“Global Organic Food & Drink Sales Approach US$ 60 Billion”

<div style="text-align: justify;">The global market for organic food &amp; drink is recovering from the economic slowdown, with revenues projected to approach US$ 60 billion this year. Although growth has slowed from previous years, revenues have expanded over three-fold from US$ 18 billion in 2000. <br>In its new Global Organic Food &amp; Drink Market report, Organic Monitor finds that global sales increased by just 4.7 % in 2009, compared to previous years of double-digit expansion. <br>The European market was the most affected by the financial crisis; major food retailers rationalised their organic product ranges as consumer purchasing power declined. The UK organic products market contracted last year, whilst the German market stagnated. In contrast, the market in some countries – including Sweden and France – showed resilience, reporting growth rates in excess of 15 %. The North American market for organic food &amp; drink continues to show healthy growth. It has overtaken the European market this year to become the largest in the world. Although the USA have shown a large rise in organic farmland, organic food supply continues to fall short of demand; organic products are imported from various regions. <br>The report finds the price premium remains a major barrier to wider adoption rates. <br>Organic farming is practiced on 35 million hectares in 154 countries. Organic Monitor expects most increases in organic farmland to occur in developing countries, whereas demand is expected to remain concentrated in affluent countries. Organic standards are becoming an impediment to global trade of organic products. The number of organic standards is proliferating, however there is a lack of harmonisation between leading standards. Consequently, organic food producers have to adopt multiple standards to develop an international presence. <br><br><br>Organic Monitor, 11 dicembre 2010, www.organic-market.info<br></div&gt;