The share of foreign exhibitors as well as that of the visitors will grow. In 1999, 54% of the exhibitors were from abroad. The number of foreign visitors grew from 17% to 27%, from which 15% were non-European guests. New countries at the BIO FACH like India are expected, but also others from Africa and Central America. It is in consideration towards these countries that there will be a programme of conferences in English on offer throughout the duration of the fair. The country in focus for 2000 is Switzerland. It was there, where the bio-movement once originated, and has remained successful to date. Switzerland has its own bio-regulation, as well as uniformity in its bio-labelling. 8% of its ground and its business are run ecologically. Ecological agriculture is regarded as a national model and is supported accordingly.

The hall distribution, which was done according to target groups in 1999, proved to be a success.

Hall 1, target group retail trade, and hall 3 for import and export remain unchanged in their structure. New at BIO FACH 2000 will be the site of the natural cosmetics in hall 2, where all those businesses with additives assortments for organic food shops will also be displaying their goods. Hall 4 will be newly arranged, with emphasis on three main points: the food retail trade is an important target group, especially supermarkets, gastronomy and department stores. Switzerland, as the country in focus will also be there. The purchasing managers of all the well known supermarket chains like Globus, Karstadt, Tengelmann, Real/Metro, Rewe, also EDEKA, and above all, international chains, are no strangers to the BIO FACH as of late. Also new in hall 4, will be the segment of agriculture, plants, seeds, farm-shops necessities. The third main point is natural textiles and natural furniture.

For 2000 it is expected that the first products with the AGÖL/CMA stamp, as well as those with the international IFOAM stamp will be introduced. After a three year break, the BIO FACH 2000 will again be offering its trade visitors a huge novelty stand. The Product of the Year Award and the BIO FACH Wine Award will be presented in a new concept. The prizes will be awarded at the BIO FACH evening event on 18 February

In 1999, the world trade fair for organic food and natural products BIO FACH, took place for the first time in Nuremberg. Contrary to some people’s expectations, the move from Frankfurt to Nuremberg did the fair a great deal of good.

There were 21,750 visitors, which means an increase of 6.1 % over last year. The international participation grew from 17 to 27 %, and provided the 1,276 exhibitors with contacts from all over the world. The fact that 23% of the visitors stayed for two days or longer, was undoubtedly a contributing factor towards the many contacts made, and the wide variety of congress events which took place. Nuremberg’s historical atmosphere and the reasonable hotel prices there contribute to this trend. The fact that 55% of the visitors had decision making powers in their respective companies is also worthy of mention.

From the 17^th to the 20^th February 2000, the BIO FACH will take place for the 11th time, and we can already see, three months in advance, that there are going to be a lot of new products on offer and over 1,425 exhibitors. Great Britain, the USA, Spain as well as Italy have all decided to increase their areas considerably. The USA, which made their first big appearance in 1999, were caught completely by surprise by the success in this new market, while the increase in the number of different countries taking part at the BIO FACH 2000 reflects the development currently taking place in those very countries. The latest study of the SÖL shows an increase in the ecologically cultivated area in Europe of 46,2 % to almost 1 million hectares. Great Britain is leading the field with a plus of 437%, which shows that the awareness of the consumers has only just recently begun to take place. The organic-food turnover is now at 540 million pounds (? 347 Mio).

After a number of sharp increases in the last years, Italy is again increasing its area by 240,000 hectares, that is 43.3%. In other countries like Spain, Portugal, Greece, Denmark, Belgium and France there is movement taking place with increases ranging from 50 to 150 % .

On a curious note, Austria which made a tiger’s jump in only a few years and turned 10.1% of its agricultural area into organic, climbing to third place in Europe, has not registered any increase. It would seem that a consolidation phase is currently taking place there. France, which in 1975 accounted for 40% of the organic area in Europe, has become a import country for organic products. In 1997 the government took notice of this fact and drew up a long term programme to increase the organic area to 1 million hectares by 2005. The demand for organic products in France has been growing continuously for the last few years by 26%, and today accounts for 0.52% of the food market with a turnover of 3.9 billion francs (? 595 Mio).

New sales outlets in Germany

Germany with roughly 2.7 % share and around 6.9 billion DM (? 3.5 billion) is still by far the leader among the European countries, with considerable growth prospects. EDEKA, with 13,381 branches and 45 billion turnover which makes it Germany’s strongest supermarket chain, has only recently launched its own bio-line of products by the name BioWertkost. Producers expect to find easy access to new customers through the uniformity in the German organic label, the „Öko-Prüfzeichen" from AGÖL and CMA which was agreed upon in 1999.

