Lost in Legislation: The Cultural and Political Meanings of "Organic"

Date of Award

2009

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Bachelors

Department

Social Sciences

First Advisor

Alcock, Frank

Keywords

Organic Farming, Standards, History, USDA, United States Department of Agriculture

Area of Concentration

Environmental Studies

Abstract

In 2002, the United States Department of Agriculture launched the National Organic Program, which promises that any food labeled "organic" has been grown and processed according to nationally uniform and recognized standards. But what does "organic" mean? Organic agriculture has a long history in the United States as a radical, grassroots movement promoting human health, environmental stewardship, and a decentralized food system. The USDA has a long history of promoting chemical- and capital-intensive agriculture that leads to serious degradation of ecosystems, destruction of small farms and rural communities, and feeds a highly centralized, corporate-controlled food system. How did organic agriculture come to be regulated by the USDA? Organic food shifted from a countercultural, health food, niche market to a multi-billion dollar mainstream industry. To facilitate trade and protect hard-earned price premiums, the industry lobbied Congress for legislation to create a national standard. However, fundamental differences in ideology and a history of mutual antagonism ensured ongoing conflicts between the USDA and the organic movement. This thesis chronicles the history of organic agriculture in the United States, and examines the ongoing political relationship between the USDA and the organic agriculture movement.

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