BioFach: Opening of the trade fair celebrates worldwide organic growth

It should have been clear to all politicians and decision makers in science and economics by now, which direction to choose: organics and sustainability are not only necessary for survival, but are what many stakeholders in the organic trade have been demanding for a long time. These demands were focused at the Media Day as well as at the opening event of BioFach, which was attended by about 1000 invited guests. On one side, it could be revealed how successful the organic trade is worldwide. On the other side, due to the lack of the presence of renowned politicians like the German Federal Minister of Food, Ilse Aigner, it came clear how low this sector’s status is in politics. (Picture: Nuremberg in the snow, the exhibition hall during the first minutes of opening)
 

IFOAM President André Leu (picture to the left) held one of the opening speeches and named BioFach as the largest and most important fair for the organic trade, which he visits with pleasure. He outlined the increased efforts of the international umbrella organisation to contribute more to networking, since a large number of organisations that work in a similar direction are connected. The good news has to be brought to institutions, economy and society with more emphasis. He congratulated the IFOAM EU Group on its 10th anniversary. The group is acting very successful and was represented by its chairman Christopher Stopes.
 

Felix Prinz zu Löwenstein, chairman of BÖLW (Bund Ökologische Lebensmittelwirtschaft - Organic Food Production Alliance) vigorously demanded a change in politics towards transforming food systems. Organic agriculture and the organic sector are full of advantages and therefore it is time for determined action. This is the common concern of the entire community that meets in Nuremberg once a year for BioFach, according to Prinz zu Löwenstein. Aigner’s Secretary of State Robert Kloos was not very convincing, and therefore received little applause.

Romania, the country of the year, was represented by the Roman Secretary of State Achim Irimescu as well as by Marian Cioceanu, chairman of the Romanian organic association (picture on the right). Especially the latter enthusiastically took a stand for his country and for trust in the Romanian organic production. The number of Romanian organic farmers increased to 26,000 in 2012 (from 9000 in 2011) thanks to EU funding. An insight into the cultural richness of the country was given by a panpipe player.
 

The latest numbers of the organic world were presented at various events before and during BioFach.

1.8 million farmers in 162 countries grow organically on more than 37 million hectares of agricultural land worldwide (2011). The global market for organic food reaches US$ 62.9 billion, which is an increase of US$ 4 billion compared to the previous year. IFOAM and FiBL initiatives lay the foundation for further growth: The United Nations Forum on Sustainability Standards (UNFSS), the Best Practice Reference consultation (SOAAN) and the global organic science platform (TIPI). (Graph: Growth of organic companies 1999 - 2011)

“200.000 new organic farmers, this is good news for the environment and for the social and economic development of rural areas” says IFOAM president and Australian organic farmer Andre Leu. In fact, the results of the latest annual global survey on Organic Agriculture conducted by FiBL and IFOAM show evidence of continued growth. Past investments have clearly paid off and three new initiatives are now paving the way for investments in future growth and expansion:

Organic is spearheading sustainability standards at UNFSS: The UN launches a new initiative: The United Nations Forum on Sustainability Standards (UNFSS) creates economic and social development opportunities. Both IFOAM and FiBL are contributing to the experiences made in the organic world that are accumulated in the Global Organic Market Access project. The Swiss State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO) has confirmed its support for the future UNFSS cluster on harmonization and equivalence. The increased recognition of the IFOAM Family of Standards and the recent equivalence agreements between the US and EU or Canada and Switzerland are important steps, which have attracted the UN’s attention and will drive further development in the organic industry. (Graph: Development of the worldwide market for organic products 2000 - 2011)

Best Practice Reference in consultation: Following a year of intensive visioning, discussing and internal drafting, the Sustainable Organic Agriculture Action Network (SOAAN) - launched at BioFach 2012 – presents a Best Practice Reference for Agriculture and its value chain. It defines and details, for the first time ever in the history of organic agriculture, how agriculture will look in practice once we achieve the objective of sustainable agriculture.

TIPI, The Technology Innovation Platform of IFOAM: This year sees BioFach host its first science event to which FiBL and IFOAM have invited scientists from all over the world. More than 100 professionals debate the vision for organic agricultural research and launch the first global science network as part of the Global Organic Movement. Andre Leu emphasizes, “given the current debates on agriculture, it is critical to the future of organic systems that these are both science and evidence based. The establishment of this platform is a key step in closing the gap the industry currently has here”.

The market research company Organic Monitor estimated the global market for organic products in 2011 at almost US$ 63 billion (up from US$ 59 billion) or more than 45 billion euros. The leading market is the United States with 21 billion euros. In Europe, where 21.5 billion euros were spent, Germany leads at 6.6 billion euros, followed by France (3.8 billion euros). The countries with the highest annual per capita spending were Switzerland and Denmark with more than 160 euros. (Graph: Per capita consumption - Switzerland, Denmark, Luxembourg, Austria, Liechtenstein, Sweden, Germany, USA, France, Canada)

Moving from consumers to producers, approximately 80 % of a global total of 1.8 million farms (up from 1.6 million) that practice organic methods are located in developing countries. As in previous years, the countries with the most producers are India (547,591), Uganda (188,625), Mexico (169,570) and Tanzania (145,430).

From a farmland perspective, a total of 37.2 million hectares were organic at the end of 2011. The largest growth of organic agricultural land was in Asia where an increase of 0.9 million hectares was noted. This brings the figure for organic farmland to 3.7 million hectares (+ 34 % year on year growth). In Europe, organic farmland increased by 0.6 million hectares (+ 6 %); 10.6 million hectares are now organic. The countries with the highest growth rates were: China (+ 510,000 hectares), India (+,304,266 hectares) and Spain (+ 165,226 hectares).

One third of all global organic agricultural land is in Oceania (33 %), followed by Europe (29 %), and Latin America (18 %). Australia is the country with the largest organic agricultural area (12 million hectares, with 97 % of that area used as grazing), followed by Argentina (3.8 million hectares) and the United States of America (1.9 million hectares). The countries with the largest share of organic agricultural land of all farmland are the Falkland Islands (36 %), followed by Liechtenstein (29 %) and Austria (20 %). In ten countries more than ten % of the agricultural land is organic. These figures show that in countries where organic agriculture is institutionally well embedded, there is constant market growth and expansion of the area under organic management. This is impressively shown in the case of Europe, where many countries provide a wide range of support measures such as direct payments, advisory services, relevant research and marketing measures. This underpins the importance of National Action Plan development, as promoted by FiBL and IFOAM.

The data on organic agriculture worldwide are being presented for the fourteenth consecutive year at BioFach. The book “The World of Organic Agriculture Worldwide” contains reports, authored by long-standing 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. Further information is available on the Internet. Support for this work is granted by the Swiss State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO) and by NürnbergMesse. (Graph: The ten countries with the most organic producers 2011 - India, Uganda, Mexico, Tanzania, Ethiopia, Turkey, Peru, Italy, Spain, Dominicanian Republic)

Order book: The printed version The World of Organic Agriculture (50 euros + postage; IFOAM members 25 euros) can be ordered here. (Picture: Helga Willer shows current figures on organic agriculture worldwide)