Data Adjustments & Revisions

Updated/adjusted data

For some countries data collected in the framework of the global survey on organic farming are being adjusted. A major reason why the revised figures are lower than what was communicated in previous editions of 'The World of Organic Agriculture' is that certified wild collection had been included as agricultural land.

The tables with the organic agricultural land area 31.12.2005 and 31.12.2006 are available >> here. We are currently working on the data for the years 1998 - 2004 and they will be made available at this site. Any updates and revisions as well as questions related to the data should be directed to helga.willer@fibl.org.

Below is a table with the global data 1998-2006 (state of data revision per February 27, 2008).

Table: Development of organic agricultural land world-wide
1998-2006 (without wild collection); February 27, 2008

Source: FiBL and SOEL Surveys 2000-2008 (Willer/Yussefi 2000-2008).

*During 2005 there was a major drop of organic land, due to the fact that large areas of extensive grassland went out of organic production in China (1.2 million hectares), Chile (0.6 million hectares) and Australia (0.4 million hectares).

Revisions Survey 2007

We aim at consolidating the data of the 2007 edition of the 'World of Organic Agriculture' as of December 31, 2005. For the following countries corrigenda have been received.

Argentina

For the 2006 and 2007 edition the wild collection areas had been included. The land use statistics and the development of organic farming in Argentina can be found at the LETIS homepage. Document Situación de la Producción Orgánica en la Argentina durante el año 2006”

Bangladesh

The previously reported figure was not confirmed. Currently, according to Ministry sources, there is no certified organic land in Bangladesh. The figures reported previously probably referred to non-certified organic farming.

Bolivia

In the previous editions, the wild collection areas were listed under organic agricultural land.

Colombia

For Colombia, no new data had been available for some years. The figures for the development of organic farming in Colombia have now been made available by the Ministry of Agriculture.

Chile

In previous editions, the certified wild collection areas were listed under organic agricultural land.

Greece

The calculation of the share of organic land was on the total area provided by FAO. According the Eurostat the total agricultural land is less than indicated in the FAO statistics. The correct percentage for Greece is 7.2 % of the agricultural land.

Kenya

The figure reported in the previous years included certified wild collection.

Korea

The data provided previously partly referred to environmentally friendly production.

Latvia

For Lativia new data for the total land area have become available, the current percentage of organic agricultural land of the agricultural area is 7%

Mexico

For Mexico the percentage of organic land of all land had been based in a wrong total figure. The correct value for Mexico is that 0.29 of Mexico's agricultural land is organic.

Morocco

In the previous editions, the area under certified wild collection (mainly argan oil) had been included.

Netherlands: Market data

On page 146 of "The World of Organic Agriculture 2007" under "Netherlands" the correct figure for the turnover with organic products should read 419 million Euros. This is the figure given in the table at page 150.

Poland

For Poland, the data as of 31.12.2005 communicated in the 2007 edition of the World of Organic Agriculture have been revised.

Portugal

For Portugal, the data as of 31.12.2005 communicated in the 2007 edition of the World of Organic Agriculture have been revised by the authority in charge.

Sudan

Previous data were not confirmed; most likely, much of the reported organic area was certified wild collection. Wild collection of gum arabic was confirmed by one certifier who reported 490’000 hectares for 2006.

Uganda

The figure reported in the previous years included certified wild collection areas.

Revisions Survey 2006

We aim at consolidating the data of the 2006 edition as of December 31, 2004. For the following countries corrigenda have been received.

Hungary

For Hungary at the time of the survey 2006 only the data of the inspection body BioKontroll had been available.

The correct figures as of Deccember 31, 2004 are

• 133'009 hectares
• 1'731 organic farms

Source: Eurostat, Organic farming tables

Portugal

For Portugal a porvisional figure had been published in the 2006 edition of "The World of Organic Agriculture".

The correct figures as of Deccember 31, 2004 are

• 169'892 hectares
• 1'302 farms

Source: Ministry of Agriculture 2006: Dados Estatísticos e Lista de Operadores

United States

For the United States data as of December 31, 2004 and 2005 were published in November 2006 at the homepage of the of the United States Department of Agriculture USDA (>> data tables).

The figures as of December 31, 2004

• 1'217'431 hectares
• 8'021 farms

Source: Economic Research Service, United States Dpartment of Agriculture USDA

Zambia

For Zambia there had been an error of data transmission. Some of land stated to be agricultural land is wild collection area.

The data as of December 31, 2004

• 2'857 hectares
• 2'425 farms

Source: Bridget O´Connor, OPPAZ

Overall data revision

Revisions 2007

Revisions 2006