This Himalayan Country Only Grows Organic!

Have you ever wondered what paradise was like? Well I think I may know where it is and why it is so great.

The same country which supports a gross domestic happiness over gross domestic product has decided to ensure all it’s grown food is 100% organic.

That’s right, this entire country (although not very large in size) is the first to grow entirely organic produce.

So where is this gem of a nation you ask? Nestled in the Himalayan mountains that’s where.

Bhutan, which is a country known for it’s farming industries, has a population of just 700,000 – the average size of any major American city.

Just last month, the Prime Minister of Bhutan, Jigmi Thinley told his coworkers and government officials that he is developing a National Organic Policy in recognition of the country’s farming population and their needs.

He is convinced that “by working in harmony with nature, they can help sustain the flow of nature’s bounties.”

Seems like a dream does it not?! But it is not all buttercups and rainbows.

As ideal a place as it is, Bhutan still struggles against some farmers who choose to use chemicals and toxic fertilizers to grow their crops. Passing a legislation banning these products is a step in the right direction and by all accounts, entirely realistic.

The fact of the matter is, these fertilizers are flown in from America, and most of the chemicals used to ward off bugs and fungus are not available in the country. A simple ban on the import of these types of toxins is all it could take.

According to the World Food Program, the country of Bhutan grows mostly rice, corn and potatoes with some famers growing oranges as well. The hope is that as organic food demand increases, the Bhutan people will start to expand there crops and grow a variety of food.

As it stands now, despite the already high organic percentage of farming, most of the organic farms are not certified with the organic stamp of approval.

A large quantity of red beans are exported from the country to places like Whole Foods in the North America, which the Prime Minister hopes will expand to other types of produce.

As the new all-organic policy spreads, more Bhutan farmers will be trained in the new methods and thus more Bhutan made foods could appear on the shelves of our national organic grocers.

The dangers of GMOs are no secret and if a country like Bhutan, with limited economic resource, can change their whole farming infrastructure towards a healthier diet, why can’t we enact similar change?

It is time that the American government takes a page out of Bhutan’s book and makes a move towards fully erasing the toxic soil and produce being feed to citizens all over the world.

It is not just Americans who eat the food grown at home, but exports to other countries make the plague serious and a worldwide problem!

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