The growth of global organic food production and trade was the focus of an online debate promoted by the Socioeconomic Network of Agriculture (RSA), coordinated by Embrapa. Broadcast on the company's YouTube channel (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Igo26xc1VY0&t=1915s) on June 2nd, the event brought together four experts to discuss the challenges, opportunities, and perspectives of the sector in Brazil and worldwide. According to the panelists, the advancement of organic agriculture has been driven by the growing demand from developed countries, especially in the northern hemisphere, and by the expansion of domestic markets in developing nations such as Brazil, China, India, and African countries. The event, part of the Debates in Socioeconomics series, an initiative of Embrapa's Strategy Advisory (Aest) and executed by the RSA, brought together researchers from Embrapa and universities to discuss the evolution of organic production, international markets, and the challenges to expanding Brazilian participation in the sector. The discussion was moderated by Embrapa Environment researcher Lucimar Santiago de Abreu, under the coordination of Job Lúcio Gomes Vieira, Strategic Intelligence supervisor at Aest. They discussed the stage of development of organic production in Brazil and other countries, the role of export-oriented and local market chains, the sector's growth potential, priority research demands, and the obstacles that still limit its expansion in the country. The debate addressed the stage of development of organic production in Brazil and on different continents, the market's growth potential, the bottlenecks limiting the sector's expansion, and opportunities to strengthen the competitiveness of the production chain. One of the highlights was the comparative analysis of organic agri-food systems in Brazil and Denmark, seeking to identify factors that favor or hinder the development of the activity in both countries. Studies indicate that developing countries act mainly as exporters of organic products, while developed countries concentrate on imports. In Brazil, organic production remains below the world average, indicating ample potential for expansion both to supply the domestic market and to increase its share of exports. The relevance of the topic is reinforced by the continuous growth of organic agriculture on a global scale. International data indicate that the sector is present in 187 countries, brings together approximately 3.1 million producers, and generates more than 106 billion euros per year. In Brazil, the organic market reached R$ 5.8 billion in 2020, registering significant growth compared to the previous year.
National and global landscape of organic consumption and production.
The coordinator of the Vocational Technological Center in Agroecology and Organic Agriculture at the University of Brasília (CVTUnB), Ana Maria Resende Junqueira, began her presentation by stating that the consumption of organic products is still low in Brazil, mainly due to price. In a consumer survey conducted in 2025, approximately 54% of respondents did not consume organic products due to the high cost. In Brazil, the consumption of organic products is only $17 per capita annually, compared to European countries that consume $400 annually on organic food. Regarding production units registered in the National Registry of Organic Producers (CNPO) in 2025, the South and Northeast regions concentrate 70% of these units. Paraná is the state with the highest concentration of production units for these foods, followed by Rio Grande do Sul, Pará, Bahia, São Paulo, Ceará, Santa Catarina, Piauí, Minas Gerais, and Maranhão. Paraná, Rio Grande do Sul, and Pará lead in the number of units. According to Ana Maria, "regional concentration helps to discuss supply, certification, logistics, and territorial reach." The researcher presented data from three international institutions that aggregate studies to understand organic products from the perspective of consumption, registered production, and the global system: IBO/CNPO, Organis, and FiBL/IFOAM.
Organis/Brain shows Brazilian consumption (2023 data):
36% recently consumed organic products; price, income, and access remain barriers. IBO/CNPO, linked to the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock (Mapa), updates the registered supply (2025): 25,178 units, concentrated in the South and Northeast and with different production scopes. FiBL/IFOAM situates Brazil in the world (2026): area, producers, global sales, international trade, and the role of Latin America. According to them, “Brazil should be considered simultaneously as an expanding consumer market, a registered producing territory, and part of a global organic chain marked by inequalities in access, trade, and consumption.” In its final considerations, it emphasized that “organics are growing as a market, a productive practice, and a scientific agenda, but their expansion depends on increased access, certification, governance, logistics, and public policies capable of bringing production and consumption closer together.” Some evidence of this scope: 1. Expanding market: in Brazil, Organis shows 36% recent consumption; worldwide, organic retail reaches approximately €145 billion. 2. Unequal access: price, income, and availability limit consumption; globally, sales and per capita consumption are concentrated in the Global North. 3. Brazil with great potential: the country combines growing consumption, 25,178 registered units in 2025, and more than 1 million hectares of organic land. 4. Exporting Latin America: the region is the main source of combined organic imports for the EU and the US, accounting for 54.8% of the volume in 2024. 5. Work agenda: the data opens a debate on consumption, certification, trade, governance, sustainability, and democratization of access. This requires an integrated system that brings together health, responsible production and consumption, sustainability, territorial diversity, and the strategic social inclusion of Brazil and Latin America in the global market.
