BioFach América Latina and Expo Sustentat 2008

With over 840,000 ha of farming land, Brazil is one of the Top Ten international organic producers and is a major supplier of raw materials, fruit and vegetables, coffee, cocoa, cane sugar and soya. Brazil’s organic farming area has more than trebled since 2001 (275,000 ha). Both export business and the domestic market show substantial growth. New legal regulations for the organic sector are now to be implemented within two years according to a decree by Brazil’s President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva.

Picture: Maria Beatriz Costa
 

Read an interview with Maria Beatriz Costa, Executive Vice President of Planeta Orgânico, about the new legislation, market developments and her expectations for 2008.

São Paulo, Brazil’s number one business location, again becomes the meeting-place for the Latin American and international organic industry from 23-25 October 2008. ExpoSustentat presents its sustainability products and projects for the fourth time parallel to BioFach América Latina. The organizer of both exhibitions is Nürnberg Global Fairs, the international subsidiary of NürnbergMesse, together with Organic Services and the Brazilian partner Planeta Orgânico.

Ms Costa, what do you expect from the new organic legislation?

The new legislation will certainly have a very positive effect on both the development of the national organic market and the export market. Producers and processors will be encouraged to become even more heavily involved. Many have been waiting for reliable legal regulations for the organic sector. Although a law has existed since 2003, it has not been implemented. The present system with guidelines of private organizations such as international certifiers is good and works. Nevertheless, a state label is an important signal for the future for industry and consumers. I am sure we can soon welcome many new players to the Brazilian organic market.
BioFach América Latina takes place in October 2008 for the sixth time and offers an international platform for both established organic companies and newcomers wanting to source information and sound out new market prospects.

Market development needs a reliable database. Sound figures were difficult to obtain in the past.

This will also change in connection with the new legislation. In future, the Ministry of Agriculture will collect and combine all data on farming and conversion land, livestock and turnover. Reliable data is extremely important for development of the organic sector, as the previous estimates and considerations of submarkets frequently led to misunderstandings and uncertainties.

What is the current market volume of Brazil’s organic industry?

I would prefer to leave the publication of market data to the ministry, but market observers know that many large supermarket chains like Wal-Mart or Pão Açúcar are recording significant sales growth and especially in the fresh segment. Wal-Mart has extended its organic range by 50 % and reports 25 % more sales compared with 2006. Fortunately, the consumption of organic products in the eating-out market is also increasing. This is attributed to legal initiatives by individual federal states.

How do you rate the bulk consumer and catering sector? What has the state done already and what incentives have been created to push this development?

The issue of school catering is of major concern to me personally. I see a huge potential among caterers, restaurants and school canteens. The state of São Paulo has implemented legal regulations to promote organic in school canteens. The governments of Rio de Janeiro and Espírito Santo have adopted similar initiatives. School catering occupies a key role in the spread of organic products and development of the organic market. We reach tomorrow’s consumers via school catering and familiarize them with a new eating culture and quality food. The bulk consumer market segment gives the suppliers planning security through the continuous purchase of constant quantities. BioFach América Latina has continuously pushed this issue. As in 2007, when we had a large number of exhibitors who presented products specifically for bulk consumers. The supporting programme also focused on this issue. The oecotrophologist Dr. Carola Strassner, who has many years experience of organic food in the eating-out sector and has meanwhile accepted a chair at the University of Münster, explained the subject to visitors very vividly at the exhibition.

What will BioFach América Latina and ExpoSustentat focus on in 2008?

We made a variety of new contacts and initiated some promising projects in 2007. I am very confident as the mood in the industry is extremely positive. The new law also comes into force, which will get the market moving. An initiative for marking products with their origin is an important item on the programme of this year’s event. Consumers pay increasing attention to where the products they buy come from and which organizations they support in the process. The existing detailed traceability system for organic products works well and simplifies the implementation of such marking. In my view, we can achieve another distinct increase in the value of organic products through these additional declarations. This naturally also applies to products from sustainable projects, which are strongly upgraded by marking them with their origin. This product segment is presented at Expo Sustentat. The event parallel to BioFach América Latina is reserved for products from sustainable production and fairtrade, but which are not or not yet certified as organic. I am eagerly awaiting our exhibition duo in October and look forward to welcoming exhibitors and visitors from all over the world in São Paulo.
 
German organic companies can exhibit at BioFach América Latina at especially attractive terms as the German pavilion is sponsored by the Federal Ministry for Food, Agriculture and Consumer Protection (BMELV). The company pavilion offers stand spaces in prominent positions, a convenient infrastructure and good support. The exhibitors can therefore concentrate completely on the exhibition and looking after their customers. The deadline  for the German pavilion is 13 June 2008.

Other BioFach global events:
  
BioFach China, Shanghai: 29-31 May 2008
BioFach Japan, Tokyo: 24-26 September 2008
BioFach America, Boston: 16-18 October 2008
BioFach and Vivaness, Nürnberg:19-22 February 2009

Contact for exhibitors: biofach@ngfmail.com