40. Does Certified Organic Mean Pesticide Free?

In this solo episode of Hands in the Soil, we return to a commonly misunderstood topic in the food system: does certified organic mean pesticide-free? Building on a previous episode released a year ago, I dive deeper into the nuances of pesticide use in organic agriculture to clarify what the organic label really means—and what it doesn’t.I explain the difference between organic and synthetic pesticides, how regulations work under organic certification, and why it's still essential to ask questions about where your food comes from. I also explore how integrated pest management and regenerative practices can help farms reduce or even eliminate pesticide use altogether.Tune in to learn more about:Why certified organic doesn’t mean pesticide-freeThe difference between synthetic and organic pesticidesHow some synthetic pesticides are still allowed in organic certification (and why that matters)The loophole of EPA conditional registration and toxicity testing gapsIntegrated Pest Management (IPM) and alternatives to pesticide useHow farm scale, soil health, and biodiversity impact pest controlCritiques of organic certification and the difference between small regenerative farms and large-scale organic monoculturesWhy knowing your farmer is often more valuable than any labelResources & Links:Connect with Hannah: @hannahkeitel