From Philosophy to Science: A Brief History of Organic Horticulture in the United States

Abstract

Since the dawn of agriculture in the Fertile Crescent, people have farmed without synthetic inputs, but does that approach to farming really exemplify the current definition of organic? When did the philosophy and science of organic production develop? Most argue that the industrialization of agriculture in the 1940s served as a point of departure from conventional agriculture, and scientists and farmers, concerned with regenerating soils exhausted by excess tillage, lack of organic amendments, and improper use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides, began to mold a new paradigm. While space limitations prevent a complete review of the rich history, this synopsis follows the evolution of the organic movement and highlights significant events and leaders that would ultimately build U.S. organic agriculture to the dynamic industry it is today.