<span style="font-weight: bold;">GERMANY</span><br><br><div style="text-align: justify;">In 2011, the organic farming surface in Germany trespassed the threshold of 1 million ha: 1,015,626 ha and 22,056 farms by December 2011, which means an increase of 24,924 ha (+2.5%), with a farms growth of 564 units (+2.6%). The percentage of organic farms on the overall farms number increased up to 7.5%, while the percentage of organic farming on the total agricultural surface reached 6.1%. Almost 2/3 of all the organic farms are located in Bavaria&nbsp; and Baden-Wuettemberg. The processing plants have grown too: + 4.5% in 2011, for a total of 8,049.The number of importers has increased on annual base of 84%. In 2011, the total number of producers, processors and importers reached 33,095.<br></div><br>Source: BMELV<br><br><br style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">FRANCE</span><br><br><div style="text-align: justify;">Agence Bio informs that in 2012, the organic farming surface in France will trespass the record quota of 1 million ha. Organic farms in the country are growing steadely, but also consumption grows. In 2011, sales of organic products in the French markets grew up reaching a value of 4 billion euros (+11% on 2012).In the same period, the number of operators grew up to 35,271 (+14%, and +40% on 2009). 4.5% of the total French farms are now organic, and - by 15 May 2012 - 811 new producers entered the organic system.The objective was to have 8% of the total agri-surface organic by this year, a goal that still has not been reached, as the percentage is around 3.5%. Some products are more "popular" than others:organic fruit and vegetables reached 12% of the organic surface, legumes 25%, vineyards 7%, while wheat quota is still quite low, 1.61%.<br></div><br>Source: Agence Bio <br><br><br>