Evolution of the Organic Food Market

Abstract: Organic production systems are based on specific and precise standards of production, agro pursuing the best, easy to sustain in terms of social, environmental and economic. "Organic" is a labeling term that denotes products produced under organic production standards and certified by a legally constituted body or authority in this regard. The main purpose of organic agriculture is to optimize the health and productivity of interdependent communities of soil, plants, animals and humans. In 2010, the continent with the largest cultivated area of organic Australia / Oceania, over 12.1 million ha up to 299,884 hectares in 2005, followed by Europe with 10.0 million hectares to 3.08 hectares in growth compared to 2005, Latin America - 8.39 million ha to 2.58 million hectares up to 2005, Asia - decreasing by 2.7 million hectares to 115,281 hectares in 2005, North America - 2.6 million ha up to 453,399 hectares in 2005 and Africa - about 1.07 million ha up 185,325 hectares compared to 2005. Global sales of organic food and beverages grow in an accelerated rhythm, reaching 63 billion USD in 2011. The market expanded more three-fold between 2000 and 2011, from 17.9 billion USD to 63 billion USD reaching. The organic demand is concentrated in North America and Europe, these two regions comprising 96% of the global revenues. The European organic food and beverage market is the largest and most complex in the world, evaluated at 28 billion USD in 2010. Sales of organic products and beverages in North America continues to grow, retail sales were estimated at 17.3 billion USD in 2006, 23 billion USD in 2008, 26.3 billion USD in 2009, and in 2010 reached to 28.6 billion USD. Asian market in 2006, retail sales were around 780 million USD, and in 2009 reached about 1 billion USD. Latin America is a major producer and exporter of organic products, however internal markets are beginning to slowly develop. Almost all organic food production in Africa is for the export market. As organic food production continues to rise across the globe, some sectors are expected to experience overproduction.

Reference: Orboi, M. (2013). Aspects regarding the evolution of the organic food market in the world. Research Journal Of Agricultural Science 45(2): 201-209. Available online at http://www.cabdirect.org/abstracts/20143012874.html;jsessionid=8EC504FB63BC9A8434741D9081C53EEC