Organic products are nine percent of the market (excluding food service and restaurants) in Sweden for the first half of 2016, based on sales value. Furthermore, sales of organic and KRAV-labelled foods in the first half of 2016 were up 23 percent compared to sales the first half of 2015. Although organic production in Sweden is up, demand for beef, eggs, certain dairy products, poultry and fruit and vegetables still exceeds local supply.

IFOAM EU now offers a new platform for organic farmers, researchers and scientists to exchange information on key agriculture topics, including soil quality and fertility; weed management; nutrient management; pest and disease control; and crop- specific issues. The project is part of the OK-Net Arable project funded by Horizon 2020.

As part of the European Economic Area (EEA), Norway is prepared to replace its national organic regulations with the European Union’s requirements, which differ in relation to sheep pen floor and labeling of organic product origin. Because of a gap in time between the expiration of Norway’s national organic laws (as a condition of being in the EEA) and the adoption of the EU requirements, some European countries had stopped importing Norway’s organic salmon over the summer. 

Sept. 30, 2016

Local farms are working together to create online farmers markets, call Food Assemblies, where shoppers preorder online and pick up produce at a designated place and time each week. 

Sept. 30, 2016

Beginning January 1, 2017, a new two-year pilot program for country of origin labeling will begin in France for meat and dairy products. Organic products are exempt. 

Sept. 28, 2016

Local farms lack organic certification, which hampers the export of organic vegetable and other products, reports AEC News Today. Khmer Organic Cooperative sells about 660 pounds of non-certified organic vegetables each week in its stores. Germany’s overseas aid provider GIZ Asean-SAS will be providing technical assistance to help organic producers with certification. Meanwhile, 40 percent of Cambodia’s organic rice harvest is sold domestically, and demand for it is increasing, despite higher prices.

September, 27, 2016

According to Nielsen’s Global Health and Ingredient-Sentiment Survey, about 70 percent of Chinese survey respondents limit or prohibit certain foods and ingredients in their diets. The least desired ingredients are artificial flavors, preservatives, colors and sweeteners; antibiotics in animal products and genetically modified organisms. Furthermore, about 82 percent of those respondents said they are willing to pay more for foods without the objectionable ingredients. Overall, Chinese  consumers report a desire for more natural foods (67 percent), organic foods (55 percent) and foods without genetically modified organisms (52 percent) in the stores.

The South Korean government intends to introduce a certification system for organic and natural cosmetics, including setting standards for natural and organic cosmetics. One option under consideration is using private organizations to issue certification.

Now worth £1.95 billion, organic product sales in the United Kingdom were up 4.9 percent in 2015 and represent 1.4 percent of the overall food and beverage market, according to a new market report from the Soil Association. Organic Market Report 2016 shows that the food and beverage categories with some of the the fastest-growing sales are jams and spreads (up 28.1 percent), oils and vinegars (up 17.5 percent), and tea (up 12. 8 percent). Organic food sales are also up in food service, and are valued at £64.3. In addition, the Soil Association has a new report on consumers. Both reports are available for sale.