RE: [ATFE2] Re: Agricultural aromatherapy
Hi Rachel,
I believe you are referencing Marrone Bio Innovations, Inc. They are not
"Maroon Organics", which is completely misleading to the layperson, and
their products are not completely organic. They manufacture some products
they claim are intended for organic production, but these products are not
comprised entirely of biochemicals and I am not sure they have official
certified organic status. As an instance, their Greenmatch EX Burndown
Herbicide is 50% lemongrass oil and 50% water, corn oil, Glycerol Esters,
Potassium Oleate and Lecithin. I believe that Glycerol Esters are primary
ingredients in a clinical toxicological investigation of delayed neuropathy
and acute poisoning from another pesticide product. Potassium Oleate has
been linked to cancer, developmental/
immunotoxicity and contamination conerns. Moreover, a number of organic
pesticides recently failed a EU safety review.
We cannot forget that all pesticides (from organic source or not) are
intended to "kill" pests. And both can be deliterious to the environment
and other living beings including man. Looking for organic replacements for
synthetic chemical pesticides grossly overlooks the fact that what is really
necessary is to learn an entirely different method of farming. One from
which no monetary profit can be derived. This is no doubt anathema to some.
Permaculture - crop rotation, composting, companion planting, nurturing
beneficial pests (ones that eat the bad guys) . . . All reduce the need for
fertilizers and pesticides. Organic methods are grounded in the philosophy
of feeding and enriching the soil in such a way that you reduce or
completely eliminate the crutch of dangerous and damaging
fertilizers/
substitute for bad chemicals because you would have to apply as much of the
alternative and you would inevitably cause much the same problem as with
synthetics. And, as I have pointed out, these products are NOT organic.
Here's a good resource to learn more http://ofrf.
I recently posted this wonderful talk by Michael Pollan (whom I deify and
wish would have become our Top Ag Guy under Obama) on my fb page. You will
certainly get a sense of the true meaning of organic and the word symbiotic.
The part about cows/chickens should certainly open eyes as an example of the
optimum process, which has nothing to do with capitalizing on a short
sighted substitution of one killer over another.
http://tinyurl.
You state that Pam Marrone says . . . "80 percent of today's biopesticides
are used in conventional farming . . . " A glaring question is, "Why
aren't they being used in organic farming?" The answer is that organic
farming doesn't require them.
Our industry has its own back yard to clean up. Essential Oil production is
not entirely eco-friendly and overharvesting (not to mention deforestation
for new crops) is abusive to the point of diminishing and disappearing
species. We have just begun to address the issues of fair trade in the
essential oil industry and have a long way to go. As another essential oil
purveyor, I would not choose getting overly vested in sales of large
quantaities of essential oils as pesticides which will further increase
demand and stress already overly stressed production capability. Doing this
while at the same time remaining ignorant about the true problems of
sustainability is, in my mind, akin to criminalty in this century of major
worldwide food crises.
Sorry if I come across harshly, but I am really tired of the ignorance of
those who claim to have a "natural" philosophy that is not reflected in the
intelligence of their business practices.
Be Well,
Marcia Elston, Samara Botane/Nature Intelligence
http://www.wingedse
http://www.aromacon
"The most commom way people give up their power is by thinking they don't
have any": Alice Walker
____________
From: ATFE2@yahoogroups.
ramarkel
Sent: Thursday, May 21, 2009 9:25 AM
To: ATFE2@yahoogroups.
Subject: [ATFE2] Re: Agricultural aromatherapy
--- In ATFE2@yahoogroups.
Watt" <aromamedical@
>
> With that idea they are living in cloud cuckoo land. Lavender oil is
adulterated on a vast scale due to not enough being grown at an economic
price to meet demand. So to use it on crops is a none starter. This looks to
me like the hundreds of thousands of other research papers produced to get
some wannabe scientists their degrees, or a higher level diploma, or
invitations to conferences around the world. The UK MPs expenses scandal is
insignificant compared to the money wasted on impracticale science research.
>
> Martin Watt
>
Dear Martin,
While I appreciate your valuable opinion I just wanted to provide you with
an update: on my side of the planet essential oils are being used for
farming quite a bit. I have supplied plenty of farms over the years in the
U.S. and Canada by the drum. Rosemary and Peppermint Oil for a brussel
sprout farmer, clove oil to a potatoe farmer, thyme oil to coat seeds as a
protective agent, d-limonene for weed control, by the way it works just a
good as round-up.
The EPA created a list FIFRA 25B,here you will find the following essential
oils cedar, citronella, cinnamon, clove,garlic,
rosemary, thyme. These ingredients are exempt from regulation at the federal
level for use in farming and the creation of biopesticides. Your head would
spin if you could see all of the products being formulated off of this list.
A leading company in the biopesticide industry is Maroon Organics. Here is
an excerpt from the Internet "We are proud to be in the biopesticide
business, a crop protection category that is growing, maturing and realizing
widespread acceptance in agribusiness globally," said company founder and
CEO, Pam Marrone, upon making the announcement.
"What many don't realize is that more than 80 percent of today's
biopesticides are used in conventional farming. At Marrone Bio Innovations,
we are dedicated to discovering, developing and marketing products for
today's and tomorrow's pest management challenges. All of our products are
derived from biological, or natural, sources, and are as effective as
conventional synthetic chemical pesticides."
So you see Martin, there is a movement away from the use of deleterious
chemicals that have wreaked havoc on our planet to a more natural approach.
Since the 1950's nearly 80,000 chemicals have been manufactured in the U.S.
for use in just about everything, with little or no testing. Smart,
innovative people are using things from the past to improve the way we do
things in the future. I once had a business partner that poo-pooed every new
idea that came across his desk because he was the "expert authority," on
oils. Needless to say we didn't see eye to eye on much of anything. All that
I can say is that there's a great big world outside of Aromatherapy.
Be well,
Rachel Markel
Managing Partner
www.eoilco.com
www.eoilcolab.
www.GreenTerpene.
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