Organic food is food produced by methods that comply with the standards of organic farming.
· Organic foods have been grown or farmed without the use of artificial chemicals, hormones, antibiotics or genetically modified organisms.
· In order to be labelled organic, a food product must be free of artificial food additives.
· This includes artificial sweeteners, preservatives, coloring, flavoring and monosodium glutamate (MSG).
· Organically grown crops tend to use natural fertilizers like manure to improve plant growth. Animals raised organically are also not given antibiotics or hormones.
Global organic food market is projected to register a CAGR of over 16% during 2015 – 2020. Growth in the market can be attributed to growing health concerns among consumers and increasing awareness with regard to health benefits of organic food. Other factors driving organic food sales across the globe include increasing income levels, improving standard of living, and government initiatives aimed at encouraging widespread adoption of organic products.
Consumers across the globe are becoming increasingly health conscious, which has resulted in a change in their tastes and preferences. A growing number of consumers are moving towards consumption of organic food in place of conventional food, to avoid adverse health effects caused by chemical preservatives or genetically modified ingredients present in inorganic food. Moreover, the increasing popularity of organic products has significantly expanded the availability of organic food across the globe. With organic food becoming easily accessible, global organic food market is expected to witness remarkable growth over the forecast period.