IFOAM, FiBL, SÖL, NürnbergMesse

Press Release

More than 26 Million certified organic hectares worldwide

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

According to the study, currently more than 26 million hectares of farmland are under organic management worldwide. This is more than two million hectares more than in the previous year. Helga Willer of FiBL explains that this is an increase of almost ten percent.

In terms of organic land, Australia leads pack with 11.3 million hectares, followed by Argentina (2.8 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 more than ten percent of the agricultural land is managed organically.

In 2003, the market value of organic products worldwide reached 25 billion US$, the largest share of organic products being marketed in Europe and North America. In upcoming years, Bernward Geier of IFOAM expects ongoing growth of the market and organic land area, also due to an increased support of governments and development organisations.

This global study about organic farming will be presented for the 6th time at BioFach. Apart from the impressive collection of figures and illustrations, the study features a 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. A new chapter on organic farming and sustainability was added.

Contact

Dr. Helga Willer, Research Institute of Organic Agriculture FiBL FiBL, Ackerstr., CH-5070 Frick, Tel. +41 79 2180626, Fax +41 62 8657-273
E-Mail
Internet

Foundation Ecology & Agriculture (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), Charles-de-Gaulle-Str. 5, D-53113 Bonn, Tel. +49 228 92650-10
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 at a cost of 16 Euros (+postage) through IFOAM and FiBL (see addresses above).

The full study can be downloaded at a cost of 8 Euros via the internet at:
FiBL-Shop
http://www.ifoam.org

Chapter 2 of the study „Current Status of Organic Farming World-Wide" summarizing the main results and the global organic statistics can be downloaded free of charge at www.orgprints.org/4297.

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 2005 - Statistics and Emerging Trends.
7th revised edition, February 2005, International Federation of Organic Agriculture Movements (IFOAM), DE-Bonn. 186 Seiten, 16,00 EUR, Download 8 Euro, ISBN 3-934055-51-6

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