Definition:

Number of organic farms refers to the total number of farms under organic management. These include both farms already converted to organic agriculture and those in the conversion process.

Definitions of organic agriculture vary among countries. According to the FAO/WHO Codex Alimentarius Commission Guidelines for the Production, Processing, Marketing and Labelling of Organically Produced Foods, "organic agriculture is a holistic production management system which promotes and enhances agroecosystem health, including biodiversity, biological cycles, and soil biological activity....This is accomplished by using, where possible, cultural, biological and mechanical methods, as opposed to using synthetic materials, to fulfill any specific function within the system."

"Organic production systems are based on specific and precise standards of production which aim at achieving optimal agroecosystems which are socially, ecologically and economically sustainable. Terms such as 'biological' and 'ecological' are also used in an effort to describe the organic system more clearly. Requirements for organically produced foods differ from those for other agricultural products in that production procedures are an intrinsic part of the identification and labelling of, and claim for, such products."

Years Covered and Frequency of Update:

Organic management data were first provided on a global scale by Stiftung Oekologie & Landbau (SOEL, Foundation Ecology & Agriculture) and the Swiss Research Institute of Organic Agriculture (FiBL) in 1999. The International Federation of Organic Agricultural Movements (IFOAM) has been a collaborater since the publication of the 2003 results. Data are collected approximately annually and are provided only for the current year.

Methodology:

Data on the number of organic farms are a result of national surveys undertaken by FiBL and research conducted by IFOAM. Experts from IFOAM member organizations, certification bodies and other institutions were asked to contribute statistics.

Data Reliability:

Global estimations of the extent of organic agriculture are based on a variety of methods, such as surveys, research, and country experts, rather than a uniform collection method. In addition, organic farming definitions and the relative levels of organic productivity may vary between countries. Data should therefore be used with some caution, particularly when making country comparisons. Some values may represent underestimates due to the exclusion of informal organic practices.

The estimates of total farmland under organic management have increased since this survey was first conducted in 1999. Use caution, however, when drawing conclusions from data presented here and in previous IFOAM publications about trends in organic agriculture. Some of the increases result from a more complete collection of information rather than actual increases in total land area under organic cultivation.

 


Source

Willer, Helga and Yussefi, Minou, Eds. 2006. The World of Organic Agriculture - Statistics and Emerging Trends 2006. International Federation of Organic Agriculture Movements (IFOAM). Bonn, Germany: IFOAM. Available online at: http://www.ifoam.org/press/press/Statistics_2006.html.