p. 1

genesis seeds ltd august 2008 this disk contains 1 an introduction to the marketing and selling of certified organic seed 2 a white paper on the organic industry updated as of august 2008 3 a list of useful sources of additional information on the organic industry 4 a walmart sustainable agriculture fact sheet 5 a rodale institute research paper on global warming 6 a toledo blade article on health enthusiasts reluctant to give up pricey organic food 7 the green bottom line ­ from the hartman group

[close]

p. 2

an introduction to the marketing selling of certified organic seeds august 2008 1

[close]

p. 3

certified organic seed is · the starting point for most certified organic produce · environmentally friendly ­ grown sustainably without artificial chemicals or pesticides it is a key component of being green · now competitively priced with premium conventional seed · adapted to stressful growing conditions has drought and disease tolerance so is suitable for a wide variety of commercial and retail plantings · sold into a market where there is unmet demand from both organic and non-organic growers · available in new varieties of hybrids and high quality open pollinated seed for the commercial grower in commercial quantities as well as heirloom varieties for both the commercial and hobby markets 2

[close]

p. 4

consumers embrace sustainable agriculture consumers are demanding sustainability and retailers are responding wal-mart states it wants a long term supply of reliable agricultural products produced in a sustainable way wal-mart believes all families should have affordable access to sustainable products like organic fruits and vegetables 3 the wal-mart promotes sustainable agriculture fact sheet may 2008.

[close]

p. 5

organic production counteracts global warming the rodale institute research shows that organically managed soils can store sequester more than 1,000 pounds of carbon per acre while non organic systems can cause carbon loss for consumers this means that the simple act of buying or growing organic products can help to reduce global climate change see

[close]

p. 6

consumers are now conscious of their carbon footprint · demanding locally grown produce grown within 500 miles at all retailers even national retail chains such as ahold/stop shop carry local heirloom tomatoes · shopping at farmers markets and buying through food co-ops where sustainably-grown produce is a key selling point · expecting nurseries and garden centers to carry plants that are chemical and pesticide free · growing some of their own produce sales of organic vegetable seed to homeowners increased in both 2007 and 2008 organic seed is the starting point for sturdy plants that thrive in chemical free environments increasing the satisfaction of newly green gardeners 5

[close]

p. 7

but consumers want more · consumers expect farmers and growers to take steps to become responsible stewards of the land · consumers favor companies taking green initiatives · where the price difference is not substantial consumers buy environmentally friendly products such as light bulbs protecting the environment is an activity that consumers are beginning to view as a must not an option to stay in business companies will have to proactively adjust to doing more with less of the world s resources in agriculture this means sustainable and organic farming 6

[close]

p. 8

certified organic is now mainstream · organic produce is found in most supermarket chains · the majority of consumers buy some organic food · the quality and appearance of organic produce is comparable to or better than conventional produce · studies show that organic fruit and vegetables are often tastier have greater nutritional value and fewer harmful chemicals than their conventional counterparts taste health and sustainability are driving the growth in consumption of organic produce 7

[close]

p. 9

growth in demand for organic food · organic food sales are one of the fastest growing segments of food retail sales in the u.s double digit growth in each of the last 20 years and projected to continue to grow rapidly · produce is the gateway to organic consumption and sales of organic fruits and vegetables account for almost 40 of total organic food sales · organic food sales are a $18 billion industry in the u.s and almost $40 billion globally 8

[close]

p. 10

certified organic produce 9

[close]

p. 11

role of certified organic food for many consumers concerned about health and/or the environment organic food has become a necessity not a luxury and organic food sales continue to rise in 2008 retailers are using organic food to meet evolving consumer preferences and to attract new customers away from home consumption of organic foods is also growing as organic foods are now seen as a clear product differentiator in all channels within the food industry organic trade association s 2007 manufacturer survey 10

[close]

p. 12

the opportunity high quality distinctive organic produce is valued by retailers and food service operators seeking to differentiate themselves from their competition and meet consumer demand the starting point for a high quality distinctive product is a unique variety of high quality organic seed the market demand for organic seed is not currently being met in commercial quantities creating an opportunity for seed companies to expand their product lines into organic seed picture to come 11

[close]

p. 13

organic certification to be labeled certified organic products must be grown handled and processed according to organic protocols the land and the inputs must meet organic rules to guarantee the quality and integrity of the organic label producers in the u.s must have their operations certified by an agency accredited by the united states department of agriculture the u.s.d.a s national organic program states that certified organic crops including flowers fruits vegetables and herbs must be grown from organic seed where commercially available this rule must be enforced regardless of the price of the seed 12

[close]

p. 14

increasing growth of organic production about 5 of the u.s acreage devoted to vegetables was certified organic and 2.5 of the fruit acreage was certified organic in 2005 in 8 years certified organic acreage had doubled even although land must be chemical-free for 3 years before being certified organic the 2008 farm bill recognizing the increasing importance of organic agriculture increased funding for research and education five-fold over the 2002 farm bill the bill also allocated funds to help growers offset the costs of certification and for data collection 13

[close]

p. 15

why growers use organic seed certified organic seed is · required to be used to grow organic produce if the seed is available according to the national organic program nop of 2002 · guaranteed to be grown in a sustainable manner usda approved certifiers ensure organic protocols are strictly followed · adapted to stressful growing conditions so may increase yields · adds little incremental cost to produce a premium product with premium pricing in the market place consumers who want validation of sustainably grown look for the certified organic label 14

[close]