Some of the conclusions from the October 2008 UNEP report included:
• Organic practices resulted in per hectare food crop productivity increases.
• Organic production allows farmers access to markets, enabling them to obtain premium prices for
their produce, as well as increased access to good quality, organic food for the entire community.
• Organic and near-organic agricultural methods and technologies are ideally suited for many poor,
marginalized smallholder farmers in Africa or other developing nations.
• Recent food-price hikes and rising fuel prices have highlighted the importance of making agriculture
less energy- and external-input dependent.
• Certified organic production for the export market, with its premium prices, can undoubtedly reduce
poverty among farmers.
• Organic agricultural systems are making a significant contribution to the reduction of food insecurity
and poverty and improvement in rural livelihoods in areas of Africa.