CONSUMER DEMAND FOR HEALTHIER FOOD

Since the public health focus during the COVID pandemic, the demand for organic foods has dramatically increased. Consumers understand that organic foods provide more nutrients, and vitamins, and they have more flavour. However, the cost of organic production is higher than conventional synthetic systems due to the more labour-intensive activities and lower yields. In 2022—2023, there were nearly 4.43 million producers of organic, most of whom were in India. The leading countries by area were India (2.7 million hectares) and China (over 2.4 million hectares). Timor-Leste had the highest proportion of organic agricultural land (8.5 percent).

Since the public health focus during the COVID pandemic, the demand for organic foods has dramatically increased. Consumers understand that organic foods provide more nutrients, and vitamins, and they have more flavour. However, the cost of organic production is higher than conventional synthetic systems due to the more labour-intensive activities and lower yields. In 2022—2023, there were nearly 4.43 million producers of organic, most of whom were in India. The leading countries by area were India (2.7 million hectares) and China (over 2.4 million hectares). Timor-Leste had the highest proportion of organic agricultural land (8.5 percent).

The global Organic Food market size was valued at USD 195796.59 million in 2022 and is expected to expand at a CAGR of 10.77% during the forecast period, reaching USD 361729.51 million by 2028.

Price for Organic over Conventional Synthetic

Prices vary depending on the produce and the country’s demand for organics. Italy, the UK, and Germany are the highest compared to Japan and the Netherlands.

Chemical Fertilizers and Pesticides Effects

1. Soil degradation and loss of fertility: Over-reliance on chemical fertilizers can degrade soil quality and reduce its ability to support healthy plant growth.
2. Reduction in soil microbial diversity: Chemical fertilizers and pesticides can negatively impact the beneficial microbial communities in the soil, which play crucial roles in nutrient cycling and soil health.
3. Nutrient run-off causing aquatic dead zones: Excessive use of fertilizers can lead to nutrient run-off into waterways, contributing to the formation of dead zones where oxygen levels are too low to support most marine life.
4. Harm to non-target species, including crucial pollinators: Pesticides can harm beneficial insects such as bees and other pollinators, leading to declines in their populations and potentially disrupting ecosystems.
5. Contamination of water resources: Chemical fertilizers and pesticides can leach into groundwater and surface water, contaminating drinking water sources and harming aquatic ecosystems.
6. Decreased resilience of ecosystems against changes: Both climate change and the widespread use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides can reduce the ability of ecosystems to adapt to new conditions, making them more vulnerable to further disruptions.