Dubai, 6th Dec. 2009 (WAM): The potential for organic and natural products in the Middle East, particularly in the GCC, is on an exponential growth with governments in the region announcing new initiatives to support the sector, experts said today on the eve of the seventh edition of the Middle East Organic and Natural Products Expo (MENOPE 2009).
Addressing a press conference, senior officials from Global Links LLC, organizers of MENOPE 2009, and industry experts said the current estimated market for organic food
s alone for the whole of GCC could be approximately over US$300 million, and this is set to grow further.
“The market for organic and natural foods in the region is still at a nascent stage and the full potential for growth is as yet unlocked. Over the years, we have seen increasing acceptance for organic and natural products in the region and the hurdles for further growth will diminish as uptake volumes increase which in turn will support the initiatives of companies to bring these products to the retail shelves at more lower prices,” said Eng. Nadim Al Fuqaha, Managing Director, Global Links.
He said the rise in interest in organic and natural products in the region is witnessed in the increased participation of global companies at MENOPE 2009. “We have over 125 companies from more than 30 companies taking part at this year’s MENOPE 2009 and this in itself is an indication of the global perception of the growing Middle East market in this sector,” he said.
According to available data, the global market for organic and natural food is estimated to be to the tune of US $220 billion and the Asian market including the Middle East is estimated to be over US$500 million.
MENOPE 2009 will take place at the Dubai International Exhibition and Convention Centre from December 7-9 2009. MENOPE 2009 is being held under the patronage of the UAE’s Ministry of Health ‘&’ Ministry of Environment ‘&’ Water.
Governments in the region and particularly in the GCC are supporting the cause of organic foods by encouraging organic farming. For instance, the number of organic farms in the UAE is set to nearly double. According to recent reports, the UAE has eight organic farms and seven more are being developed.
Eng. Nadim also pointed out at the recent setting up of the private sector Saudi Organic Farming Association (SOFA) to map out an action plan for the development of organic farming and food. In total SR15 million has been allocated as seed fund to SOFA to develop initiatives to support the organic cause.
Other governments in the region including Kuwait and Oman have also expressed their desire to encourage organic farming as part of a strategy to produce food products locally and encourage consumption of healthy foods.
“There is a very discernible trend in lifestyle related affinity catalyzing uptake of organic and natural products in the region, particularly among youth, which forms a majority of the GCC population,” Eng. Nadim said. Coupled with this market potential, the various initiatives by the governments in the region to increase awareness on organic and natural products will help the growth and expansion of the market,” he added.
It is estimated that there are over 3,000 outlets currently dedicated to organic and natural products in the region, a number which is expected to increase in the coming years.
Advancing knowledge on Organic and Natural products Significantly this year’s MENOPE also has a strong knowledge enhancement component. The Soil Association of the UK, one of the non-profit think tanks on organic agriculture and certification body will take a look at the feasibility of organic farming in the Middle East. A presentation on the `Future feasibility of Organic Farming in the Middle East will be delivered by a senior official of the entity. International Federation of Organic Agriculture Movements (IFOAM), the worldwide umbrella organization uniting more than 750 member countries across 108 countries will also be presenting a report on The Global Organic Training Platform, how do knowledge transfer happen,’ at MENOPE 2009. On the lifestyle front, a presentation on The Diabetes Epidemic’ will also be done by Hellas Organics, Greece.
Over 16 companies from the UAE alone will be taking part at this year’s MENOPE. Debuting at the expo will be Romania as a pavilion exhibitor while one of the major highlights will include an Italian Natural Village. Other countries at MENOPE 2009 include the US, Mexico, the Philippines, Canada, the Netherlands, Saudi Arabia, South Korea, China, Taiwan, Turkey etc.
Globally, the show is supported by the International Federation of Organic Agriculture Movements (IFOAM), Korea Health Supplement Association (KHSA) Chamber of Herbal Industries of the Philippines (CHIPI), International Competence Centre for Organic Agriculture (ICCOA), Malaysian Herbal Association etc.
MENOPE 2009 will showcase a variety of products spanning Herbals and Spices, Food ‘&’ Beverages, Cereal Products, Supplements, Health Care products, Natural Living, Natural Cosmetics, Healing Products, Natural remedies, Traditional Medicines, Spas, Relaxation facilities, Pet products, Fabrics etc.