Ecobreves – CHILE: Certified Organic Crops on the Rise

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SANTIAGO, Jan 12 2009 (IPS) - During the 2007-2008 season, 30,443 hectares were certified as organic in Chile, according to a report by the governmental Office for Agricultural Studies and Policies (ODEPA). Of that total, 16,878 hectares correspond to areas that are devoted to the gathering of wild plants, such as musk rose and medicinal herbs. The next largest areas are occupied by fruit tree crops (4,161 hectares), vineyards (2,974), and strawberry, blueberry and other berry crops (1,758).

In the breakdown by item, the report released on Dec. 31, 2008 indicates that the surface area devoted to organic crops (fruits and garden vegetables) increased by 17 percent (1,359 hectares) as compared to the previous season.

“More and more farmers are realizing that organic production is profitable. Organic products are the only products in agriculture that are expanding at an annual rate of 20 percent,” María Teresa Pérez, from the Chilean Organic Agriculture Association, told Tierramérica.