Bio-products growing in importance
Organic farming is the most dynamic domain of the primary sector and the food industry in Greece, the Organic Products Network announced yesterday ahead of the first «Biologica» exhibition in Thessaloniki. This form of farming accounts for 3.2 percent of cultivated land in Greece, while turnover of organic products stands at an estimated 40 million euros per year, said representatives of the network, a group founded on the initiative of the Federation of Industries of Northern Greece (SVVE) and organic products’ standardization corporations. Although exports of organic products continue to rise, some 50-60 percent of such products consumed in Greece are imported. The exhibition of organic products opens on Thursday for traders and will welcome the public over the weekend (May 31 and June 1). Organized by Helexpo and the network, the exhibition aims to raise the profile of the Greek companies involved in the sector of organic products, protected-origin products and alternative farming in general. At the same time it hopes to make the companies more outward-looking. A further aim is to inform the consumer public of the need to incorporate organic products in their daily eating habits. There are 255 exhibitors participating in Biologica, including the network – which represents 37 member-companies – the Federation of Greek Biofarmers’ Associations, the Association of Biofarmers of Northern Greece and the Attica Open-Air Market Association. Over 80 trade guests have been invited from 10 countries and a schedule of more than 100 business meetings has been planned.
