TulsiPeople.com – An Organic India blog about organic farming, Tulsi (Holy Basil) and sustainability

Study: Organic Food Improves Mothers’ Breast Milk

Tal — Thu, 26 Jul 2007 07:00:32 +0000

A new study published in the British Journal of Nutrition, showed that organic dairy and meat products in a mother’s diet positively affect the nutritional quality of her breast milk-markedly increasing beneficial fatty acids.
Specifically, a diet in which 90% or more of dairy and meat products are organic is correlated with measurably higher levels of conjugated linoleic acid (CLA). CLA is a type of fat that is believed to have anti-carcinogenic, anti-atherosclerotic, anti-diabetic and immune-enhancing
effects, as well as a favorable influence on body fat composition. For newborns specifically, CLA is believed to especially aid immune system development. Read more…

Health awareness drives global organic market

Tal — Wed, 25 Jul 2007 07:46:47 +0000

The organic food and beverage market has been predicted to surpass $86bn (€62bn) by 2009, with consumers increasingly turning ‘organic’ in search of health and safety in their food products.
According to a new report by Global Industry Analysts, Organic Foods & Beverages: A global business report published this month, health and well-being is becoming increasingly prevalent on consumer priority lists, helping to spur a double-digit annual growth rate in the global organic food and beverage market. Read more..

Another Benefit Is Seen in Buying Organic Produce

Tal — Sun, 22 Jul 2007 09:45:30 +0000

People who choose organic fruits and vegetables to avoid pesticides and other chemicals may have another reason to buy organic. A new study finds that organically grown tomatoes have higher levels of flavonoids, which may protect against cardiovascular disease.
Ten-Year Comparison of the Influence of Organic and Conventional Crop Management Practices on the Content of Flavonoids in Tomatoes (Journal of Agriculture and Food Chemistry)Writing in The Journal of Agriculture and Food Chemistry, researchers said the level of one flavonoid in the organic tomatoes was almost twice as high as that in conventionally grown tomatoes.
Because of evidence that flavonoids may fight age-related diseases, the study said, researchers have been trying to develop crops with higher levels of them. In the United States, only potatoes are eaten more often than tomatoes. Read More (from the nytimes.com)

Changing Climate Will Challenge Northeast Agriculture

Tal — Thu, 19 Jul 2007 07:03:27 +0000

Farmers will be the first to feel the heat from global warming as they grapple with new and aggressive crop pests, summer heat stress and other sobering challenges that could strain family farms to the limit, warns David Wolfe, PhD, a professor of horticulture at Cornell University who specializes in the effects of climate change on agriculture.
His gloomy assessment was part of a report by the Northeast Climate Impacts Assessment (NECIA) Synthesis Team, presented last Wednesday at a press conference at the New York Botanical Garden. Read More..

Study: Organic farming can benefit developing countries

Tal — Sun, 15 Jul 2007 05:27:35 +0000

A U.S. study shows organic farming can yield three times as much food on farms in developing nations as does low-intensive methods on the same land.
The findings of the University of Michigan study are said to refute the long-standing claim that organic farming methods cannot produce enough food to feed the global population.
Researchers found yields in developed countries were nearly equal on organic and conventional farms. In developing countries food production could double or triple using organic methods, said Professor Ivette Perfecto, one the study’s principal investigators. Read more…

Organic Tomatoes Better For Heart And Blood Pressure

Tal — Sun, 08 Jul 2007 07:14:53 +0000

Organic tomatoes have significantly higher levels of flavonoids, compared to non-organic tomatoes, according to the results of a ten-year study carried out by researchers at the University of California.
You can read about this study in a report coming out soon in the Journal of Agricultural Food Chemistry.Flavanoids are a class of water-soluble pigments that are present in many plants. Scientists have identified a few thousand different flavonoids. Flavonoids are known to lower hypertension (high blood pressure), thus lowering heart disease and stroke risk. Studies have also indicated that flavonoids may protect us to some extent from cancer and dementia.
The researchers believe that it is the quality of the soil that gives the organic tomatoes their higher flavonoid levels, specifically, the absence of fertilizers. Read More…

Tibetans to introduce organic farming

Tal — Thu, 05 Jul 2007 08:24:11 +0000

Tibetan refugees plan to introduce organic farming in India with the help of an Italian NGO.
“A pilot organic village will be set up in each of the 12 major agricultural settlements spread across India,” said Ngodup Dorje, head of the agriculture and cooperative division of the Tibetan government-in-exile here.
The model villages will receive all inputs in the process of organic conversion ranging from training programmes and exposure tours of organic farms, besides procuring seeds and making eco-friendly compost. Read more…

Organic Coffee production rises by 40 pct in Nepal this year

Tal — Mon, 02 Jul 2007 07:01:29 +0000

Nepal recorded a whopping 40 percent rise this year in organic coffee production compared to last year, The Kathmandu Post reported on Sunday.

The daily quoted Raghupati Chaudhary, acting chief of National Tea and Coffee Development Board, western regional office as saying that coffee production this year has soared to 391 tons from 278 tons of last year. Read more…

Harrods turns to India for premium tea

Tal — Sun, 24 Jun 2007 06:31:39 +0000

Harrods of Knightsbridge, London’s premium departmental store, is looking to India for speciality teas like organic, green, clonal CTC and orthodox and single-estate to cater to upmarket customers.
A team from Harrods was in the city to close deals with some of the leading names in the tea industry like McLeod Russel, Goodricke Group Ltd and Assam Co. Incidentally, this iconic high-street store where the Queen of England shops has also bought more teas from India this year.
Read more…

Now In China - Green Food

Tal — Wed, 20 Jun 2007 06:21:08 +0000

Various pollution-free organic produce now makes up 20 percent of edible agricultural products on China’s markets, according to sources at the ongoing National Working Conference on Pollution-free and Green Food.
Statistics from the meeting showed there are a total of 23,636 certified pollution-free agricultural products, 4,615 manufacturers producing 12,868 kinds of certified green food, and 520 manufacturers producing 2,278 kinds of certified organic food in China.