In the past it wasn't so, but now it looks like Asia has taken on the challenge and stepped up to bat in the organic produce game. Singapore, Malaysia, Taiwan, Indonesia, Vietnam, the Philippines, and most especially China have moved into the game. So far China is producing 85% of the organics in the region, but the other countries are gearing up and increasing production every year. The quality they produce is very good, with China growing excellent crops at great prices.Europe and North America currently consume a vast majority of the worlds organic produce with Asia only just starting to join in, but they are starting to catch up. Since organic still costs more to produce each of these countries consumes less by far than they export. The West consumes organics for a variety of reasons from perceived health benefits to sustainability, animal welfare, humanitarian reasons, and environmental concerns; while the East's focus is primarily on the supposed health benefits. Although "Buddhist countries like Thailand and Singapore also tend to favour organic production because of its perceived harmony with nature."
There is a tendency that as production goes up, prices should come down, and so organic foods will be more in demand domestically in Asia over the next few years as well. So expect to see more and more of the world's high quality organic produce coming from Asia in the next decade as additional countries join in, and production rises dramatically.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
1-10-2007 @ 4:41PM
fil said...
Countries which never had organic production are getting into it.
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1-11-2007 @ 5:06AM
Andrea said...
It's great to see more countries producing organic food. Not only is it good for consumers but also people working on farms who would otherwise be subjected to toxic chemicals on a regular basis.
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1-13-2007 @ 9:57PM
Debbie said...
A number of countries in Asia and elsewhere have been seeing the advantages of organic production. Not only is it good for their own farmland, they feed an ever-growing demand for organic products in the developed world, a demand the developed world can no longer satisfy on its own. But there's the paradox. Many people buy organic for its lower environmental impact, yet they must have the products shipped from overseas, resulting in pollution from vehicle, rail, ship, and/or airline traffic.
Debbie
www.organic-food-and-drink.com
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