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A green revolution will soon happen in government schools where the students will grow organic vegetables in their backyard, to be later used to prepare their own mid-day meals.

To be introduced in ten government schools in South Bangalore on a pilot basis, the concept is an initiative of the organic community in the city for the New Year. Starting from January, the group will gradually spread out to the other shortlisted schools through the year.

“The feasibility report including its cost-effectiveness is being looked into now. Once the logistics are worked out, we will approach corporate houses for funding,” said Dr B N Viswanath, the man who is spearheading the green movement.

In schools, growing vegetables organically would be an activity of the eco -club members.

“It can be introduced as another hobby class for children. Depending on the space the respective schools allot to start the vegetable farm, we can involve around 15 children to work with us in growing the organic produce,” said Viswanath.

Schools say it would be good both economically and ecologically to start growing organic vegetables on their own.

Organic Monitor Comment
This school meals initiative is hailed for its many benefits. Children are taught at an early age how to grow food and the importance of nutrition. The schools also gain by having fresh, home grown foods that are not adulterated or grown with high doses of agro-chemicals. By teaching children at a young age about the importance of healthy diets, they are likely to remember these lessons for the rest of their lives. 

Source: The Times of India / Organic Monitor
 

Despite its booming economy and increasing global presence, China has yet to shed its image as a land where when it comes to food, consumer beware.

Food-related scares, including poisonings, in recent years have created a crisis of confidence among Chinese consumers, a major example being the 2008 milk poisonings, in which an estimated 30,000 people fell victim to tainted milk and infant formula laced with melamine.

To improve food safety and to establish trust between producers and consumers, a group of Chinese academics from the non-government Fuping Development Institute recently traveled to Japan to visit Daichi wo Mamoru Kai, the nation's largest organic food distributor, to share knowledge for a joint venture it hopes to launch next year.

The two organizations aim to collaborate to create an organic food distribution service in Beijing as early as next fall, using know-how that Daichi, a pioneer in the field, has accumulated over the past 36 years.

Mao Yushi, founding chairman of the Chinese institute, said that while there is a market for organic food in China, it still remains small and poorly regulated.

"Because of the big gap between the rich and the poor in China, the richest 1 percent that is in power is almost larger than the richest 10 percent in Japan," Mao said during an interview with The Japan Times earlier this month.

"And their consumption is very high, from luxury cars to fashion brand products. And their concern is their health, so they like to have organic produce," he said.

But Mao, a nationally renowned economist who established the institute in 2002 as a means to alleviate poverty and promote sustainable development, said products are not strictly managed and there is a lack of concrete safety guidelines.

"So Daichi, they have more than 30 years' experience in conducting these kinds of projects, so it is a very good example for us. We came here to learn," he said.

Tang Min, another visiting academic and a co-chairman of the institute, said organic products in China mainly face two problems: a lack of trust from consumers and high prices.

Tang recounted a story he heard from a farmer in China who said he kept a small piece of land for his family that was free of fertilizers and other chemicals. The rest of the land was for growing produce for average consumers.

"You see, these rural farmers, they know that all the fertilizers and chemicals are not so good for health," he said.

And with food-poisoning scandals making headlines in recent years, Tang said Chinese worry a great deal about whether the food they eat is safe. But with so many farmers and companies boasting of being "organic," consumers can't tell which claims are legitimate. Availability and price are other factors keeping consumers away from organic produce.

Tang, a former researcher at the Asian Development Bank, said organic produce can only be found in large, urban supermarkets, and usually costs three to five times more than regular produce. "And you have to eat organic food regularly to enjoy its health effects," he said.

Source: The Japan Times
 

Peepul Capital, a Chennai and Hyderabad-based private equity fund, has committed up to $15 million into Sresta Natural Bioproducts Ltd, an organic food enterprise based in Hyderabad.

Sresta, a company operating in the organic food space, was founded in March 2004 by Rajshekhar Reddy Seelam or Raj Seelam. However, this is not the first round of institutional funding for the company that has earlier raised $1.14 million from Biotechnology Venture Fund, a fund managed by VenturEast Fund Advisors India Ltd.

The IIM-Ahmedabad alumnus began by selling pesticides and fertilisers to farmers at the Murugappa Group company, EID Parry. After working closely with farmers, Seelam went on to create Sresta - an organic food business which could help avert pesticide havoc.

The company owns more than 30,000 acres of land, under various stages of organic production. It has the ability to produce 6,000 tonnes of organic products ranging from grain and fruits to pickles, jams and bakery items. Its key competitors include Fabindia and Mumbai-based Conscious Foods.

The organic arena has already seen private equity action. Earlier in 2011, Suminter Organics raised funding from Nexus Venture Partners.

Organic Monitor Comment
Mergers, acquisitions and investments are occurring in the global organic products industry. Initially, most deals were in North America and Europe. However, deals have spread to Asia and other regions as the organic products industry has become global. Organic Monitor expects more such investment activity, especially when global economic conditions improve.

Source: VC Circle / Organic Monitor