Australia has the world’s largest land area under organic agriculture with 11.8 million hectares certified to international organic standards, according to a study by the International Federation of Organic Agriculture Movements (IFOAM).

The study, The World of Organic Agriculture: Statistics and Emerging Trends 2007, found that nearly 31 million hectares globally are currently certified according to organic standards.

Argentina has the second largest area under cultivation (3.1 million hectares), followed by China (2.3 million hectares) and the USA (1.6 million hectares).

Austria and Switzerland have the highest proportion of available arable land given over to organic agriculture, while 2006 saw a rapid increase in organic farmland in the USA, Italy and Poland.

The global market for organic products reached a value of more than AU$42 billion in 2005, with most products being consumed in North America and Europe. In 2006, the value of global markets was estimated to be AU$50 billion, with strong growth predicted for the coming years.