Most of the agricultural land is grassland (3.65 million hectares), the remaining agricultural land amounts to 0.36 million hectares, of which 71'000 hectares were harvested - an increase of 16 percent compared to 2007. The organic land, which had decreased between 2001 and 2006 due to the economic crisis, has been on the rise again since 2007 and is now higher than ever before. The grwoth during 2008 is mainly due to the increase of large extensive sheep farms in Patagonia.
If the areas for beekeeping (0.64 million hectares) and wild collection (200 hectares) are included the total is 4.7 million hectares.
The key characteristics of organic production for 2008 are, according to SENASA, the authority in charge:
- The European Union remains the main export destination for products from Argentina.
- Among the exported plant products (total volume 135'634 tons) , cereals and oil crops accounted for the largest volume. The leading crops were: Pears (16'097 tons), apples (12'478 tons), sugar cane (12'923 tons), wheat (10'059 tons).
- Among the animal products major growth took place for honey (+25 percent) whereas the export volumes of beef decreased.
- The harvested area (71'000 hectares) grew by 10'00 hectares, mainly due to an increase of cereals, oil crops and sugar cane.
- The grazing areas increased by 43 %, mainly due to an increase of sheep husbandry.
- Domestic market: Like in previous years the domestic market is small compared to the importance of exports. The main products produced domestically and sold on the Argentinean market are vegetables.
Source: Situación de la Producción Orgánica en la Argentina durante el año 2008 by SENASA, Buenos Aires, March 2009. Summary/translation: Helga Willer, FiBL
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