’s the government rolled out the Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point (HACCP) program which took away the majority of those ‘pesky’ federal meat inspectors’ duties and allowed big meat to self-police its own slaughterhouses.”
Nitrogen Fertilizer pollutes the environment
Cummings notes that nitrogen runoff feeds into waterways causing a lack of oxygen, thus killing fish. He says that two-thirds of the U.S. drinking water supply is contaminated at high levels with carcinogenic nitrates or nitrites, almost all from excessive use of synthetic nitrogen fertilizer.
Nitrogen Fertilizers Harm Workers and Communities
Cummins notes that anhydrous ammonia, a nitrogen compound compressed into a clear, colorless liquid for easy application, is extremely dangerous to workers and neighboring communities through explosion and fire hazards as well as posing respiratory risks.
Hear more from Ronnie Cummins, as he discusses how organic food can prevent cancer at the Natural Cancer Prevention Summit. Register for free at thecancersummit.com
Razi Berry, Founder and Publisher of Naturopathic Doctor News & Review (ndnr.com) and NaturalPath (thenatpath.com), has spent the last decade as a natural medicine advocate and marketing whiz. She has galvanized and supported the naturopathic community, bringing a higher quality of healthcare to millions of North Americans through her publications. A self-proclaimed health-food junkie and mother of two; she loves all things nature, is obsessed with organic gardening, growing fruit trees (not easy in Phoenix), laughing until she snorts, and homeschooling. She is a little bit crunchy and yes, that is her real name.