Research Paper Topics for Organic Food

Grandfather and granddaughter putting garden vegetables in a basket.
••• XiXinXing/XiXinXing/Getty Images

The dramatic increase in organic food production provides an interesting subject for student researchers. According to a 2012 report by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Organic Program, organic food production has increased 240 percent between 2002 and 2011. With numbers like that, health enthusiasts aren’t the only ones who are taking notice. The organic food industry is creating cultural and economic trends that have spurred market analysts to gather data to study the details of this phenomenon. These statistics provide ample data for research papers.

Define Organic Food

There are many debates over which type of foods are considered organic. Consumers become frustrated when food suppliers exploit the term “organic” for marketing purposes. To protect the organic farmer and the consumer from unethical marketing practices, the USDA has established requirements that must be met in order for a food to bear its “Organic Seal.” Define these requirements and explain what practices farmers use to ensure they are met. For instance, farmers must “support animal health and welfare.” The Organic Trade Association explains practices that support this objective, such as animals being fed organic feed and cows grazing on “rich, nutritious grass” for at least one-third their lives.

Explore Why People Buy Organic Food

If you ask a handful of consumers why they buy organic food, their answers may very well be different. The way people interpret the meaning of “organic” varies greatly, as do the reasons consumers purchase organic food. What determines whether a person will, or will not, buy organic food? Explore the motivations, perceptions and attitudes of organic food buyers. Factors could include marketing trends that influence consumers or access to information provided by special interest groups or health care providers. Discuss the effects demographics have on organic food purchases. For example, do people of a certain age buy organic food more frequently than others? Do college-educated, white-collar consumers tend to buy organic food more than their blue-collar counterparts? Do city dwellers buy more organic food than people living in rural areas?

Examine the Health Benefits of Organic Food

Is organic food healthier than non-organic food? A research paper can explore the reality of this claim. Include data that supports or challenges the assertion that organic food is better for the consumer’s health because it has a higher nutritional value and fewer toxic chemicals. Cite studies that conclude that organic foods provide higher levels of nutrients such as vitamin C, iron, magnesium and phosphorus, as well as provide a higher level of antioxidant activity than their non-organic counterparts. Report how these factors will benefit the public health by connecting them to a reduction in ill health effects.

Explore the Economic Effects of Organic Food

A report issued by the Organic Trade Association says organic farming is good for the economy. Explore the various jobs created by the organic agricultural industry. The production and distribution of organic food requires more farm labor than conventional methods of farming. It also creates the need for small local markets and subsequently, employees to work in them. Organic agriculture has also created the need for an industry to be responsible for the certification of organic food. Define these new jobs and markets and report on their effect on the economy.

Related Articles

A List of Interesting Agriculture Speech Topics
How Is Organic Beef Raised?
How to Minimize Land Pollution
Chemistry Research Topic Ideas
What Are the Benefits of Agriculture and Farmers?
The Best Ideas for Stopping Food Waste in Schools
Math Activities Using Nutrition Labels
Definition of Organic Seeds
How to Eliminate Bias in Qualitative Research
The Disadvantages of Packaging
What Is the Main Idea of Overproduction in Natural...
Science Project Ideas & the Scientific Method
Research Topics in Biotechnology
Foods That Make Your Body Acidic
How is Calculus Used in Economics?
The Difference Between Sour & Bitter
Uses of Recombinant DNA in Agriculture
What Are the Causes of the Destruction of Ecosystem?
We Lost 3 Billion Birds In 50 Years: Here's How it...

Dont Go!

We Have More Great Sciencing Articles!