Organic agriculture has been growing rapidly in popularity and availability over the past decade.

In response to Mike Bendzela’s Maine Voices column (“Is organic farming really everything its advocates claim?” Jan. 13) the more market share certified organic products take, the more likely a hostile response is to be found coming from those representing the old guard of agriculture.

Small-scale organic producers such as those represented by the Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners Association have always positioned themselves in opposition to synthetic, chemical-based farming practices. The only thing that has changed is that conventional agriculture now perceives organic food as a potential threat in the marketplace.

In actuality, Maine will need all of its farmers if we are to increase share of Maine products being consumed by Maine’s residents. Intelligent readers need not be reminded of the very real benefits of foods produced without chemicals. They have heard many times of the deleterious effect to wildlife, fragile ecosystems and farm workers exposed to even low levels of endocrine disruptive herbicides and pesticides.

Mr. Bendzela correctly identifies some issues that make a convergence between organic and conventional agriculture particularly challenging. Biotech’s genetically modified seeds and wind-borne pollution (corn pollen from BT corn for example) pose a blanket threat to any farmer choosing to opt out of chemical-based farming practices. It is an important dialogue to have, but it is impossible to have unless the relevant voices are invited to the table.