Export Portal
While global organic food sales have reached new heights, the Danes remain world champions when it comes to putting organic food products in their shopping baskets. This is evident from a new international report, just published. The record-high global interest in organic principles provides good opportunities for more than 40 Danish businesses currently participating in an export drive at the world’s leading trade fair for organic food in Nuremberg.
Global sales of organic food products are at an all-time high. Consumers worldwide purchased organic food products to a total value of approximately USD 90 billion in 2016 – equal to approximately DKK 543 billion. These findings are contained in a recently published report by the Research Institute of Organic Agriculture (FiBL) in Switzerland and the International Federation of Organic Agriculture Movements (IFOAM - Organics International).
Thus, global organic food revenues have more than quintupled since 2000.
Denmark still wears the organic yellow jersey
In addition, among all the countries in the world, the report places Denmark clearly in the lead in terms of the organic share of total food sales. The organic market share in Denmark was 9.7% in 2016, while the organic share for Luxembourg in second place was 8.6%, and 8.4% for Switzerland in third place.
“We’re truly proud of Denmark’s position as the leading organic country in the world. It shows Danes are keen to make a difference through what they put in their shopping baskets. Danes are taking joint responsibility for protecting our common natural surroundings and drinking water from pesticides and for ensuring a good life for livestock. Our organic world championship title is well known globally, and we are aware of a great deal of international interest in the close cooperation enjoyed by our organic businesses and farmers – which is another important reason why organic sales are at such a high level in Denmark,” says Helle Borup Friberg, CEO of Organic Denmark (Økologisk Landsforening).
Denmark has now passed the 10%-mark for the market share of organic food products – and is the first country in the world to do so.
Major export drive begins today
Publication of the international organic report coincides with the launch of the world’s leading trade fair for organic food, BioFach in Nuremberg, which is taking place from 14 to 17 February. Here, more than 40 Danish businesses are ready to exploit the increasing demand for organic food products on the export markets and the strong interest in Danish organic food products. They are gathered at the joint Danish stand organised by Organic Denmark in cooperation with the Bio Aus Dänemark network.
“Consumers from all over the world are increasingly demanding organic food products. Denmark’s position as market leader for organic products is a clear signal to global export markets that Danish companies are able to supply exciting, organic, high-quality food products, which are in great demand among Danish consumers. Many countries are already aware of this, and, for that reason, Danish organic exports have been setting new records for more than 10 years in a row,” says Pernille Bundgård, International Market Director, Organic Denmark.
Danish exports of organic food products amounted to DKK 2.4 billion in 2016 – the equivalent of a 23% increase in one year.
See all the exhibitors at the joint Danish stand at BioFach here
MORE FACTS FROM NEW ORGANIC REPORT:
- Global organic agriculture grew by 15% (7.5 million hectares) from 2015 to 2016.
- The total organic agricultural area worldwide now constitutes 8 million hectares.
- In 2016, there were 2.7 million organic producers globally. This is up 13% on 2015.
- Global sales of organic food products increased by approx. 10% from 2015 to 2016.
