Argentine Organic Industry Growing at 25-30% Annually

BUENOS AIRES - Mar 5/02 - STAT -- Argentina is the second largest organic producer in the world, and is experiencing a growth rate of 25-30%. Only 10% of organic products produced are used for domestic consumption, the rest is exported.

Argentina is in a privileged position to develop organic agriculture due to its diverse climates and ecological conditions for various crops, and its extensive production systems which have traditionally used small quantities of agrochemicals and, according to the USDA, do not require significant changes for the conversion from traditional to organic agriculture.

During the past few years, organic production has been growing significantly at a 25-30% annual rate, compared to conventional agriculture whose annual growth rate is about 2%. However, Argentina's share of the total world market of organic products is only 0.1%. The domestic market is also growing, but at a slower pace.

For the small domestic organic market of $4.5 million, the most important certified organic products of vegetable origin destined for domestic consumption were cereals such as corn (668 MT), rice (162 MT), and bread wheat (156 MT). Among certified organic fruits, tangerines (91 MT), oranges (52 MT), and pears (23 MT) were the most outstanding, and among vegetables, lettuce (110 MT), and chard (105 MT). Other organic products consumed were sugar, olive oil, and bread.

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