Organic sales in NZ have grown by 50% a year for
the past 3 years. In 2002, the domestic market
for organic products was valued at NZ$70 million (US$38.5
million); another $70 million was exported.
Wannabe farmers eager to get on organic bandwagon:
Of NZ’s 80,000 farmers: 700 - 800 are certified organic,
another 10% consider their operations partly organic, and
37% want to convert to organic within 5-10 years. Data courtesy
of a recent survey conducted by the University of Otago’s
Centre for the Study of Agriculture, Food & Environment.
Growth potential for organic dairy: Although
there are currently just 17 certified organic dairy farms
in New Zealand, the NZ dairy products marketing board says
the market could support up to 250 certified organic dairies.
A six-fold increase in organic acreage:
New Zealand’s largest organic certification group,
Bio-Gro certifies NZ$100 million (US$55 million) of organic
product a year. In 2001 Bio-Gro certified 31,185 ha (77,058
ac); AgriQuality, the second-largest certifier, certified
13,184 ha (32,578 ac); Demeter certified 2,155 ha (5,325
ac). Total certified acreage in NZ has expanded sixfold
since 1997.
A tidal wave of new organic products: NZ’s
first organic standards were drafted in the early 1980s.
At that time there were just a handful of organic products
for sale in stores; today there are more than 3000.
Low-cost certification for small growers: Late
last year the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries began
OrganicFarmNZ, a new program designed to offer low-cost
certification to small-scale producers marketing locally.
Run in with help from the Soil & Health Association
of NZ the program is administered by regional growers and
audited by Bio-Gro.
Organic exports zeroing in on half-billion mark:
The Organic Products Exporters Group (OPENZ), predicts organic
exports could be as high as NZ$500 million by the year 2006.
Currently most of NZ’s organic exports go to Europe
(41%), followed by Japan (26%).
Goal of one billion by 2013: The Organic
Federation of Aotearoa New Zealand [Aotearoa is the Maori
name for NZ] has drafted a national strategy for NZ organics
setting a financial target of NZ$1 billion (US$550 mil)
total sales by 2013.
