Nearly one fifth of total agricultural land in Estonia organically farmed in 2015
The total land area under organic management in Estonia expanded to 170,800 hectares (422,000 acres) by the end of 2015, making up 17 percent, or nearly one fifth, of the country’s total agricultural land.
The number of agricultural holdings under organic management was 1,629, an increase of 226 compared to the year before, according to data from the Estonian Organic Farming Foundation.
The number of organic producers was the biggest in Võru County, in Southeast Estonia at 196, while the total land area under organic management was the biggest in Saaremaa, at 19,300 hectares (47,700 acres).
The number of organic processing parties had grown to 120 by the end of 2015, and were mostly comprised of small entities, including 52 organic farmers. Several large processing companies have also added organic products to their product range as well, however, including Salvest, Saaremaa Dairy Factory, Liviko, and Kulinaaria.
According to the Estonian Institute of Economic Research, a total of 1,300 domestically produced organic products were sold in Estonia in 2015.
Editor: Editor: Aili Sarapik
Source: BNS
