The potential for organic farming is very large, so we need to work on it well
Jakarta (ANTARA) - The organic farming system has vast potential to be developed, as the products are still limited and the demand continues to rise, according to the National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN).

Indonesian organic products known in the domestic and international markets comprise organic rice, organic vegetables, organic coffee, organic tea, organic chocolate, and organic spices, BRIN's researcher Agus Wahyudi noted in a statement, Friday.

"For the international market, the products are still limited to non-perishable and processed products. The potential for organic farming is very large, so we need to work on it well," he emphasized.

According to the Indonesian organic farming statistics data in 2019, organic products with the highest demand were vegetables, at 23 percent, and rice, at 21 percent, followed by other products, such as fruits, eggs, and milk.

The demand among overseas consumers for organic farming products is considered to be high.

According to the Organic Trade Association (OTA), the consumption of organic products in the United States and Europe has continued to rise within the last decade.

In 2008, the sales of organic foods in the United States were recorded to reach US$20 billion and increased to around US$57 billion in 2021.

Meanwhile, in Europe, the sales figure for organic food stood at US$24 billion in 2008 and rose to US$58 billion in 2021.

Main expert researcher at BRIN's Horticulture and Plantation Research Center Agus Kardinan drew attention to three factors that give birth to the organic farming system.

These comprise growing public awareness of the environment, protest against the effects of toxic materials' residue on agricultural products, and market opportunities.

"Organic farming is a combination of three future agricultural pillars, economy (competitiveness and income), social (jobs and health), and environment (biodiversity and pollution)," Kardinan stated.

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Translator: Sugiharto P, Fadhli Ruhman
Editor: Sri Haryati
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