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Growth continues: 43.7 million hectares of organic agricultural land worldwide

The latest global data on organic farming will be presented by the Research Institute of Organic Agriculture (FiBL) and IFOAM – Organics International at the BIOFACH fair 2016 in Nuremberg. The statistics yearbook “The World of Organic Agriculture” will be launched on Wednesday, February 10, 2016, from 4.30 to 5.45 pm in Room Istanbul, NCC East.

(Bonn/Frick/Nürnberg February 10, 2016)  The positive trend seen in the past years continues: Consumer demand is increasing, reflected in the significant market growth of 11% in the US, the world’s largest organic market. More farmers cultivate organically, more land is certified organic, and 172 countries report organic farming activities (up from 170) as shown in the 2016 edition of the study “The World of Organic Agriculture” (data per end of 2014), published by FiBL and IFOAM – Organics International.

The global organic market is growing

The market research company Organic Monitor estimates the global market for organic food in 2014 to have reached 80 billion US Dollars (more than 60 billion Euros). The United States is the leading market with 27.1 billion Euros, followed by Germany (7.9 billion Euros), France (4.8 billion Euros), and China (3.7 billion Euros). In 2014, the Swedish organic market experienced an unprecedented growth, increasing by more than 40 percent – a remarkable rate for an already well-established market. The highest per capita spending was in Switzerland (221 Euros) and Luxembourg (164 Euros).

More than two million producers

Reaching a new all-time high, 2.3 million organic producers were reported in 2014. As in previous years, the countries with the most producers were India (650’000), Uganda (190’552) and Mexico (169’703).

43.7 million hectares of organic farmland

A total of 43.7 million hectares were organically managed at the end of 2014, representing a growth of almost 0.5 million hectares on the previous survey (2013 data). Australia is the country with the largest organic agricultural area (17.2 million hectares, with 97% of that area used for grazing), followed by Argentina (3.1 million hectares) and the United States of America (2.2 million hectares).

40% of the global organic agricultural land is in Oceania (17.3 million hectares), followed by Europe (27%; 11.6 million hectares) and Latin America (15%; 6.8 million hectares).

More than 10% of farmland is organic in 11 countries

The countries with the largest share of organic agricultural land of their total farmland are the Falkland Islands (36.3%), Liechtenstein (30.9%) and Austria (19.4%). In eleven countries more than 10% of all agricultural land is organic.

Further information

Contact

    Presentation

    Presentation of Julia Lernoud und Helga Willer. Organic Agriculture Worldwide 2014 - Graphs (1.9 MB)

    Programme of the session “The World of Organic Agriculture – Statistics and Emerging Trends”

    Wednesday, February 10, 2016, 4.30 to 5.45 pm, Room Istanbul (NCC East), NürnbergMesse, Nürnberg

    • Markus Arbenz, IFOAM – Organics International, Moderator
    • Dr. Barbara Jäggin, SECO, Switzerland, The role of Sustainability Standards in Economic Development Cooperation in Switzerland
    • Dr. Helga Willer, Research Institute of Organic Agriculture (FiBL): Latest data on organic agriculture world-wide
    • Julia Lernoud, Research Institute of Organic Agriculture (FiBL): Latest data on Voluntary Sustainability Standards world-wide
    • Beate Huber, Research Institute of Organic Agriculture (FiBL): Standards and regulations
    • Amarjit Sahota, Organic Monitor, UK: The global market for organic food

    More information at www.biofach.fibl.org/en/biofach-2016.html.

    Yearbook "The World of Organic Agriculture"

    About "The World of Organic Agriculture"

    The study (336 pages) contains reports, authored by experts, on the organic sector and emerging trends in all regions and selected countries. The statistics are supported with graphs and tables. In addition, background information on issues such as standards and legislation is provided. New additions to this edition are an article on organic cotton from the Textile Exchange and a chapter reviewing eight key commodities certified by selected Voluntary Sustainability Standards (VSS). Further information is available at www.organic-world.net/yearbook/yearbook-2016.html.

    Data collection

    The data on organic agriculture are collected annually by the Research Institute of Organic Agriculture (FiBL) in collaboration with many partners from all around the world. The results are published jointly with IFOAM – Organics International. The activities are supported by the Swiss State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO), the International Trade Centre (ITC), and NürnbergMesse, the organizers of the BIOFACH fair. The views expressed in this press release can in no way be taken to reflect the official opinions of SECO, ITC, or NürnbergMesse.

    Quote

    Helga Willer and Julia Lernoud (Eds.) (2016): The World of Organic Agriculture. Statistics and Emerging Trends 2016. Research Institute of Organic Agriculture (FiBL), Frick and IFOAM – Organics International, Bonn

    Order book and download

    The printed version (25 Euros + postage; affiliates  of IFOAM – Organics International: 20 Euros) can be ordered at FiBL shop (order number 1698) and shop.ifoam.bio

    Online-Database

    The data is available online at http://www.organic-world.net/statistics/statistics-data-tables/ow-statistics-data-key-data.html.
    Pick up your copy at BIOFACH in Hall 1, Stands 1-549 (FiBL) and 1-447 (IFOAM – Organics International). 

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