Strategic segment of the global agribusiness
João Paulo Guimarães Soares, a researcher at Embrapa Cerrados (Planaltina, DF), emphasized that the global production and trade of organic foods continues to expand, driven by increased consumer demand for products associated with health, environmental sustainability, and animal welfare. The United States remains the world's largest consumer market for organic products, followed by Germany and China. In Europe, countries such as Denmark, Switzerland, France, Spain, and Italy show high rates of consumption and market share of organic products. Switzerland registers the highest per capita consumption, while Denmark and Switzerland lead in the share of organic products in total food sales. In recent decades, several countries have expanded their organic farming areas, consolidating an increasingly integrated international market. “Currently, organic agriculture is practiced in more than 180 countries, covering approximately 99 million hectares and involving about 4.8 million producers. The global market for organic food and beverages has reached sales of around 145 billion euros, demonstrating the strength and resilience of the sector,” he explained. In terms of production, Australia has the largest area of organic agriculture on the planet, while European countries stand out for the high proportion of land dedicated to this production system. India concentrates the largest number of organic producers, highlighting the relevance of developing countries in the sector's expansion. International trade in organic products is also growing consistently. In 2024, combined imports of organic products by the European Union and the United States reached approximately 5.9 million tons, reflecting strong demand from consumer markets and the strengthening of global supply chains. According to Soares, "this scenario opens opportunities for exporting countries, especially in Latin America, Africa, and Asia, which are expanding their participation in supplying organic food to more developed markets," he summarizes. Despite the growth, the sector faces challenges related to certification, harmonization of international standards, production costs, logistics, and market access. Even so, the outlook remains positive, supported by growing consumer concern about food quality and global commitments to more sustainable agri-food systems. In summary, “organic agriculture has established itself as a strategic segment of global agribusiness, combining productive expansion, commercial value, and contribution to environmental and social sustainability, with a tendency for continued growth in the coming years,” predicts Soares. The Embrapa researcher also highlighted that, “regarding the agricultural area occupied by Brazilian organic production, data from FiBL/IFOAM estimates approximately 1.3 million hectares, or about 0.5% of the arable area. In addition to this area, Soares explains, it is estimated that there are also 1.7 million hectares of land considered organic destined for beekeeping and extractive activities; and dedicated to the production of nuts, açaí, palm hearts, medicinal and aromatic plants. In terms of organic meat, Mato Grosso do Sul leads the production market. In terms of certification, Piauí leads. The state also leads in organic honey production. Soares listed several solutions to increase Brazilian organic production, among them: Groups and associations of family farmers included in the different mechanisms for guaranteeing organic production. Incentivized productive organization of organic family farming. Expanded access of family farming to organic product markets (local, regional, national and international). Produced technical indicators of organic production. Interaction of public policies for family farming with the theme of production.” Stimulated organic farming – technical assistance, research, financing, innovation, management, etc. Implementation of the national organic agriculture policy.
