TEXAS – [09.10.08] The world-wide production of organic cotton rose by 152% in 2007/08 with 40% of this total coming from new projects according to a new report from the Organic Exchange.

“With forward contracts, price security, and increased research and education, the amount of organic cotton production will continue to increase rapidly,” noted Simon Ferrigno, Organic Exchange Farm Development Program director and lead author of the report.

The newly published Organic Cotton Farm and Fiber Report 2008 said that global organic cotton production increased to 145,872 metric tons (MT) (668,581 bales) grown on 161,000 hectares in 22 countries worldwide. “Approximately 60% of the total represents expansion of known projects while the remaining 40% represents data from new projects becoming certified or previously unknown projects,” said the Lubbock, TX-based Organic Exchange (OE).

India, Syria, Turkey, China, Tanzania, USA, Uganda, Peru, Egypt and Burkina Faso were the top ten organic cotton producing countries in order by rank, with India taking over Turkey’s long-time standing as the number one producer. The majority of the increased organic cotton production took place in India and organic cotton production now represents a small but growing 0.55% of global cotton production.

OE says the increase in production was driven in large part by the heightened demand for organic cotton on the part of small- to large-sized retailers around the world. “Farmers and retailers are starting to work hand in hand to drive the conversion to and expansion of the organic cotton market,” said LaRhea Pepper, OE executive director. According to the Organic Exchange Organic Cotton Market Report 2007, the organic cotton market topped one billion U.S. dollars in 2006. Data from the 2007 market will be available soon.

The full report will be formally released at next week’s Organic Exchange’s 6th Global Conference and Marketplace in Porto, Portugal, October 14-17, 2008. The conference is expected to draw hundreds of leaders representing the global organic fibre value chain.

Organic production is based on a system of farming that maintains and replenishes soil fertility without the use of toxic and persistent pesticides and fertilizers or genetically- modified seeds.

OE’s 7th Organic Exchange Global Conference and Marketplace will take place in Seattle, Washington in October, 2009.

For more information on Organic Exchange or a copy of the report, see www.organicexchange.org.