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Organic cotton is generally understood as cotton and is grown in subtropical countries such as Turkey, China, USA from non genetically modified plants, that is to be grown without the use of any synthetic agricultural chemicals such as fertilizers or pesticides.〔( CCVT Sustainable )〕 Its production also promotes and enhances biodiversity and biological cycles.〔( VineYardTeam Econ )〕 In the United States cotton plantations must also meet the requirements enforced by the National Organic Program (NOP), from the USDA, in order to be considered organic. This institution determines the allowed practices for pest control, growing, fertilizing, and handling of organic crops.〔( AMSv1 )〕〔(OrganicConsumers.org )〕 As of 2007, 265,517 bales of organic cotton were produced in 24 countries and worldwide production was growing at a rate of more than 50% per year.〔 ==Ecological footprint== Cotton covers 2.5% of the world's cultivated land yet uses 16% of the world's insecticides, more than any other single major crop.〔〔EJF. (2007). The deadly chemicals in cotton. Environmental Justice Foundation in collaboration with Pesticide Action Network UK: London, UK. ISBN No. 1-904523-10-2.〕 Other environmental consequences of the elevated use of chemicals in the non organic cotton growing methods consist of: *High levels of agrochemicals are used in the production of non-organic, conventional cotton. Cotton production uses more chemicals per unit area than any other crop and accounts in total for 10-16% of the world's pesticides (including herbicides, insecticides, and defoliants).〔 *Chemicals used in the processing of cotton pollute the air and surface waters. *Residual chemicals may irritate consumers' skin. *Decreased biodiversity and shifting equilibrium of ecosystems due to the use of pesticides.〔( Sustainable Cotton Project )〕 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Organic cotton」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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