Apparently you don't have to die young anymore to leave a good looking corpse. You will be preserved because you are marinated in chemicals – cause of death aside.

"More than 100 000 new chemicals have been introduced into our food supply since 1950", says David Wolstenholme, exhibition director of the Natural & Organic Products Exhibition (20-22 October, Gallagher Estate, Jhb). "And now we wonder where the increases of cancer, bird flu and mad cow diseases have come from."

Luckily, organic farming is expanding fast - not only with fruits, vegetables and grains, but also eggs, dairy foods, and to some extent meat and poultry.

Worldwide, the organic - or chemical free - industry is the fastest growing industry segment, growing at 25% annually, reports Wolstenholme. Compare this to the 2% per annum growth for conventional produce using chemicals and genetically modified seeds and the consumer demand for organics becomes evident.

This trend is echoed in the complementary health industry, which has an estimated worth of R2.3 billion, 9% of which is comprised of sports nutrition.

Home Pastures
What was once a niche market is now squarely rooted in the mainstream. In our own backyard, the sector earned about R155 million in 2005, compared to about R3 million in 2003, according to Organics SA.

A total of about 515 000 hectares is under organic farming. About 500 000 hectares of this total is used for pasture beef cattle, about 11 000 for growing rooibos tea and the rest is used for growing fruit, vegetables,
some grains and essential oils. The largest organic crops are rooibos tea, bananas, grapes and apples. South Africa's largest organic exports are table grapes and beef and the main export markets are the United Kingdom and the European Union and there are also exports to the United States of America and the Middle East.

South African consumer demand for organic products is growing rapidly, and is far outstripping supply, reports www.biocontrol.co.za. But going organic is not only about making economic sense. It is about going chemical free and preserving our natural eco-chains.

Source of Energy
Aside from providing a much needed discussion and interactive platform, the Natural and Organic Products Exhibition campaigns for sustainable job creation through the development of organic, renewable energy. Investing in the South African society and making South Africa a competitive contender in world markets through government supported inexpensive, effective and reliable bio-fuel policies are among the Exhibition's objectives.

The gravity of this issue was recently emphasized in a CNN documentary, We Were Warned: Tomorrow's Oil Crisis, which was aired in March. This hard hitting programme explored the potential ripple effects of diminishing energy supplies. The events depicted were hypothetical but oil experts believe the scenario is entirely plausible. Interviews with energy experts revealed that we are nearing the point at which the world, led by the U.S. and China, will begin to consume more oil than can be pumped from the ground and the oceans. Tracking the global race to find new sources of oil, interviewer Frank Sesno also considers the viability of alternative fuels, such as ethanol, which is used as fuel for 40% of cars in Brazil.

Throughout his investigation, Sesno tries to find out whether any of these ventures can solve our looming energy crisis or whether we have already left it too late.

Generating more power is one of our top three priorities, and South Africa should be looking at all the alternatives. Solar, wind and wave technology is widely available and inexpensive. Greece is committed to move towards alternative energy sources and here is why: the cost of producing 1000 kWh using coal fired stations is R350 to R560 as opposed to only R17,5 for wind energy.

Says Wolstenholme: "Sadly we are not following the Greek initiative. We are going to invest in more coal- fired stations and enhance our nuclear plant - the most-expensive options. When are we going to say enough is enough? Non-delivery of essential services at realistic prices is a crime against the people. Being addicted to imported oil and not creating over a million new jobs defies any logic."

For detailed information and reliable product knowledge visit the Natural and Organic Products Exhibition at the Gallagher Estate, Midrand, Johannesburg (20 - 22 October 2006).

www.naturalandorganic.co.za

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For media queries contact Nicole Capper on 021-425 5825 or 073 148 3561
For further comment contact David Wolstenholme or Janine Johnston on 021-674 0935

Editor's Notes
*Sourced from Business Report-19th April 2006

A highlight of the Exhibition is an eco-savvy fashion show, the No Kak - Environmentally Friendly Fashion Show (Sunday 22 October, 2006), which raises environmental and product awareness in textile design, as well as promotes products that have been produced in an environmentally responsible manner.