Re: Nutritional comparison of conventional and organic cropping systems

Jennifer Bokaer-Smith (jcb13@cornell.edu)
Wed, 23 Oct 1996 16:11:49 -0400 (EDT)

I have looked at this issue a little bit and it is a difficult thing to
study. If you're comparing crops grown at a university research farm, it
is quite possible that the "organic" crops won't acutally meet organic
standards. If the organic plots couldn't meet organic certification
standards, comparing food from the plots becomes meaningless. Conversely,
when products from organic and conventional farms are compared, you have to
deal with many variables which are difficult to control. The best study
I've seen looked at foods from a supermarket, not a farm, since that's what
consumers get. If you could let me know more about your research design, I
could offer more input.

In terms of nutrient content, it really depends on the crop. The
B-vitamins are often looked at, as are micronutrients which can be toxic at
high levels. But again, it should depend on what the most important
nutrients in the food are.

Good luck!

Jen Bokaer-Smith
Division of Nutritional Sciences
Cornell University
Ithaca, NY 14850
607/255-2662