What is the Future of Organic Foods?

The organic food craze has gotten a solid footing and has spread across the world like an errant wildfire. While more people are switching to healthier, organic versions of their favorite fruits, vegetables, meats and other products, does this mean that traditional food and farming will become a thing of the past? Will organic food be as popular in ten or twenty years as it is today or will the organic food craze fade away, leaving people to revert back to traditional food?

Chances are high that traditional agriculture is here to stay as it is much more profitable than organic agriculture and it has worked well for more than 300 years. Since commercial fertilizers, herbicides and pesticides increase yields and decrease losses, they increase profits; therefore, as long as farmers work the land using traditional methods and means, commercial farming will exist.

At some point in the future, people might be forced to choose between the easy option and the environmentally friendly option. However, as the world's population increases, the need for larger amounts of food increases, too. Were we only employing organic farming methods, we would quickly run out of space for crops.

Will the organic food craze fade into the background and join the myriad of other health food fads gone by the wayside? Since organic agriculture has been around for many years and continues to gain mainstream acceptance and popularity, the answer is a solid 'no'. Once, not so long ago, you had to look everywhere to find organic produce. Now, some of the world's largest supermarket chains stock a large variety of organic products. Organic agriculture will likely become more common and popular as people become more aware of the negative environmental and physical effects of pesticides, herbicides, fertilizers, hormones and other chemicals. In developing countries, studies have shown that families that employ organic agricultural actually make more money than traditional farmers in the same areas and have a higher standard of living.

As organic food and product consumers raise their children on organic products, they are creating an automatic market share, ensuring that the future of organic foods is bright. If children are not exposed to traditional foods and products they will not use them, instead opting for their organic counterparts. The organic agriculture industry will continue to grow as the trend toward buying local sustains itself, as happens periodically and as local businesses continue to support each others' industries.

Organic agriculture may not be able to take over the world and solve every environmental and dietary problem but it is and will continue to impact the world. As people continue to be concerned for their family's safety and that of the world around them, it is a safe assumption that the future of organic foods is a bright one.