Food, Glorious Food: Implications of Food Security through a Comparative Analysis of Convention and Organic Farming Methods in Princeton Township

Abstract

This thesis will examine the effects of different farming methods on harvest amount for crops during the summer season in Princeton Township, as a means of determining which techniques are best for crop growth and longevity. This thesis will then examine how agriculture plays a role in impacting food security, and what other factors and barriers are in place such that food insecurity is rampant not just in the United States but worldwide. This paper essentially addresses how farming methods can impact harvest amount, and more broadly explores the role the agricultural industry plays in global public health issues using food security as an example. This question is important because it highlights the agricultural industry, showing how much of an impact it can have public health issues. By bridging these two disciplines, policy makers and officials alike can gain a different perspective through which they can address issues like food insecurity and equitability. The bulk of this thesis focuses on the study which was carried out in Princeton Township in the summer of 2018. Five farms in the area were examined, three certified organic and two conventional farms and the harvest amount for four crops were tracked throughout the summer – cucumbers, tomatoes, peppers, and corn. I hypothesized that conventional farms would produce a significantly greater harvest across all the crops for the entire summer than organic farms, due to the use of fertilizers and herbicides to preserve the crops such that they can withstand various conditions. The second part of the thesis is an analysis of the barriers in place that allow food insecurity to remain as rampant as it is, first highlighting the role agriculture can play, as well as affordability, and the importance of agency among the affected populations. Through statistical analysis, it was found that the conventional farms did not produce greater harvest than that of the organic farms. In rare occurrences where conventional farms did produce a greater amount, the result was not a significant difference. The conclusion drawn is that though further research does need to be done, a greater push for organic farming methods as opposed to conventional farming methods could be warranted, especially in regards to food security. The main benefit to conventional farming methods is yield, and we are finding the difference to not be significant, pushing for more organic farming methods would be beneficial in so many ways in regards to food security and beyond.