This is an oversimplification. It is true that organic farmers are permitted to use certain chemicals on their crops, but the allowed substances are very different in terms of ecological impact compared to conventional chemical treatments (conventional chemicals and their breakdown products generally persist in the environment much longer).
Organic farmers are also required to try to manage pests without chemicals first, steering the organic industry towards “integrated pest management” where very small amounts of pesticides are used in a highly targeted manner.
This is an oversimplification. It is true that organic farmers are permitted to use certain chemicals on their crops, but the allowed substances are very different in terms of ecological impact compared to conventional chemical treatments (conventional chemicals and their breakdown products generally persist in the environment much longer).
Organic farmers are also required to try to manage pests without chemicals first, steering the organic industry towards “integrated pest management” where very small amounts of pesticides are used in a highly targeted manner.
https://www.usda.gov/about-usda/news/blog/organic-101-allowed-and-prohibited-substances https://www.pubs.ext.vt.edu/ENTO/ENTO-384/ENTO-384.html