Brasília – Producers of agricultural goods without the use of pesticides have been winning the Brazilian market and gaining space in other countries. Figures supplied by the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Food Supply show that in 2008 over 13,000 producers participated in activities to supply organic agriculture promoted by the organisation, with motivation to the use of inputs and processes adequate to production without pesticides.
According to information supplied by the ministry, in 2007, exports of organic products totalled US$ 12 million. From January to September 2008, this value reached approximately US$ 10 million.
"We still have three months in 2008 [for calculation] and are certainly going to exceed the US$ 12 million exported in the previous year. There is foreign market interest in importing soy and its derivatives. Brazilian exports of organic products have been growing", pointed out the acting coordinator of Agroecology at the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Supply, Tereza Christina Saminez.
Between August 2006 and September last year, Brazil exported 37,000 tonnes in organic products. The Netherlands purchased the lion’s share of the products, 32%, followed by Sweden, with 15%, and the United States and United Kingdom, with 12% and 7% respectively. In all, exports in the period generated revenues of US$ 26.7 million. Over half of this value (56%) corresponds to the sale of soy and its derivatives. "Soy was responsible for the greatest expansion in production and exports of organic products. There has been space for it," said Tereza.
According to the coordinator, despite being more expensive than conventional products, the demand for organic products has been growing. "We cannot supply the domestic market for organic products. The demand is very great and this is also reflected on the foreign market".
*Translated by Mark Ament
