Soil Association Certification has published its 2024 Organic Market Report, which reveals the sector has delivered its 12th consecutive year of growth, despite global political and economic turmoil, and the cost-of-living crisis. 

This report has insights that could help organic food producers reap the benefits of a growing UK market. 

The report says the total organic foods market grew two times in 2023, ending the year at £3.2billion almost double its value in 2011. However, while shoppers are spending more money on organic food, the amount of organic farmland in the UK has remained static since 2011, illustrating the market heavily relies on imports. 

Whereas this presents an opportunity to the neighbouring countries that export their organic produce to the UK, it is a challenge to organic farmers in the country. These farmers are missing the potential benefits of organic agriculture. 

Globally, the market trends are pointing to an upward trajectory, even though there are still many challenges and barriers to the level of growth that organic farming delivers. 

Prices are the biggest barrier for farmers in UK whereas elsewhere and majorly in developing countries, prices are the biggest barrier for consumers. However, much as everyone would want organic foods, we may have to depend on both organic and inorganic tools to produce food now because of the cost of organic production.

Based on the report, the UK needs a radical rethink if organic is going to reach its full potential and bring organic farming into the mainstream. 

The entire supply chain must work together to grow the market and unlock demand for homegrown UK organic fresh produce, supported by the government. 

Other countries can learn valuable lessons from UK where there is greater support and commitment from governments and retailers for farmers and from some exciting innovations taking place across the country to make organic more available and affordable. 

Unlike the pandemic times in 2022 when organic markets were tough in UK due to inflation and the cost of living crisis, in 2023 organic sales returned to a more positive trajectory and are heading in the right direction today. 

Not only in UK but also elsewhere in the world, organic growers need to be rewarded with fair prices and supported by effective environmental schemes that balance environmental outcomes with food production. 

This is because there ecosystem services they provide that are not remunerated through the sale of produce like protection of biodiversity and a safer environment.  

When you look at places like Denmark and Germany, growers are supported more proactively by government. If we are to benefit from organic farming worldwide, other countries might have to pick a leaf to step up the organic production we all dream of in the future.

The writer holds a Master of Science in Animal Science and is an inorganic farmer