International Alternative production system scoping opportunity - AnugaTrade Fair

Summary

ANUGA is the world's largest food and beverage trade fair and ANUGA 2007 was held in Cologne, Germany, 13-17 October. A total of 6,607 companies from 95 countries exhibited at ANUGA 2007. Approximately 163,000 trade visitors from 175 countries attended the fair.
The purpose of this project was to explore the positioning of organic produce relative to conventional produce in the global food market as observed at ANUGA 2007 and comment on the implications of the emergence of the organic category for the Australian red meat industry. The total presence of the organic sector at ANUGA involved 252 organic produce exhibitors from 29 countries in a designated pavilion and an additional 1,498 exhibitors who presented organic product but were not part of the dedicated pavilion.  
The ANUGA Organic pavilion was dominated by non-perishable and grain related products such as bread and pasta. Organic meat products were generally confined to smoked and cured ham products with very little fresh meat on offer. The Organic Meat Company, a subsidiary of Sanger Australia was represented but not in the designated ANUGA Organic pavilion.
Prices for organic meat presented by one German provedore were 43,90 per kg (AU$70.00 per kg) for strip loin and 17,40 per kg (AU$27.50 per kg) for diced blade or equivalent stewing meat. Significant global growth in and acceptance of the organic food industry was evident at ANUGA. Of particular note was the number of South American meat companies advertising the availability of organic produce.
The lack of a uniform international organic standard was identified by several participants as a significant impediment to sector growth. Opportunities exist for the Australian meat industry to leverage existing industry systems and an established reputation as a supplier of quality meat to take advantage of the growing consumer demand for clean, green and safe food.