Organic moves for export
ORGANIC foods could have a big export market, according to a new government report.
Demand for organic food has increased dramatically over the past few years, particularly in the EU, due to factors including food safety scares, increasing health awareness, greater information, genetically modified organisms and environmental issues.
The Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation (RIRDC) report said organic production, which is one of the fastest growing sectors in the global food industry, with an estimated global market value of $38 billion a year, has high levels of unmet demand.
The numbers are increasing every year: in the US, almost 145 million organic consumers buy organic and the number is growing at 20% per year, three-quarters of the UK’s 60 million population buy organic produce, it has become a mainstream food category in most EU supermarkets, and is a rapidly growing market in Hong Kong, Singapore, and Japan, which is Australia’s biggest organic market.
The report identified export opportunities in wine and cereal, especially in baked products, pasta and noodles.
10-Jul-2006