The unprecedented growth in pollution levels across the globe, triggered by urbanization and industrial growth, has led to the adulteration of foods ranging from fruits to vegetables to grains. Some studies link this pollution leaching into foods with an increase in ailments affecting humans, including diseases such as cancer. Based on the WHO facts and figures, cancer is among the leading causes of death globally, accounting for around one in six or 10 million deaths in 2020.
The alarming estimates associated with diseases caused due to unwanted intake of chemical effluent and food contaminants in the form of pesticides and fertilizers has prompted a growth in practices that rely less on chemicals. This, in turn, has boosted the adoption of organic farming practices, thus propelling an expected increase in organic seed demand in the coming years.