As consciousness about nutrition, health rises in post-COVID world, demand for Organic Food is set to surge

By Shivranjani Gupta,

If one optimistic might be drawn out of the devastating international COVID 19 disaster, it’s the truth that this calamitous pandemic has made individuals extra aware concerning the want for more healthy existence, vitamin in addition to their environmental footprint. The have to do away with our unsustainable existence has gained renewed foreign money within the submit pandemic world. The pure corollary of this shifting consciousness has been a re-emerging curiosity in wholesome consuming in addition to in naturopathic rules that target strengthening the human physique from inside. Demand for neutraceuticals and immunity boosting meals has skyrocketed the world over as individuals search to bolster themselves in opposition to the viral scare. Medicinal herbs, spices, seeds and wholesome oils are changing conventional practices in households as Google search indicated manifold soar in on-line searches for naturopathic cures reminiscent of giloy and vitamin C. An rising give attention to preventive healthcare is progressively however systematically bringing a couple of shift in what we eat and the way in which we eat!

On the one hand, the demand for useful meals encompassing neutraceuticals and dietary supplements has elevated. On the opposite hand, human consciousness is taking us again to all that’s pure and natural. To be honest, a shift in direction of pure, chemical-free meals has been clearly evident available in the market for the reason that previous twenty years, however the COVID pandemic has given it a sure-footed increase.

Organic meals and the connection between vitamin and well being

A market analysis performed final yr by Meticulous Research, the worldwide natural meals market is anticipated to develop at a CAGR of 12.2% from 2020 to 2027 to achieve USD 272.18 billion by 2027. As per official estimates of the Ministry of Commerce, India’s exports of natural meals merchandise grew by a whopping 51 per cent year-on-year in FY 2020-21 indicating strong demand from the world over.

At the center of this transition is the rising realization that proper vitamin is essentially the most essential aspect for well being. Over the previous few a long time, research have repeatedly cautioned us concerning the perils of extreme utilization of chemical compounds, pesticides and fertilizers in agricultural apply. Not solely has extreme use of agrochemicals impacted the dietary standing of the meals we eat, pesticide prevalence has additionally entered the complete meals chain, proper all the way down to the groundwater. The well being hazards could be evidently seen within the type of growing incidence of various types of cancers. Interestingly, indiscriminate use of agrochemicals additionally degrades soil high quality, impacts nutrient absorption and contributes to under-nutrition.

The apply of natural farming goals to roll again this affect by reverting to pure chemical-free agricultural practices. Organic meals just isn’t solely agrochemical free, it additionally just isn’t laden with development hormones or preservatives. Importantly, organically produced meals is most frequently domestically produced and sourced, making it the very best type of vitamin. Increasingly, as individuals need to eradicate chemical compounds and well being hazards from their plates, they’re turning in direction of natural meals and are keen to spend extra money into wholesome consuming. Clearly, extra persons are it as a type of an funding in preventive healthcare. After all, you’re, what you eat!

Will demand proceed to carry submit the pandemic?

While COVID 19 has given a definitive increase to well being consuming and consumption of natural meals, this isn’t to counsel that natural meals was not a quickly rising trade earlier than the pandemic struck. In 2018, an ASSOCHAM-EY examine instructed that the natural meals market was already rising at a CAGR of 25 per cent in India. However, the demand that was earlier largely concentrated to metros and high tier cities is more likely to now penetrate down deeper to Tier II cities as effectively. Besides, it’s also anticipated to unfold to a wider array of merchandise, not simply vegatables and fruits. For instance, demand for natural and uncooked honey is growing as individuals understand how vital it’s to devour immunity boosting meals of their most pure state to derive most advantages out of them.

The behavioural shift in direction of wholesome consuming led to by the pandemic is more likely to keep and is anticipated to extend the share the natural farming in India’s agricultural panorama. India at present accounts for lower than 1 per cent of the worldwide natural market and there’s large scope of development on this area. As per official estimates of the Ministry of Agriculture, nearly 2.78 million hectare of farmland in India was underneath natural cultivation as of March 2020. In truth, a bulk of natural farming in India is concentrated to solely 3 states with Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Maharashtra accounting for nearly half the realm underneath natural cultivation. The rising demand for natural produce can also be more likely to improve penetration of natural farming in India within the coming years.

(The creator is Chief Marketing Officer, Conscious Food. Views expressed are private and don’t replicate the official place or coverage of the Financial Express Online.)

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