IFOAM Organics International

What IFOAM Organics International does

IFOAM Organics International (legal name: International Federation of Organic Agriculture Movements e.V.) is a membership-based non-profit organization founded in 1972 and registered as an eingetragener Verein (e.V.) in Bonn, Germany. It operates as the global umbrella body for the organic agriculture movement, convening 800+ affiliates — comprising 581 Members, 152 Associates, and 100 Supporters — across more than 100 countries and territories through 7 regional bodies (including IFOAM Organics Europe, IFOAM Asia, IFOAM Latin America) and 6 sector platforms (including Animal Husbandry Alliance, Apiculture Forum, Aquaculture, INOFO, Seeds Platform, and Technology Innovation Platform). The organization is governed by an elected World Board on a three-year cycle; the most recent elections took place at the December 2024 General Assembly in Taiwan, and an Extraordinary General Assembly in June 2026 approved a package of governance reforms.

The organization's core technology is the IFOAM Family of Standards, the centerpiece of its Organic Guarantee System, which provides the reference framework against which national organic standards (most recently Kazakhstan's CT PK 3111-2023 and CT PK 3942-2023 in September 2025) are benchmarked for equivalence to facilitate international organic trade. Complementary assets include the Organic 3.0 vision for sustainable organic agriculture, position papers, the Best Practice Guideline, and the formal Definition of Organic Agriculture. The technology stack is informational and standards-based rather than software-driven; there is no API surface, no app, and no disclosed AI/ML capability.

Revenue is generated through four primary streams: recurring annual membership fees (subscription); voluntary donations; training programs run through the Global Academy and the Agroecology and Organic Leadership Course (AOLC); and events including the triennial Organic World Congress, the European Organic Congress, and BIOFACH trade fair collaborations. The organization also delivers advocacy at international policy fora, capacity-building programs (e.g., AOLC South Africa, May 2026), and a webinar series launched in 2025. Distribution is multi-channel: a digital membership directory (directory.ifoam.bio), resource library, social media presence, email newsletter (The Organic Insider), blog (Organic Without Boundaries), and recurring in-person events.

Name

IFOAM Organics International

Legal name

International Federation of Organic Agriculture Movements e.V.

Website

https://ifoam.bio

Company type

Private

Founded year

1972

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

IFOAM Organics International is a Bonn-based, 1972-founded non-profit membership organization that convenes 800+ affiliates in 100+ countries to set organic agriculture standards, deliver training and certification frameworks, and run global advocacy events.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Organic Agriculture Standards and Advocacy

NAICS

Business Associations (813910), Convention and Trade Show Organizers (561920)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Organic Certification Services (AFALAMAA)

akta.pro secondary industry

Organics Contamination Auditing, Education & Compliance Services (BPALAEAJ)

Keywords

• Organic agriculture standards
• Organic certification systems
• Sustainable farming advocacy
• Organic sector training
• Agricultural policy advocacy

Headquarters

HQ city

Bonn-beuel

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Fees: Revenue generated from affiliate membership fees from organizations in 100+ countries including farmers associations, certifiers, processors, and NGOs.
2. Donations: Voluntary contributions from supporters to fund communication efforts, global campaigns, and engagement opportunities for organic farmers.
3. Events and Conferences: Revenue from organizing flagship events including the Organic World Congress, European Organic Congress, and participation in BIOFACH trade fairs.
4. Training Programs: Revenue from training programs including the Global Academy and Agroecology and Organic Leadership Course (AOLC).

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

IFOAM Organics International operates a global membership-based organization that develops and promotes organic agriculture standards, administers the IFOAM Family of Standards and Organic Guarantee System for organic certification, and delivers training, advocacy, and convening services to the worldwide organic movement. It monetizes primarily through annual membership fees, paid training programs (including the Global Academy and AOLC), flagship events such as the Organic World Congress, and voluntary donations.

