Chemical versus organic farming[qh]
化学耕作和有机耕作[qh]

Chemical pesticides and artificial fertilisers have been in widespread use in farming since the middle of the 20th century.[qh]
自20世纪中期以来，化学农药和人工化肥在耕作中得到了广泛使用。[qh]
When they were first introduced, many farmers welcomed them as a great way to fight crop disease and increase production.[qh]
当它们第一次被引进时，很多农民喜欢使用农药和化肥，把它们作为防治农作物病虫害和提高产量的重要手段。[qh]
Over time, however, what some scientists have found is that their long-term use can sometimes harm both the land and people's health.[qh]
然而，随着时间的推移，一些科学家发现长期使用农药和化肥会造成土地受损，对人们的健康造成危害。[qh]
For example, pesticides can damage the land by killing not only harmful bacteria and insects, but also helpful ones.[qh]
例如，农药在杀死病菌和害虫的同时也会杀死有益的细菌和昆虫，从而破坏土地。[qh]
In addition, these chemicals can stay in the soil and underground water sources for a long time.[qh]
此外，这些化学物质可以在地里和地下水中保存很长时间。[qh]
This affects the crops grown on the land and, in turn, the animals and humans who digest them. Many people worry that these chemicals may make them ill and even cause cancer.[qh]
而这会影响生长在土地上的农作物，进而影响到消化它们的动物和人类。许多人担心这些化学物质会使他们生病甚至导致癌症。[qh]
In fact, some pesticides like DDT have been prohibited in most countries because of the damage they cause to people and the environment.[qh]
事实上，像滴滴涕这样的杀虫剂在大多数国家已经被禁止了，因为它们对人类和环境造成了破坏。[qh]
As for chemical fertilisers, crops grown with them usually grow too fast to be rich in nutrition.[qh]
至于化肥，施过化肥的农作物通常生长得过快而营养不足。[qh]
They may look beautiful on the outside, but inside there is usually more water than essential minerals, and they often have less flavour as well.[qh]
它们表面上很好看，但是里面的水分通常比必需的矿物质多，而且味道也不太好。[qh]
As an alternative, some farmers have switched to organic farming, and many customers have turned to organic food when they shop at the local grocery.[qh]
作为另一种选择，一些农民开始转向有机耕作，许多顾客在当地杂货店购物时转向有机食品。[qh]
Organic farming is simply farming without using any chemicals. Organic farmers focus on keeping their soil rich and free of disease through natural means.[qh]
有机耕作就是不用任何化学肥料的耕作。有机耕作的农民注重通过自然的方式保持土壤肥沃和免受病害。[qh]
For example, many organic farmers use natural waste from animals as fertiliser.[qh]
例如，许多有机耕作的农民把天然的动物粪便当作肥料。[qh]
This makes the soil in their fields richer in minerals. It also keeps the air, soil, water, and crops free of chemicals.[qh]
这样会使他们地里的土壤更富含矿物质，同时还可以让空气、土壤、水以及农作物不受化学物质的污染。[qh]
Organic farmers also use many other methods to produce rich soil. They often change the kind of crop grown in each field every year.[qh]
有机耕作的农民也使用很多其他的方法来保持土壤肥沃。在同一块地里，他们经常每隔几年就换种农作物。[qh]
For instance, they may grow corn or wheat in a field one year, and then grow beans there the next.[qh]
例如，他们可能一年在一块地里种玉米或小麦后，来年再改种豌豆。[qh]
Why different crops are grown is that they put important minerals back into the ground, making it ready for the next batch of crops.[qh]
种植不同的作物是因为它们把重要的矿物质带回土壤，从而使之适宜于种植下一批作物。[qh]
Organic farmers also plant diverse crops that use different depths of soil to help keep it rich.[qh]
有机耕作的农民还种植多种农作物，利用不同层次的土壤来帮助保持肥沃。[qh]
For example, peanuts grow on the ground's surface, but many other vegetables put down deep roots.[qh]
例如，花生种植生长于浅层土壤，但许多其他蔬菜种植生根于深层土壤。[qh]
The goal of using different organic farming methods is to grow good food while avoiding damage to the environment or to people's health.[qh]
使用不同的有机耕作方法的目的是种植好的粮食，避免损害环境或者人们的健康。[qh]
Some people would prefer to stop the use of man-made chemicals in agriculture entirely.[qh]
有些人宁愿完全停止在农业中使用人造化学品。[qh]
What keeps them from doing so is the fact that chemical farming serves the high demand for food around the world.[qh]
阻止他们这样做的原因是化学农业满足了世界各地对粮食的巨大需求。[qh]
Organic farming is nowhere near able to meet that need.[qh]
有机耕作完全不能满足那样的需求。[qh]
Therefore, there is still a long way to find a suitable solution that puts sufficient food on the dinner table while keeping people and the environment as healthy as possible.[qh]
因此，要找到一个合适的解决方案，使人们的餐桌上有足够的食物，同时保持人们和环境尽可能地健康，仍然有很长的路要走。[qh]