STUDY: Bug Attacks Make Organic Fruits and Veggies Healthier

There was the existing idea proposed by others that insects present in the field in organic farming could cause a stress response in the plant and increase antioxidant compounds, said Cisneros-Zevallos. However, this hypothesis or concept was never tested until now, where we mimicked the damage caused by insects. Ibanez says the study emphasized fresh produce as an excellent source of health-promoting compounds and that perhaps insects in some way can be allies to achieve even healthier produce. Healthier grown produce for the food industry can be a driving force for large-scale production and an attractive investment to relevant stakeholders, he says.