INTERNATIONAL ORGANIC NEWS...

Organic kiwi fruit healthier.

Organic kiwi fruit is much healthier than its conventionally counterpart, a US study has concluded.

Researchers from University of California, Davis found that organic kiwi fruit had much higher levels of polyphenols and antioxidant activity.

Polyphenols help to reduce cholesterol and improve blood circulation, while antioxidants help to neutralize free radicals that can damage cells.

The study, which is published in the journal Chemistry and Industry, also revealed that organic kiwi fruit had higher levels of vitamin C.

Lead researcher Maria Amodio said: "It is possible that conventional growing practices utilize levels of pesticides that can result in a disruption of phenolic metabolites in the plant that have a protective role in plant defence mechanisms.

"All the main mineral constituents were more concentrated in the organic kiwifruits, which also had higher ascorbic acid and total phenolic contents, resulting in a higher antioxidant activity.”

Last month, a Manchester Business School study concluded that the environmental benefits of organic food production are not "clear-cut".

"There is no clear evidence in environmental terms to support locally-sourced rather than globally-sourced shopping," the study said.

"For some foods, global sourcing might be a better option for the environment."

However, the study findings were attacked by the Social Association, the group which campaigns for organic farming.

The Soil Association says there is clear evidence that there are more nutrients in organic produce.

Figures from the Social Association show that organic food sales in the UK jumped 30 per cent to £1.6bn in 2006.

Research group Mintel predicts that the UK organic market will reach a value of £2bn by 2010.

Boom in global organic growth

A survey shows that nearly 31 million hectares around the world are currently certified according to organic standards.

Australia continues to account for the largest certified organic surface area, with 11.8 million hectares, followed by Argentina (3.1 million hectares), China (2.3 million hectares) and the US (1.6 million hectares).

Germany is in the seventh position worldwide, according to the survey

The most significant portion of global organic surface area is in Oceania (39 per cent), followed by Europe (23 per cent) and Latin America (19 per cent).

In terms of the certified organic agriculture as a proportion of all arable agricultural surface area, the Alpine countries, such as Austria with more than 14 per cent, top the statistics.

The researchers said that the growth exhibited in the US, Italy and Poland has been the most noteworthy.

The survey was carried out by the International Federation of Organic Agriculture Movements (IFOAM), the Research Institute for Organic Agriculture (FiBL) and the Foundation for Ecology and Farming (SOL).

The findings were presented at the recent BioFach World Organic Trade Fair in Nuremberg, Germany.

In addition to the certified organic arable land, nearly 62 million hectares are currently certified to organic standards for the collection of wild product, according to research by the International Trade Center (ITC).

The global market for organic products reached a value of 25.5bn euros in 2005, with the vast majority of products being consumed in North America and Europe, figures from market research firm Organic Monitor show.

For 2006, the value of the global organic market is expected to break through the 30bn euros barrier.

Healthy growth rates are expected to continue in the coming years, Organic Monitor said.

China develops taste for organic produce.

The Chinese population is developing a growing taste for organically grown food, figures from the Ministry of Commerce show.

According to the latest statistics, about 60 per cent of the country's estimated 550 million city dwellers are prepared to pay more for organic produce.

Wal-Mart, the world's largest retailer, has taken full advantage of China's growing trend towards organic food and drink.

The firm said that sales of organic vegetables at one of its Beijing stores jumped by nearly 90 per cent in 2006.

Elizabeth Harrington, of E Harrington Global, a US-based firm that carried out the research for the Commerce Ministry, told Bloomberg News: "Chinese consumers really are serious about safe and organic foods, and they're willing to pay for them.

"Part of it is the negative publicity that has come out in recent years about everything from fake foods to contaminated baby foods to pesticides in apples."

A recent survey by the International Federation of Organic Agriculture Movements (IFOAM) revealed that China accounts for the world’s third largest certified organic surface area.

China, with 2.3 million hectares, was behind Australia (11.8 million hectares) and Argentina (3.1 million hectares).

The global market for organic products reached a value of 25.5bn euros in 2005, with the vast majority of products being consumed in North America and Europe, figures from market research firm Organic Monitor show.

For 2006, the value of the global organic market is expected to break through the 30bn euros barrier.

Healthy growth rates are expected to continue in the coming years, Organic Monitor said.

Organic diet 'healthier'

A team of European scientists found in an experiment that rats that ate organic food were much healthier than those that ate conventional diets.

The study was carried out by researchers at the Danish Institute of Agricultural Sciences and Newcastle University’s School of Agriculture, Food and Rural Development.

The team found that the organically-fed rats enjoyed several health benefits, in that they slept better, had stronger immune systems and were slimmer than rats fed conventional diets.

Similar tests would need to be carried out on humans to determine if organic food would have the same effect on them, accoridng to the scientists.

However, speaking to The Journal newspaper, Newcastle University's Dr Kirsten Brandt said: "What this research shows is that clearly there are links between food and health which is more to do than with just nutrients.

"We used to think that as long as food had adequate nutrients then it was all equally good.

"What this work has shown is that this is not the whole story and we can measure differences and that they are significant. Now we need to understand what is going on.

"If people think that eating organic food makes them feel better then they are probably right."

Australia still number one for organic farming

Australia still has the world's largest land area under organic farming, a report has found.

The report shows that Australia has nearly 11.8 million hectares certified according to organic standards.

Argentina (3.1 million hectares) is second, with China (2.3 million hectares) third and the US (1.6 million hectares) fourth.

In total, 31 million hectares around the world are currently certified according to organic standards.

The most significant portion of global organic surface area is in Oceania (39 per cent), followed by Europe (23 per cent) and Latin America (19 per cent).

In terms of the certified organic agriculture as a proportion of all arable agricultural surface area, the Alpine countries, such as Austria with more than 14 per cent, top the statistics.

The researchers said the growth exhibited in the US, Italy and Poland has been the most noteworthy.

The study was carried out by the International Federation of Organic Agriculture Movements (IFOAM), the Research Institute for Organic Agriculture (FiBL) and the Foundation for Ecology and Farming (SOL).

The findings were presented at the 2007 BioFach World Organic Trade Fair in Nuremberg, Germany.

In addition to the certified organic arable land, nearly 62 million hectares are currently certified to organic standards for the collection of wild product, according to research by the International Trade Center (ITC).

The global market for organic produce reached a value of nearly 30bn euros in 2006, with the vast majority of products being consumed in North America and Europe, figures from market research firm Organic Monitor show.

Healthy growth rates are expected to continue in the coming years, Organic Monitor said.