SÖL, IFOAM, FiBL, NürnbergMesse

Press Release

IFOAM, SÖL and FiBL present new facts and figures about organic farming at the BioFach fair

(Bonn/Bad Dürkheim/Frick/Nürnberg, 17.02.2004) The Swiss Research Institute of Organic Agriculture FiBL, the Foundation Ecology & Farming (SÖL), Germany, and the International Federation of Organic Agriculture Movements (IFOAM) will present the new study on “The World of Organic Agriculture – Statistics and Emerging Trends 2004” at the BioFach fair 2004 in Nuremberg, the world leading fair for organic food. Conducted with the support of the fair organizers NürnbergMesse, the study will be presented on Friday, 20.02.2004 at 10 am (Room Brüssel).

According to the study, currently more than 24 million hectares of farmland are under organic management worldwide. In terms of organic land, Australia leads pack with approximately ten million hectares, followed by Argentina (almost three million hectares) and Italy with more than one million hectares. Regarding the share of organic farmland in comparison with the total agricultural area, Austria, Switzerland and Scandinavian countries lead the way. In Switzerland for example ten percent of the agricultural land is managed organicallyⁱ.

In 2002, the market value of organic products worldwide reached 23 billion US$, the largest share of organic products being marketed in Europe and North America. For the upcoming years, ongoing “healthy” growth is expected.

This global study about organic farming will be presented for the 5th time at BioFach. Apart from the impressive collection of figures and illustrations, the study features a completely updated chapter on the market situation and emerging trends for several continents. Furthermore, the chapters on standards and certification include a wealth of new information.

Contact

Dr. Helga Willer, Research Institute of Organic Agriculture FiBL FiBL, Ackerstr., CH-5070 Frick, Tel. +41 62 8657-207, Fax +41 62 8657-273
E-Mail
Internet

Minou Yussefi, Stiftung Ökologie & Landbau (SÖL), Weinstr. Süd 51, D-67098 Bad Dürkheim, Tel +49 6322 98970-0, Fax +49 6322 98970-1
E-Mail
Internet

Bernward Geier, International Federation of Organic Agriculture Movements (IFOAM), Tel. 49 228 92650-12
E-Mail
Internet

NürnbergMesse, BioFach, Messezentrum Nürnberg, D – 90471 Nürnberg, Tel: +49 911 8606-0, Fax:+49 911 8606-8228
E-Mail
Internet

Order and Download

Published in English, the study can be ordered through IFOAM and FiBL (see addresses above).

The study can be accessed via the internet at:
http://www.fibl.org/shop/pdf/st-1298-organic-world-2004.pdf
http://www.soel.de/oekolandbau/weltweit.html
http://www.ifoam.org

Graphics and Pictures

Graphics and pictures are available via www.soel.de/oekolandbau/weltweit.html.

The study

Helga Willer and Minou Yussefi (Eds.)
The World of Organic Agriculture 2004 –Statistics and Emerging Trends
6th, revised edition, February 2004, International Federation of Organic Agriculture Movements (IFOAM), DE-Bonn, 170 pages, 16,00 €, ISBN 3-934055-33-8

This press release is available at the internet at
http://www.fibl.org, http://www.ifoam.org, http://www.soel.de

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ⁱWorld: 24 million hectares = approx. 57 million acres
Australia: 10 million hectares = approx. 24 million acres
Argentina 2.9 million hectares = approx. 7 million acres
Italy 1.16 million hectares = approx. 2.8 million acres.