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Sweden's government had ambitious goals for organic farming in the country. But to persuade farmers to switch to organic methods are harder than expected, according to a new report by Swedish Board of Agriculture.

The government wants 20 per cent of farmland in Sweden to be organic by the end of 2010. But we are only half way there.

In the 1990s, the idea of organic and local foods became very popular. Many farmers tapped into the trend and became successful. But some also learned after frustrating seasons that labor input farming organic was significantly higher than conventional methods of farming.

Global organic food and drink sales reached 46 billion dollar in 2007, treble 1999 levels, according to organic trade body estimates. But souring global food prices has feeding a polarized debate whether organic is good or bad.

"The organic movement has to evolve, to recognize the enormity of the challenge we've got, and look more seriously at sound, sustainable ecological approaches which make minimal use of inorganic fertilizers, industrial pesticides and genetically modified crops", Gordon Conway, at Imperial College London told Reuters.

Supporters of organic farming say the world produces enough food. The problem is affordability and accessibility.

In 2009 only 9.8 percent of farmland in Sweden was managed organic, according to EU organic standards. This year it will not reach more than 12.5 percent, Swedish Board of Agriculture said in a statement.

Organic farming bans the use of yield-boosting, manufactured, inorganic fertilizers as well as industrial pesticides and genetically modified crops.