Global Organic Production, Consumer Demand Growing Rapidly: OTA
GREENFIELD, Mass. -- The Organic Trade Association (OTA) confirmed last week that it's continuing to look for ways to encourage producers to fill the increasing demand for organic products, particularly as shortages are becoming more evident in North America.
The trade group cited a new report released at BioFach 2007 in Germany by the International Federation of Organic Agriculture Movements (IFOAM), the Research Institute of Organic Agriculture (FiBL), and the Foundation for Ecology and Farming (SOeL), which found that nearly 31 million hectares are currently certified as organic, with the global market for organic products reaching 25.5 billion euros in 2005.
According to the report, entitled "The World of Agriculture: Statistics and Emerging Trends 2007," the leading markets are in North America and Europe.
A member of IFOAM, OTA contributed to the 2007 report by providing the North American chapter. The final global report points to the continued growth in consumer demand for organic products throughout the world, and for the need for more organic ingredients to meet that demand. According to the report, shortages are most evident in North America.
"OTA continues to look for ways to encourage additional producers to help fill that demand. That is why OTA is making such an effort to include provisions to encourage organic production in the United States in the next U.S. Farm Bill," said Caren Wilcox, OTA's executive director, in a statement.
The trade group cited a new report released at BioFach 2007 in Germany by the International Federation of Organic Agriculture Movements (IFOAM), the Research Institute of Organic Agriculture (FiBL), and the Foundation for Ecology and Farming (SOeL), which found that nearly 31 million hectares are currently certified as organic, with the global market for organic products reaching 25.5 billion euros in 2005.
According to the report, entitled "The World of Agriculture: Statistics and Emerging Trends 2007," the leading markets are in North America and Europe.
A member of IFOAM, OTA contributed to the 2007 report by providing the North American chapter. The final global report points to the continued growth in consumer demand for organic products throughout the world, and for the need for more organic ingredients to meet that demand. According to the report, shortages are most evident in North America.
"OTA continues to look for ways to encourage additional producers to help fill that demand. That is why OTA is making such an effort to include provisions to encourage organic production in the United States in the next U.S. Farm Bill," said Caren Wilcox, OTA's executive director, in a statement.