Organic agriculture as a paradigm of sustainability: Italian food and its progression in the global market

The limits of the conventional model of industrial agriculture, which is typified by negative externalities affecting both the environment and public health, are now manifest. A model that is more environmentally friendly and respectful of public health is today both a necessity and a great opportunity for Italian producers. Acting with a view to mid-long term sustainability is the right choice also in terms of economic results. The current crisis has accelerated quality enhancement: quality has become an essential strategic element for being competitive. In the international markets there is a large and growing demand for Italian produce, which covers the entire agri-food sector. The growing attention towards aspects of health connected with food consumption places organic products in a privileged position. In this context, organic produce is found at the highest end of the top-quality products that Italy has to offer. (C) 2016 Published by Elsevier B.V. This is an open access article under the CC BY-NC-ND license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/).