Strategies to support domestic organic markets in countries with emerging organic

A new study of the Research Institute of Organic Agriculture (FiBL) presents the current state and prospects of domestic organic market development in The Czech Republic, Poland, Hungary, Ukraine, Mexico and India. All of these countries have emerging organic markets: while governmental support for organic farming varies across all countries studied, the organic sector is focused mainly on export markets in every country represented. The results of a two-step expert consultation indicate that development of the domestic market is mainly hampered by a lack of processing and distribution infrastructure. Furthermore there exists relatively low purchasing power of domestic consumers, reports Ekoconnect.

Experts recommend that political support should prioritise national market development programmes for organic food (above all regional producer initiatives, vertical networks, establishment of a national organic logo). In addition, distribution should not focus exclusively on conventional retail chains. More information can be found at Organic e-prints in the internet.

http://orgprints.org/4455/04/Richter_Kovacs_4p_revised-ed.doc