Nobody can deny that organic trade is a growing reality all over the world. Growth is certainly something very natural and the growth rates of the organic sector are indicating that we are heading towards what can be called at least a boom.

A condition for the further development of the organic food sector is a fast increase of conversion to organic on the farm level. It is impressive to have about 8.000 organic farmers in Germany. In Switzerland the "organic" share has reached 7%, with the largest Kanton Graub¨1nden. having around 30%. Austria with more than 20.000 organic farmers, totals to around 10 % organic farming. Sweden and Finland have reached the level of Switzerland. The latest statistic from Italy shows 18.000 organic farms or in conversion in 1996 growing to an incredible 40.000 only two years later.

Similarly impressive developments can be seen in countries like Uganda, where 7.000 farmers choose to cultivate organic cotton or Mexico where ten thousands of small farmers (campesinos) produce organic coffee, as well as staple food the organic way for the local market. Today the reality of the organic trade sector also comes up with impressive data. The organic market in the USA is in the range of six billion DM and foreseen to double in the next two or three years. In Germany, we can see how the whole baby food sector is on its way to becoming more or less exclusively organic. Also the fact that more than 30% of the daily bread in and around Munich is certified organic gives a clear indicator that we conquer mainstream markets. Surprising is the fact that even in a country like Egypt, organic produce becomes mainstream. There the biodynamic SEKEM initiative, employing about 1.000 people delivers its products to 7.000 pharmacies and to 2.000 shops. Rapidly growing consumer demands are also reported from countries like Argentina, Japan, Poland and Australia. Especially encouraging is the fact that local markets for organic food are also getting increasingly established in so called "developing" countries. Of growing importance in this context will be the close cooperation between organic agriculture and the fair trade movement.

It cannot be denied that we have some marketing problems in certain sectors, but the above mentioned reality leaves no doubt that organic trade is entering a booming phase.

The booming development of organic farming brings certainly quite some challenges along for the organic movement yet if we do not give up our holistic principles, we will be able to contribute to the establishment of organic ideas as a starting point for a change in lifestyle and consumption patterns reaching far beyond food and nutrition.