Product overview

IFOAM Organics International is a membership-based nonprofit organization founded in 1972, dedicated to promoting organic agriculture globally. The organization does not offer a traditional technology product or software platform. Rather, it provides membership services, advocacy, training programs, standards certification (the IFOAM Family of Standards), and organizes events such as the Organic World Congress and General Assemblies. The website serves as an informational portal and membership directory, facilitating connection among over 800 affiliates across more than 100 countries. The organization's work spans campaigns, awards, policy advocacy, and capacity building for organic stakeholders worldwide.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• IFOAM Membership Program
• Global Academy Training Programs
• Agroecology and Organic Leadership Course (AOLC)
• Organic World Congress (OWC)
• European Organic Congress
• IFOAM Family of Standards Membership Assessment

Quantifiable outcome

• 145.0 billion euros in global organic retail sales (2024)
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered major, supporting and core.

• German-Kazakhstan Agricultural Policy Dialogue ProjectmajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 8 June 2026BMEL-funded project supporting the development of organic agriculture in Kazakhstan. The project facilitated Kazakhstan's admission to the IFOAM Family of Standards and commissioned COROS assessments of national standards.
• GOPA AFCsupportingImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 8 June 2026GOPA AFC implemented the German-Kazakhstan Agricultural Policy Dialogue project, supporting organic development activities in Central Asia.
• FiBL (Research Institute of Organic Agriculture)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFiBL is a key strategic partner collaborating on research, standards development, and training programs. They co-host events and produce research on organic agriculture impacts.
• BIOFACHcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBIOFACH is the world's leading trade fair for organic food. IFOAM collaborates on BIOFACH events including BIOFACH India and BIOFACH Nuremberg.
• SSNC (Swedish Society for Nature Conservation)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSSNC is a strategic partner working on environmental and organic agriculture advocacy, particularly in the European region.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Rainforest Alliance: Rainforest Alliance is a major international NGO that runs sustainability certification (including for agriculture) and conservation programs globally. It is comparable to IFOAM as a large-scale global sustainability NGO with certification, advocacy, and training programs, but with a broader environmental rather than organic-specific mandate.
• Fairtrade International: Fairtrade International is a large, global non-profit standards and certification organization operating across multiple sustainability dimensions, not just organic. It is comparable to IFOAM as a global membership-based sustainability NGO with a standards and certification system, but operates at a much larger scale and broader scope.
• Ecocert: Ecocert is one of the world's largest private organic and sustainability certification bodies, operating globally with a for-profit model. It is comparable to IFOAM as a global organic/sustainability certifier and standards player, but operates commercially rather than as a non-profit membership organization.

Direct peers

• Soil Association: The Soil Association is the UK's leading organic food and farming membership charity, operating its own organic certification, standards, and advocacy programs. It is directly comparable as a national-level organic membership and certification organization with overlapping standards-setting and advocacy mandates.
• Naturland: Naturland is a German-based international association for organic agriculture, certifying organic producers globally. It is directly comparable to IFOAM as a membership-based organic standards and certification body with a strong European footprint and global producer reach.
• Organic Trade Association (OTA): The Organic Trade Association is the membership-based business association for the organic industry in North America, advocating for organic standards, trade, and policy. It is directly comparable to IFOAM as a membership-driven organic advocacy and standards organization serving a specific region.
• Demeter International: Demeter International is the global certification body for biodynamic agriculture, operating a worldwide network of member organizations. It is directly comparable to IFOAM as a global, membership-based organic/biodynamic standards and certification organization with similar governance and international reach.
• FiBL (Research Institute of Organic Agriculture): FiBL is IFOAM's closest strategic partner and the leading global research institute for organic agriculture, co-hosting events and producing the World of Organic Agriculture report. It is directly comparable as a mission-aligned, organic-focused organization operating globally, with overlapping standards, research, and training functions.
• IFOAM Asia: IFOAM Asia is IFOAM's regional body for Asia, promoting organic agriculture across the region. It is directly comparable as a regional arm of the same IFOAM ecosystem, with similar membership, advocacy, and convening functions focused on a specific geography.
• IFOAM Organics Europe: IFOAM Organics Europe is IFOAM's regional body for the European Union, advocating for organic agriculture in EU policy and representing European organic stakeholders. It is directly comparable as part of the same IFOAM ecosystem with similar membership, advocacy, and policy functions, focused on a specific region.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/ifoamorganics
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/ifoam2007
• Facebookfacebook.com/ifoamorganics
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/ifoam-organicsinternational
• Instagraminstagram.com/ifoamorganics

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about IFOAM Organics International