Organic Farmland Area Continues to Grow Across the Globe

A recent study has shown a positive trend in global organic agriculture over the past years, with 2018 marking a record year for both the accumulated size of global organic farmland as well as organic retail sales.

The World of Organic Agriculture study, the 21^st edition of its kind by the Research Institute of Organic Agriculture (FiBL) and IFOAM – Organics International in Germany, has shown a total of 71.5 million hectares of farmland to be organically managed by the end of 2018, with 2.8 million organic producers reported worldwide.

“The global organic statistics have proven useful for development programs and supporting strategies for organic agriculture and markets, and they are crucial for monitoring the impact of these activities,” says Louise Luttikholt, IFOAM – Organics International Executive Director, and Professor Urs Niggli, director of FiBL. “This publication shows our ongoing engagement with transparency in the organic sector.”

Market research company Ecovia Intelligence also estimates that in 2018, the global organic food market surpassed 100 billion dollars for the first time in history, with many major markets showing double-digit growth rates.