The sixth edition of the State of Sustainable Markets report was published jointly by ITC, the Research Institute of Organic Agriculture and the International Institute for Sustainable Development, this past October. The report provides the status of sustainable markets, covering 14 major standards for eight agricultural sectors and forestry. For the first time, the report is presented as an e-publication.

More farm and forestry land than ever is used to grow sustainable commodities, though the pace of expansion is slowing. The growing popularity of certified goods helps ensure the production and trade of more agricultural commodities that promote environmental quality, social equity and economic prosperity.

Sustainability standards are expanding as more consumers choose more nutritious, ethically grown products. Organic was the biggest sustainability standard in terms of area and product variety, covering 72.1 million hectares or 1.5% of farmland worldwide.