Last month, the American President’s Cancer Panel annual report, “Reducing Environmental Cancer Risk: What Can We Do Now”, was released. This year’s report focused on environmental carcinogens. A key message in the report is that out of the approximately 80,000 chemicals in our environment, including pesticides and food additives, very little of these chemicals have been tested to see how they affect our long-term health. The report goes on to state that current research may likely have underestimated these chemicals affect on our cancer risk. In order to help reduce cancer risk, the report suggests individuals choose foods that have been grown without pesticides and chemical fertilizers and eat meat that has been raised free of exposure to growth hormones and antibiotics.
One way a person can follow the reports suggestions is to eat organic foods. To be classified as an organic farm in Canada, pesticides, chemicals, growth hormones, or antibiotics cannot be used. As a result, there are many beneficial effects on the environment, which indirectly benefit human health. For example, organic farming uses natural methods for maintaining and improving soil health. Healthier soil decreases run off pollution into water ways, and increases the soils ability to sequester excess carbon from the air. These environmental benefits of healthy soil have been widely recognized by organizations such as US Food and Agricultural Organization. The Fosterbauer Family Natural Food Farm, in Chilliwack, BC, is an example of how one local farm proves it can be done.
Fosterbauer Family Natural Food Farm, began in 1977, selling blueberries and has quickly grown to provide a range of vegetables, blueberries, strawberries, eggs, and beef. A unique feature of this farm is that it uses a method called “biodynamic farming”. This method values the importance of soil health so that healthier plants are grown and higher quality food is produced, with out the use of pesticides, herbicides or chemical fertilizers. You can find Fosterbauer Family Natural Food Farm products at many different farmers markets throughout the Lower Mainland, and throughout BC
People have already started to think more seriously about how their food is produced, where it comes from, and what effects it has on the environment. The release and press coverage of the President’s Cancer Panel report, is another large step towards increasing public awareness and demand for organic produce. By supporting local food producers, such as Fosterbauer Family Natural Food Farm, it builds a “give-and-take” relationship with our surroundings, where we can work towards reducing our impact and overall, create a healthier living environment.
Written in collaboration with Jill McDowell and Nicole O’Byrne, of the UBC Dietetic Program
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