the world of organic agriculture - Organic Eprints

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Statistics and Emerging Trends 2006
IAMB homepage 4 . In the Mediterranean region there are about 3.2 million hectares organically
managed by almost 100’000 farms (Al-Bitar 2004).
Apart from the EU-Mediterranean countries that occupy almost the 83 percent of the total area
with Italy at the first place, Serbia and Montenegro, Tunisia and Turkey are the most advanced
among the other countries with respectively the 36.5, 29 and 18.5 percent.
17.3 Market
Organic products are being increasingly traded internationally. The market share is still modest
but trends indicate that there is an enormous potential for expansion.
The market differs markedly from country to country in the Mediterranean, but, generally, in the
absence of local markets and of national labeling systems in most of the southern and eastern
Mediterranean countries (SEMC), organic food is primarily oriented towards export. 85 percent
of the produce is destined to foreign markets such as the European Union, USA, Japan and
the Gulf area. Exports include mainly products which cannot be grown locally, such as spices,
medicinal plants, olive oil, tropical fruits, vegetables and citrus.
Other than what has occurred in most parts of Europe, the development of organic farming in
the Mediterranean is taking place primarily for market reasons, stimulated by the high demand
for products from the foreign markets.
In fact, the major organic holdings are owned or “controlled” by large firms or foreign
multinationals that, of course, produce to export without triggering local development.
However, the development of the domestic market is developing, though at a decidedly staggering
pace. In fact, in many of the Mediterranean countries health or specialized shops are being
opened, and some supermarkets started to introduce organic shelves. Furthermore, local fairs
where organic farmers may sell directly their products are increasing in number. Nevertheless,
in many other cases, organic products are sold as conventional or as typical products because of
difficulty of marketing.
A country-based analysis highlighted a flurry of interest for organics among producers who have
realized the promising marketing opportunities on the leading markets. An increasing interest in
organic products is also sweeping among consumers across the Mediterranean countries where it
is safe to expect a local market boom.
In Egypt, organic certification schemes were first introduced twenty years ago to meet the
requirements of foreign importers of medicinal plants. The lack of a national regulation has not
hampered marketing as foreign certifying bodies from the importing countries issue certificates.
4 Report on Organic Farming in the Mediterranean Countries; available at
http://www.iamb.it/publications/organic_agriculture/oa_studies_and_research/options%20B50.pdf