Organic growth continues on the global level

The latest global data on organic farming has been presented by IFOAM – Organics International and the Research Institute of Organic Agriculture (FiBL) at the BioFach fair 2015 in Nuremberg. The global statistic almanach in it’s 16th edition "The World of Organic Agriculture 2015" shows a good growth for 2013: The global organic market increased to 72 billion US Dollars, organic agricultural land worldwide is 43 million hectares. The positive trend of the past continues: Consumer demand increases, reflected in the significant market growth of 11.5% in the US, the world’s largest organic market. More farmers cultivate organically, more land is certified organic, and 170 countries report organic farming activities (up from 164).

Global markets continue to grow

Market research company Organic Monitor estimates the global market for organic products in 2013 to have reached 72 billion US Dollars (approximately 55 billion euros). The United States is the leading market with 24.3 billion euros, followed by Germany (7.6 billion euros) and France (4.4 billion euros). In 2013 official market data was for the first time ever published for China (2.4 billion euros), making the country the fourth biggest organic market in the world. The higgest per capita spending was in Switzerland (210 euros) and Denmark (163 euros). “We are very pleased to see the recent excellent growth worldwide”, stated Markus Arbenz, executive director of IFOAM - Organics International, during the press conference at the BioFach. “The positive environmental, social and economic impacts of the sector in the global South and North confirm the sector’s importance as a lighthouse.”

Two million producers ad 43.1 million hectares of organic farmland

Reaching a new all-time high, two million organic producers were reported in 2013. As in previous years, the countries with the highest number of producers were India (650’000), Uganda (189’610) and Mexico (169’703). A total of 43.1 million hectares were organic at the end of 2013, representing a growth of almost 6 million hectares compared to the previous survey. In Oceania, organic land increased by a 42%, which was mainly due to rangeland areas shifting to organic production in Australia.

Australia is the country with the largest organic agricultural area (17.2million hectares, with 97% of that area used as grazing), followed by Argentina (3.2 million hectares) and the United States of America (2.2 million hectares). The countries with the largest share of organic agricultural land of their total farmland are the Falkland Islands (36.3%), followed by Liechtenstein (31%) and Austria (19.5%). In eleven countries more than 10% of all agricultural land is organic, as shown in the 2015 edition of the FiBL-IFOAM study “The World of Organic Agriculture” (Data per end of 2013).

Data collection

The data on organic agriculture are collected annually by the Research Institute of Organic Agriculture (FiBL); in collaboration with the International Federation of Organic Agriculture Movements (IFOAM – Organics International) and further partners. 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. Data collection in Europe was carried out in the framework of the OrganicDataNetwork project “Data network for better European organic market information” (OrganicDataNetwork, 7th Framework Programme for Research and Technological Development of the European Union).

More information: Yearbook "The World of Organic Agriculture"
The 300-page study 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.
Further information is available at www.organic-world.net

Quote: Helga Willer and Julia Lernoud (Eds.) (2015): The World of Organic Agriculture. Statistics and Emerging Trends 2015. FiBL-IFOAM Report. 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 www.fibl.org/en/shop-en.html (order number 1663) and www.ifoam.bio