Organic agri-food systems – Brazil vs. Denmark
The debate also presented a comparative analysis of organic agri-food systems in Brazil and Denmark, focusing on the obstacles, challenges, and opportunities in the sector. The study, presented by Lima, compared the trajectory of organic agriculture in Denmark—a global benchmark for organic agriculture—and in Brazil, a country with great potential but still marked by structural obstacles. The analysis used the SWOT matrix and a quadrant system to identify virtuous and vicious scenarios, evaluating factors such as public policies, institutional support, social organization, and market dynamism. According to Lima, Denmark has consolidated a virtuous circle over more than four decades, driven by cooperation between government, farmers, retailers, and consumers. The country allocated 303,000 hectares to organic production in 2023 and leads global per capita consumption, with €362 per inhabitant. 12% of the food market in Denmark is organic. Denmark has structured its organic agriculture collaboratively since the 1980s, with strong institutionalization, specialized schools, and pioneering legislation. “The creation of the National Organic Agriculture Association (LØJ) at the time, the establishment of certification rules, the provision of specific technical training, and the adoption of consistent public policies—such as subsidies for land conversion, tax incentives, and government purchases for schools and hospitals—created a solid foundation for expansion,” he emphasized. Supermarkets began offering organic products at reduced prices in the 1990s, boosting demand. In the 2000s, national plans integrated agricultural, environmental, and public food policies, elevating the country to the status of a global leader. National programs promoted marketing campaigns, expanded access to credit, and consolidated the “Økologisk” (Organic in free translation) seal, which became a symbol of trust for consumers. “In Brazil, the scenario is reversed,” explains Lima. With an agricultural area of over 351 million hectares, only about 1 million—or 0.4% of the total—is dedicated to organic production. Per capita consumption is only 4 euros per year, mostly restricted to the middle and upper classes. “The country is 12th in the world in organic area, but faces historical obstacles: land concentration, insufficient credit, little technical assistance, and the absence of a national production monitoring system. Furthermore, marketing depends heavily on short circuits, such as local fairs, limiting scale and geographic reach,” highlights Lima. In Brazil, the expansion of conventional agriculture during the Green Revolution dominated the 20th century, and the organic movement only gained strength in the 1980s, driven by NGOs, researchers, and national meetings on alternative agriculture. The legal and institutional foundations were consolidated slowly: the Organic Law was only approved in 2003 and regulated four years later. Programs such as Pronaf, PAA, and PNAE opened important paths, but the resources allocated to sustainable production remain far lower than those of the conventional model. According to Lima, the study shows that while Denmark operates in a virtuous quadrant—with strong public-private partnerships, ample data availability, and stable policies—Brazil remains in a vicious cycle, marked by small-scale production, difficulties accessing credit, lack of structured information, a restricted market, and a disorganized research network. "Despite this, the country has significant opportunities: broad agricultural diversity, a large number of family farmers, and a growing demand for healthier foods," he emphasizes. The conclusions indicate that identifying the factors limiting Brazilian progress also opens paths for transformation. The study recommends expanding the monitoring of organic production, strengthening technical assistance, encouraging public procurement, improving access to credit, and promoting campaigns that increase consumption. The Danish experience, according to the Unicamp researcher, can be adapted and replicated in countries in Latin America and Africa, strengthening the global transition to more sustainable food systems.
Conclusions
In addition to discussing market trends, innovation, sustainability, and public policies, the meeting generated input for future research, identified priority demands in the sector, and proposed strategies for collaboration between public, private, and community institutions. Expected results include mapping market opportunities, identifying obstacles to production and marketing, and developing proposals to strengthen governance and increase the competitiveness of Brazilian organic agriculture. As Ana Maria and João Paulo emphasized, "organic agriculture is already inclusive, but the work of rural extension and communication is essential to increase the number of rural producers in this food production system." For Embrapa Environment researcher Lucimar Santiago de Abreu, moderator of the debate, the process of converting conventional agriculture to organic food production is growing globally. "Comparative studies indicate that developing countries tend to act primarily as exporters of organic products, while developed countries stand out as major importers," she stressed during the debate. Lucimar highlighted that Brazil still has ample room for growth. “The overall organic crop production in Brazil is below the world average, which means there is much room for growth in Brazilian organic production, both to meet domestic and export demands,” she states. She observed that the topic is no longer limited to niche consumers: it involves production chains, certification, international trade, public policies, sustainability, local markets, and new forms of production organization. The researcher concluded by saying that the organic food production system and its market have been transforming in recent years. “From a dispersed group of family producers and consumers, what we see today is a regulated and globalized system of trade, connecting distant societies and centers of production and consumption,” she affirms. In closing, Job Lúcio Vieira assessed that “the debate was current, brought a wealth of data, a concern for social and productive inclusion, and is aligned with Embrapa's strategies for Brazilian agriculture.”
This text was translated by machine from Brazilian Portuguese.