UK: Decline in organic food sales is good news for innovation and technology
Organic food sales drop for the third year in a row improving outlook for science and sustainability
As sales of organic food in the UK fall for the third year in a row – a 25% drop since 2008 - and organic farmland conversion rates fall by more than two thirds over the same period, the UK Crop Protection Association (CPA) is calling on politicians and policy-makers to give less weight to the views of the organic sector over the future direction of agriculture and farming policy.
Dominic Dyer, CPA Chief Executive, said: “From its opposition to food irradiation and the use of pesticides, to irrational campaigns about the development of GM crops, the organic movement risks closing the door on a wide range of scientific innovations and technologies which will be key to meeting the enormous challenge of feeding a growing population, coping with climate change and safeguarding precious land, water and energy reserves.”
“Organic agriculture has a role to play as we shape the future of agriculture and food production” continued Mr Dyer “however, policy-makers now have the facts before them - organic farming systems alone cannot feed the world. The latest research indicates that any attempt to convert world agriculture to organic production would lead to lower crop yields, greater risk of crop loss and a rapid increase in world food prices, which would have a significant impact on the poorer nations of the world.”
Mr Dyer added “The anti-science agenda of the organic movement has had a negative influence on the direction of agriculture and food production policy; I call on the leaders of the organic movement to keep an open mind on the contribution of science and technology.”
“The decline in organic agriculture is a signal and opportunity for decision makers. To ignore science, and neglect innovation is to compromise a sustainable future for food and farming” concluded Mr Dyer.
I agree with Mr. Dyer on his statement about the rule of organic agriculture and that organic cannot satisfy the world's hunger. It is my understanding that and GAP all three technologies, conventional, organic and GM, will have a fit and a need in the market to ensure the feeding ot fhe world. And on the costs the organic group has to consider that there is only a niche market for high cost / price products. As always within the agricultture farmes are very keen on input costs and earnings. And that they want to balance risks and to obtain reasonable benefits out of their doing.
And in addition the decreas of sales of organic food has to my opinion also to do with the familar budget for food. On the Maslow pyramide the demand for so called organic food comes after the satisfication of killing the hunger.