Question

Organic Farming: Better for Environment?
by Tamar Haspel  

Robertson also said some tools that mitigate environmental harm aren’t available to organic farmers; one of them is genetically modified crops. Although reasonable people disagree about how the advantages and disadvantages of those crops balance out, Robertson, along with many scientists and farmers, says that both major types of genetically modified crops - the kind that are resistant to the herbicide glyphosate and the kind that have a built-in organic insecticide - can help cut pesticide use.  

Also, it’s difficult for organic farmers to implement no-till. Without herbicides, the best weedkilling tool is tilling, and that can lead to erosion, nutrient runoff and the disruption of the microbial community that organic farmers work so hard to foster.  

Question
In these paragraphs, what is being contrasted?

Responses
The major types of genetically modified crops

Traditional herbicides and insecticides

The views of farmers and scientists

Organic and nonorganic environmental practices

Answer 1

Organic and nonorganic environmental practices

The paragraph contrasts the limits organic farmers face (no GMOs, reliance on tilling) with practices available to nonorganic/conventional farming (GM crops, herbicides that enable no-till and reduced pesticide use).