IFOAM (International Federation of Organic Agriculture Movements), headquartered in Germany, issued a report on the state of organic agriculture around the world in February 2004. Among the report’s most salient facts are these:
- Prof. Ulrich Hamm, a respected organic market analyst, has forecasted annual growth rates of 20 to 40 percent and, in some countries, even up to 50 percent a year.
- Denmark has stated a target of 20 percent organic food production.
- The largest organic trader in the UK expects today’s $11 billion U.S. organic market to go to a volume of $100 billion in the next ten years.
- In Switzerland, the organic market share is already 10 percent and growing, with the largest canton, Graubünden, having around 50 percent. Austria, Sweden, and Finland have reached similar levels.
- The latest statistic from Italy shows 18,000 farms either fully organic or in conversion in 1996, growing to 30,000 by 1998, and having now reached about 60,000 farms.
- Uganda, Egypt, Mexico, Argentina, Japan, Poland, and Australia are all involved in organic agriculture and report growing consumer demand.
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