In detail, the findings reveal that imports accounted for 75% of the UK’s organic food sales in 2000, compared to 70% the previous year. This underlines the importance of developing capacity in domestic production. MORI’s research shows that 52% of respondents believe that around a third or more of the UK’s farmland should be turned over to organic methods, in contrast to the current 3%. One in four also said that the government should devote more resources to organic farming and address concerns about food safety.

According to Patrick Holden, Director of the Soil Association, "The organic market topped £600 million in 1999-2000, and our new report shows not only that more people are buying organic but they are buying more frequently and spending more when they buy. We believe this dynamic growth in the market and the strength of public opinion indicate that consumers want the politicians to deliver a new and sustainable vision for British agriculture. The time is ripe for our government to match the progress being made elsewhere in Europe by committing itself to an action plan for organic food and farming. We need to put an end to the stop-start funding of the Organic Farming Scheme and give farmers the ongoing organic stewardship payments which their contribution to protecting the environment deserves."

MORI interviewed 1,973 British adults, face to face and in home, for the survey between 22 and 26 February 2001.