Sydney, Australia
A consumer survey conducted by Organic Guide at Sydney’s Organic Expo has found that the reasons for choosing organic over conventional products has changed significantly to include climate change.
“Organic farming, with its emphasis on closed nutrient cycles, biodiversity, and effective soil management, has the capacity to sequester carbon from the earth’s atmosphere and trap it in the soil as carbon”, says Gavin Robertson, Editor of Organic Guide. “While previously organic consumers focused on personal health benefits, today they’re focusing on broader global concerns”.
The survey looked at the reasons why consumers choose organic over conventional products. Concerns regarding genetically modified organisms, the processes of industrial farming, and having greater control over the products consumed remain important.
However, concerns about the environment, pollution and in particular global warming now play a significant role in consumer choice.
“Global warming is a factor in the cars we choose to drive, the energy we consume and increasingly, the food that we eat”, Says Robertson. “If Australian consumers at the Sydney Expo are anything to go by, then this would be a global trend”.
Previous studies have found that one of the main reasons consumers choose organic over conventional products was to avoid the pesticides used in conventional farming. Other studies have shown that consumers are also concerned about genetically modified organisms (GMO). More recent academic research indicates that environmental factors are of greater concern. In a 2006 paper by Geen and Firth the environment was found to be a major concern for committed organic consumers.
This fully reflects the findings at the Sydney Organic Expo. “Global warming has influenced, and will continue to influence, the choices consumers make”, says Robertson. “Consumers are starting to realise that turning to organics not only gives health benefits, but could also save the environment”
The survey conducted by the online publication Organic Guide consisted of a sample group of 212 organic consumers at the Sydney Organic Expo held at the Darling Harbour Convention and Exhibition Centre 25 - 27 July 2008. For more information visit www.organicguide.com.
About Organic Guide
Organic Guide is an online publication providing consumers with information about leading an organic lifestyle.
Contact Information
Gavin Robertson
editor@organicguide.com
www.organicguide.com
Sources
http://orgprints.org/
LaSalle, T.; and Hepperley, P. 2008. Regenerative 21st Century Farming: A Solution to Global Warming. The Rodale Institute
