Italy: Organic cosumption up 6%

Commenting on the latest figures on the consumption of organic products in Italy, the Minister of Agriculture, Food and Forestry, Mario Catania, said: "The organic sector remains capable of going against the general trend and growing in times of crises, including in the internal market. The increase in consumption in the first half of 2012 shows how the Italians choose more and more organic products and with confidence. This is a trend more and more entrenched, which came in the dietary habits of the Italians and to which we should respond with a greater range of national product."

According to a survey from the public institute Ismea, in fact, consumption of organic products continues to make progress. Last year, Italian families purchases in supermarkets were up 9%, and in the first half of 2012 the positive trend in place for over five years continued, with a 6% increase in organic spending, compared to the first half of 2011. The analysis also points out that the consumption of organic products has grown at a higher rate in the crisis years (+7.8% annual average) than before the recession of 2008-2009 (+3%).

The Italian organic consumption is worth about 3 billion euro. With these numbers, our country is fourth in the European ranking, behind Germany, France and the United Kingdom, and sixth worldwide.

There is also a growing number of purchasing families, estimating that from last year's numbers, three out of four families bought at least one organic product and that 70% of the expenditure is attributable to a group of buyers more or less consolidated.