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Organic farming statistics



For many years now, I have been collecting data on the number of certified
organic farms and land area managed organically and in conversion in Europe.
You will see from the following data that there has been a significant
expansion.  This is to a large extent policy driven as most (western)
European countries now provide financial support for conversion to and
continued organic farming, but market growth has also been important.

I am keen to expand this data collection to other parts of the world and
would be grateful for any relevant data which you may have. Updates will be
circulated on SANET and ECOL-AGRIC from time to time.


NB The table columns should be formatted correctly if you read/print out
this message in Courier 10pt.

European certified organic and in-conversion land area (ha)

Year	        1985	1990	1995	1996	% of total 
                                        Est.    agric. area

European Union					
Austria	        10000	22500	293877	380000	10.9%
Belgium	        500	1200	3956	4000	0.3%
Denmark	        4340	11581	28000	40000	1.5%
Finland	        1000	11000	28000	30000	1.2%
France	        45000	65000	85000	85000	0.3%
Germany	        29100	59734	272139	310484	1.8%
Greece		n/a     150	3500	3500	0.1%
Ireland	        1000	3700	6457	7000	0.2%
Italy	        5000	11000	154028	200000	1.2%
Luxembourg	350	550	500	500	0.4%
Netherlands	2450	7469	13000	15000	0.8%
Portugal	200	550	3000	3000	0.1%
Spain	        2140	3650	20300	21000	0.1%
Sweden	        4500	38890	84000	101458	3.3%
UK	        6000	20000	32476	47901	0.3%
Total EU	111580	256974	1028233	1248843	0.9%

Other western Europe					
Norway	        280	2000	5768	7817	0.8%
Switzerland	3000	10000	31815	59400	3.8%

Central and eastern Europe					
Croatia		               	50	50	0.0%
Czech Rep		3480	14982	15000	0.4%
Estonia			        1600	1600	0.1%
Georgia			        100	100	n/a
Hungary			        8630	8500	0.1%
Latvia			        1250	1250	0.0%
Lithuania			650	650	0.0%
Moldova			        600	600	0.0%
Poland		        300	3500	3500	0.0%
Russia			        11941	20000	0.0%
Slovakia			13000	13000	n/a
Slovenia			70	70	0.0%
Total CEE	0	3780	56373	64320	n/a
Europe total	114860	272754	1122189	1380380	n/a

Number of certified organic farms in Europe
Year	        1985	1990	1995	1996 	% of total 
                                        Est.    farms
European Union					
Austria	        500	1500	18144	25000	n/a
Belgium	        50	150	203	200	0.28%
Denmark	        100	523	950	1000	1.23%
Finland	        100	300	1850	1900	n/a
France	        2500	2850	3500	3500	0.37%
Germany	        1592	2685	5866	6068	1.05%
Greece		        25	500	500	0.05%
Ireland	        8	97	300	300	0.18%
Italy	        600	1300	8554	10000	0.38%
Luxembourg	10	11	12	12	0.30%
Netherlands	215	399	582	600	0.48%
Portugal	1	34	120	120	0.02%
Spain	        264	350	1000	1000	0.06%
Sweden	        150	1891	3000	4000	n/a
UK	        300	620	715	819	0.34%
Total EU	6390	12735	45296	55019	n/a

Other western Europe					
Norway	        40	273	738	1000	
Switzerland	600	900	2121	3925	

Central and eastern Europe					
Croatia			        10	10	
Czech Rep		30	181	180	
Estonia			        50	50	
Georgia			        5	5	
Hungary			        80	80	
Latvia			        50	50	
Lithuania			34	35	
Moldova			        5	5	
Poland		        27	225	225	
Russia			        15	20	
Slovakia			50	50	
Slovenia			10	10	
Total CEE	0	57	715	700	

Total Europe	7030	13965	48870	60644	


Nic Lampkin
Welsh Institute of Rural Studies
Stapledon Building, Penglais Campus
University of Wales, Aberystwyth
GB-Dyfed SY23 3DD.
Tel: +44 (0)1970 622248
Fax: +44 (0)1970 622238