Organic investment can ‘build resilience’
Organic Farmers & Growers (OF&G) said the organic sector was helping build longevity into British agriculture and food manufacturing by adding value to produce and giving additional routes to market.
Growing market demand for organic produce meant there were even more opportunities for food and farm businesses to look to organic to help drive their businesses forward.
‘Huge amount of uncertainty’
“There is a huge amount of uncertainty in certain sectors, but organic offers opportunities for firms to develop,” said OF&G chief executive Roger Kerr.
“Recent industry reports have pointed to strong sales growth, with some of our own licensees reporting double-digit increases.”
Supermarkets had delisted organic products during the recession in favour of discounted produce, Kerr explained. But renewed demand for organic food meant that retailers were looking to the sector to meet their needs.
‘Half of the UK population’
“Latest data suggests over half of the UK population buys organic, with one-in-three buying organic produce every week,” he said.
“We’ve seen discounters like Aldi introduce their own 100% British organic range, and with multiple retailer support, it’s helping make organic available for more and more people.”
Meanwhile, OF&G has rebranded with a new logo and website. The new site offers visitors a step-by-step guide to certification, along with technical information, backed-up by an experienced team of staff. The website also has an updated resources section.
According to Kerr, more than 50% of the organic land in the UK is now under OF&G licence.