The organic food trade with its 2.500 sales outlets showed an increase of 9 % for 1998 as it had done for the previous year, while the whole sale trade showed a plus of 10 %. According to statements from the Federal Association for Organic Food and Natural Products (BNN), this growth is due to the increase of the areas in many countries, new organic food supermarkets and eco-stores and a growing service awareness. At the same time, the 2.510 reform shops in Germany now offer 50 % of their products in organic-quality, and they too, show growth.

Natural products are finding their way to customers through means other than those provided by the trade and supermarkets. Subscriptions for vegetable boxes are taking over the suburbs with big families. Butchers are now offering to sell certified organic products, and the gastronomy industry, including the Deutsche Bahn AG, is currently having great "organic-success". In addition to all that, in southern Germany there are 1.400 organic farm shops with direct sales outlets.

BIO FACH 2000 with New Structures and New Market Segments.

At the BIO FACH, which presents 69 % of the food from ecological cultivation, and in the natural products sector, unites a unique concentration of the most significant natural cosmetics providers under one roof, the visitor can also find natural textiles, leather products, cleaning and washing materials, household products and fancy goods, as well as furniture and accessories. Cosmetics can be found in hall 2, where a trade congress for cosmetics will be held at the discussion stage. Also in hall 2, you will find all the articles which are suitable for the organic trade. Food producers targeting the retail trade, remain as they were in hall1, concentrated in the trading centre, while those targeting chain stores, whole sale trade, import and export will be found in halls 3 and 4. Switzerland as the country in focus of the BIO FACH is also in hall 4, as well as the novelties stand, which provides the visitor with an overview of the many products that are typical for the young market. The raw materials stock exchange, successfully introduced in 1999, will again be in the international hall 3.

The BIO FACH is not only a serious trading place, but also the meeting point for the national and international organic community, where many people come to meet. In Nuremberg’s inviting atmosphere, one can see that the evening events have also become more familiar. Visitors as well as exhibitors may look forward to the BIO FACH evening at the beer cellar of the Hausbrauerei Barfüßer, on Friday 18^th February. The award ceremonies for the "Product of the Year" and the "BIO FACH Wine of the Year 2000" will also be taking place there. On Saturday 19^th February, Switzerland as this year’s country in focus, will lay out its "Swiss Bio Night" and show the visitor the country from a completely new side. Tickets can be acquired at the service counter at the fair.

Those visitors wanting to prepare their visit to the fair, can find the catalogue under http:\\www.biofach.de in the internet as of 1^st Dec. The catalogue in printed form will not be available until the start of the fair. Advance ticket sales will not take place.

Looking forward to seeing you there! Best (environmentally friendly) regards, Okowelt GmbH Christine Neidhardt

Industriestr.12, 91186 Buchenbach, Tel. 0049-(0)9171-96 10-17 Fax: 0049-(0)9171-4016 e-mail: ChristineNeidhardt@t-online.de, http://www.biofach.de,  http://oekowelt.de

Ecological Agriculture in Europe, stand: 10/99, * 12/98

Great Britain can boast about an incredible 437 % increase. A clear sign that the late development of public awareness is now bearing fruit. The latest estimates show a bio-turnover of 540 Mio pounds (? 347 Mio) for Great Britain.

After a number of sharp increases in the last years, Italy is again increasing its area by 240,000 hectares, that is 43.3%. In other countries like Spain, Portugal, Greece, Denmark, Belgium and France there is movement taking place with increases ranging from 50 to 150 % .

On a curious note, Austria which made a tiger’s jump in only a few years and turned 10.1% of its agricultural area into bio, climbing to third place in Europe, has not registered any increase. According to Dr. Helga Willer of the SÖL, we can even expect a decrease in the case of Austria. Together with difficulties concerning subsidies, the reason could also be found in the lack of complementing measures like supporting middle-producers and profit demands.

France on the other hand, seems to be avoiding this mistake this time. Our neighbouring country who already in 1972 under the United Nature & Progress developed the first regulations for ecological agriculture, and at one time accounted for 40% of the bio-area in Europe, has become the leading import country for bio-cultivated products. In 1997 the government took notice of this fact and drew up a long term programme to increase the biological area to 1 million hectares by 2005. Together with conversion aid to the amount of 80 million francs, the government is also supporting – with various means - the increase of production and marketing structures, as well as research and training. The demand for bio-products in France has been growing continuously for the last few years by 26%, and today accounts for 0.52% of the national food market with a turnover of 3.9 million francs (? 595 Mio).

Split Market in Germany

The development of the German market continued to grow through the conventional food retail trade. A few months ago, the supermarket chain EDEKA introduced its own brand which goes by the name of „BioWertkost". The 13.381 connected branches cover 20.2 % of the German food retail trade and are number one ahead of REWE with a turnover of 45 billion DM (? 23 bill).

See table below.

Auf Wiedersehen in Nuremberg !

Hervorheben !!