MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Uruguay ranks sixth in organic farmland.

With 800,000 certified hectares, Uruguay is ranked sixth internationally among the world's countries with most organic farmland.

"The situation of organic agriculture in the country is good because the sector has lately grown rapidly both in area and in new undertakings", said agronomist Martha Claudio, official certifier for the Consumers Society of Biological products.

Addressing an agriculture forum in Montevideo, Ms. Claudio said that "given the certified area", this ranks Uruguay sixth at world level.

Ms. Claudio highlighted meat production in Uruguay which "not only is organic involving extensive grazing, but also has been undertaken in association with the abattoir industry".

"Two of these organic beef projects involve over 300 farmers, and with prospects of expanding", indicated Ms. Claudio.

But not all projects are export oriented as beef and dairy. For the domestic market there are tens of small farms growing organic vegetables, fruit, aromatic herbs and honey.

"These projects have their ups and downs, but are very attractive in the long term and will eventually consolidate".

Finally Ms. Claudio revealed that another area rapidly expanding is cereal and oil farming, mainly flax, soybeans and sunflower, "all of them with a strong demand from Europe".