Global Food Politics in Organic Food Industry - Essay Example

Running head: ORGANIC FOOD INDUSTRY Global Food Politics in Organic Food Industry You’re Food is more than a collection of nutrients. A common need to meet certain fundamental conditions for survival is shared by human beings all around the world. One of these needs is securing an adequate diet, which will provide energy and the various nutrients necessary for metabolic functioning. With the progress that the organic food industry is making it is becoming clear that many people are realizing how important what they put into their body really is. This industry is changing the tide of the national food enterprise, farming, and the whole of agriculture period. The research will prove that more and more people are turning to organic food rather than continuing to eat foods that are highly processed and contain preservatives that are being found to cause cancer. Although this might be placing a strain in some areas it is very positive to the overall health of all human beings and can be considered to be the new wave of the future for the food industry. It is a known fact that consumer habits come into being due to cultural and societal reasoning and it has been becoming more pronounced recently that people want more natural products for a food supply rather than what the traditional methods have been providing. This in turn is transforming the political arena of importing and exporting certain foods, the farming styles of the agriculturists, and the way in which manufacturing companies must compete to meet the needs of the consumers. The conclusion of this research shows that what is now occurring is just the beginning for the organic food industry. In the next few years the popularity will become something that is more main frame in society rather than right now being a new fad among the people. Global Food Politics in Organic Food Industry Along with culture and socialization, media is another of the factors influencing food habits. The role of media influencing food choices could be a controversial one, as some say that food choices are communicated physically and the mass media is limited to only making people aware of what is available. The media is responsible for the formation concerning the ideas of organic food and thus getting the wheels of manufacturing turning for this new marketing endeavor (Bowman 1993, pg. 13). Most of the food production, processing, and distribution in any country is all controlled by the Central Government. They are ultimately responsible for authorizing and assuring that quality products are delivered to the customers. Therefore the organic food industry has had its impact on the main body of government in many countries as well. In other words, if the government believes that organic food is more ideal and more feasible to provide to consumers due to its growing popularity then they will allow for implementations that provide for more importing and exporting of such goods, ultimately limiting the production capabilities of manufactures of processed foods (Woese 1997, pg. 281). For instance, in Belgium there have already been quite noticeably changes since 1993 when the government there improvised the farming industry by developing a strategic way of opening up more traditional marketing channels for organic food products such as natural seeds, nuts, organic chips, and nutrition bars (Jackson 1980, pg.125). However, this is one country where the farming is slow to progress towards the idea of an organic identity. For example, the percentage of organic farmers in Belgium is relatively low despite the changes that the government has made in importing and exporting there. A clear idea shows that out of 20,265 acres of land only 628 farmers have gone organic placing this in a percentile of 1.08% of farmers. Although it is slow it is a gradual process proving that organic products are paving a new way in the area of commodities for people worldwide (Scofield 1986, pg. 3). When a comparison is done between certain countries in the UK and the United States it is seen that the production of organic food products is ten times more popular than elsewhere in the world. Of course in areas of England the government feels that some of the problems for less popularity have to do with the consumers questioning thoughts about how organic consumable products will affect the economy and the quality of the food as well as taste of the products (Beardsworth & Keil 1997, pg. 75). Nevertheless, there is high evidence that shows citizens in England and Wales are reaching the point of dissatisfaction with the traditional processed foods and are willing to try new things, such as in the organic food industry. In 1994 in England, European subsidies found that many consumers in the country lacked confidence in the quality of certain food products due to the various crisis’s that have been brought to people’s attention in the past recent years. These are in regards to pesticides, hormones, and other chemical agents that have been being placed on the food commodities in the country. It has given a wide berth for the organic food industry to have a stronger pull with the people due to the fact that there are no preservatives or additives in any organic food manufactured (Counihan & Esterik 1997, pg. 15). Also, in other areas such as the United States, organic food consumption has grown over the past five years to extremely high proportions. This obviously leads to the question of, ‘is organic food here to stay or is it just a fad?’ The Future of Organic Food Processing Organic food processing initially took place quite a few years back but as was said it has only recently been gaining in popularity, specifically in the UK and with regard to exporting these products to the United States and other regions of the globe (Guthman 2003, pg. 50). The first conversions to organic farming in Belgium took place during the 1960s, and now in 2006 have become even more widespread due to the growing demand by other countries to have organic products imported in. However, as was stated earlier, it has only been recently that many farmers have begun organic farming, basically due to the profit being realized and the growing demand as well. Within England and Belgium, the next step for the organic food industry is more than likely going to be a system in which products are certified organic so that a more socially responsible food movement will take form (Lentz 1998, pg. 125). The certified organic label is already a clear standard from which consumers can judge a products integrity. The state authority for organic farming is the Ministry of Agriculture and it controls a great deal of the importing and exporting of organic products to and from much of the surrounding UK, particularly in Belgium. It supervises two inspection bodies: Blik and Ecocert. Both inspect farms and farmers and are responsible for the certification of organic products. Furthermore, the governmental body within the UK has beefed up this process and laid down strict regulations as well, stating that those who do claim their products are organic must prove so before they can be accepted in the marketing venture of organic foods through the Ministry of Agriculture (Aldrich 1999, pg. 175). The United States does in fact get a good percentage of organic products from the UK although many states in this country manufacture their own organic fruits and vegetables for importing and exporting purposes as well (New York Times 2000). Thereby, it could be stated that this is a joint process and takes on an international presence as the UK and the US are constantly importing and exporting various organic products for regions in their countries and elsewhere around the globe also. The main issue within both of these parts of the world with regard to organic products is to make sure it is top quality and will maintain that quality in the future. All in all, the future for organic farming and the products produced bodes well for the economy, environment, and satisfies the mass public in general also. Organic on the Economy Aside from supporting the environment and customers, organic methods also help small business farmers that normally would be made obsolete by bigger agribusiness and its chemical-laden methods. Independent farmers benefit from being able to compete with prices in the organic arena, whereas the huge corporate farms easily outbid them with their low prices (New York Times 2000). While a small conventional farm might be run into the ground by competitors prices, a small organic farm has a better chance of survival by removing itself from the agribusiness market, where big business thrives. The Mom and Pop farms have made a comeback in the produce business by resorting to organic growing. Organic farms can charge more for their produce because of the rapidly increasing demand for organic (Aldrich 1999, pg. 175). In Ireland alone the economy has changed dramatically due to the growth of organic products. Organic fruit and vegetables accounted for 40% of the total Irish market in 2000, which is equivalent to a total sales value of 13.5 Million Punts. Organic fruit and vegetables accounted for 6% of the 220 million fresh fruit and vegetable sector in the country which is a great deal more varied now. This is something the people want not only in Ireland but of course in other areas of the UK and in the US as well (Gueillou 2001, pg. 7). If they did not want it the economy would not be changing so drastically and the revenue organic farmers are making would not be increasing. This is definitely a good thing for the economics of many countries all across the world, without a question. Conclusion Nutritionists are placing an unprecedented amount of emphasize on organic products, which makes people feel compelled to read the list of ingredients before buying it. Thats when the buyers will be pleasantly surprised to discover that they can actually understand the list. For instance, the ingredients of organic milk are simply: certified organic grade A milk, and Vitamin D3. This unique feature not only helps consumers to identify an organic product, but also provides a sense of security when people consume the product. When people pick up a conventional product, they glance at it to check for defects, and then toss it into the cart. It is unlikely that anyone is going to read the ingredient list closely. Not only because people are so used to the products they use, that they tend to neglect the details, but also because the ingredient list of a conventional product is nearly meaningless to the consumers. Reading the ingredient list of a processed food is like reading data from a chemistry book; it is incomprehensible and boring. For example, a simple bottle of conventional milk can consist up to four kinds of added chemicals. Therefore, the long list of scientific components does nothing more than bewilders the customers. Even though organic foods differ from conventional foods in many aspects, study shows that there are no substantial differences between their taste and safety. Buying an organic product is more of an act of protecting the environment than promoting ones own health. If consumers budget allows, they should buy more organic products, because it is a simple way of giving back to the Mother Nature, and help to preserve biological stability on earth. People are more willing to save in order to be able to afford products like these today. One for the quality and two for the environmental attributes which are given back to the earth. These are two of the main motivators for the organic food industry today and why it is gaining in such popularity as well. References Aldrich, L. (1999). Consumer Use of Information: Implications for Food Policy-Food and Rural Economics Division. Agricultural Handbook, 175. Beardsworth, A. & Keil, T. (1997). Sociology on the Menu: An Invitation to the Study of Food and Society. New York: Rutledge Press. Bowman, G. (1993). Farmers Take Charge of Marketing: New Co-ops Capture the Value of Quality. The New Farm 15, 12-16. Counihan, C. & Esterik, P. V. (1997). Food and Culture: A Reader. New York: Rutledge Press. Guthman, J. (2003). Fast Food—Organic Food: Reflexive Tastes and the Making of Yuppie Chow. Social and Cultural Geography 4, 45-58. Guelliou, Le. (2001). Organic Farming Guide to Community Rules. Luxembourg: European Press. Jackson, Wes. (1980). New Roots for Agriculture. Nebraska: University of Nebraska Press. Lentz, C. (1998). Changing Food Habits: Case Studies from Africa, South American, and Europe. New York: Gordon and Breach Publishing. New York Times (2000). “Organic Farming: Seeking the Mainstream”. April 9, 2000. New York: New York Times. Scofield, A. M. (1986). Organic Farming—The Origin of the Name. Biological Floriculture and Horticulture 4, 1-5. Woese, K. (1997). A Comparison of Organically and Conventionally Grown Foods Results of a Review of Relevant Literature. Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture 74, 281-293. Read More