The Brazilian organic market was 20% larger than that recorded in 2017, according to the Brazilian Council of Organic and Sustainable Production (Organis). The global organic market, led by the United States, Germany, France, and China, generated a record volume of US$ 97 billion in 2017.
According to the international federation, there are about 3 million organic producers identified across 181 countries. Organic agriculture has grown on all continents, reaching a record area. Brazil is identified in the research as the leader of the organic market in Latin America. However, when considering the land area dedicated to organic agriculture, the country ranks third in the region, behind Argentina and Uruguay, and 12th in the world.
Businesswoman Clevane Pereira, one of the owners of Fazenda Malunga, a pioneering venture in Brasília in the production and marketing of organics, highlights the changes that have occurred in the sector over the past decades. “We started in 1998. In the beginning, it was very difficult because people didn’t know what organic was. Today, the promotion has improved, including support from the Ministry of Agriculture, which has been very good in the campaigns. During Organic Weeks, we managed to show customers what the product was,” comments Clevane.
The challenge now, according to Clevane, is to improve the supply of organic fruits and develop animal-origin products. “I think more research is needed, and there are difficulties regarding the animal side. The plant side already has many products available on the market, which allows producers greater access to technology.”
The choice of Brazilians for organics is more strongly justified by health concerns, especially among people aged 55 and older.
According to Organis, the percentage of organic product consumption in Brazil is 15%. The South and Central-West regions were identified as the largest consumers of organics in the country, while the Southeast showed the lowest consumption percentage at 10%. These data are from 2017, when the only survey on the perception of organic consumption in Brazil was released.
According to the study, vegetables lead among the most consumed organic foods in the country, with a focus on lettuce, arugula, and broccoli. Next are legumes, fruits (such as bananas and apples), and cereals like rice. More than 60% buy organic products in supermarkets, 26% prefer to go to fairs, 4% seek them in natural product stores, and 3% buy directly from rural producers. About 40% indicated that prices represent the main barrier to low access to organics, and 84% expressed an intention to increase organic consumption.
The Organis survey found that only 9% of those belonging to lower-income classes and 8% of those with incomplete elementary education tend to consume organic products, while the national average is 15%.
Regarding the origin of the products, only 8% of consumers base their choice on the identification of the federal organic seal on labels, granted by the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, and Supply (Mapa) to producers who meet the requirements of the legislation.
Mapa, in partnership with other ministries, is preparing a series of activities to promote organic production. In May, the 15th edition of the National Organic Week was held. This year’s campaign theme was “Quality and Health: from Planting to Plate.”
Source: Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, and Supply