ISMEA data on organic farming: some remarks from the Ministry of Agriculture Galan

<div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-style: italic;">"The remarkable growth of organic food consumption in Italy, reported by the ISMEA analysis, is a clear demonstration, once again, that the organic farming&nbsp; sector, though representing a small percentage of the entire agro-food market, represents an important visiting card for the whole agriculture sector</span>". This&nbsp; was the comment of the Minister Giancarlo Galan to the ISMEA (<span style="font-style: italic;">Istituto per i servizi del mercato agroalimentare)</span> data on organic food consumption in Italy (<span style="font-style: italic;">see the&nbsp; news in SINAB</span>), that in 2010 recorded a growth of 11.6%.<br>" <span style="font-style: italic;">Two are the elements that clearly emerge analysing the ISMEA data: organic products are capturing the market everywhere in Italy, also in its&nbsp; southern part, typical rural regions; the second element is the increased presence of such products both in the supermarkets and in the small shops</span>". The&nbsp; Minister then indicated how the positive results in organic farming go in parallel with&nbsp; increased incomes in agriculture, though productivity is&nbsp; slightly decreasing…"<span style="font-style: italic;">To guarantee good growth perspectives to the whole agri-food sector</span> – Galan said – <span style="font-style: italic;">we have to head for quality, because ISMEA data&nbsp; indicate that consumers, at least part of them, are </span><span style="font-style: italic;">mainly </span><span style="font-style: italic;">searching for quality products, even in a difficult moment for economy, if they can recognise them. This is also the reason why it is extremely important to proceed, even at EU level, with the initiative related to&nbsp; the labelling of origin. One more element in favour of&nbsp; consumer protection that, I am sure, will widely pay back the 'virtuous' producers</span>".<br>&nbsp;<br>Source: AIOL <br></div>