Between 2010 and 2017, the area of agricultural land under organic cultivation in EU countries increased sharply, while imports also increased, according to a summary note published on Thursday 7 March by the European Commission.
This summary note on the production of agricultural products and another on imports shows that the total EU agricultural land reserved for organic products amounted to 7%, which represents a 70% increase compared to 2009. Half of EU organic farming is concentrated in four countries: Spain, Italy, France and Germany.
Retail sales amounted to €34.3 billion in 2017. Consumption is also driven by a robust import sector, with a high demand for organic tropical fruits and nuts, the Commission explains. Organic products are sold up to 150% above the prices of conventional agricultural products.
The Commission notes that yields on most organic farms are lower than those in conventional agriculture. There were almost 250,000 organic farms in the EU in 2016 and the total number of organic farms has increased: 14,000 new entrants into the organic farming sector between 2010 and 2017, although 10,000 organic farmers have returned to conventional farming.
Imports of organic food into the EU totalled 3.4 million tonnes in 2018, the largest supplier being China (415,000 tonnes or 12.7% of the total market). Ecuador, the Dominican Republic, Ukraine and Turkey held significant market shares. The main imported products are tropical fruits and nuts and cereals.
The Commission considers that the market for organic products can still grow. In order to meet the growing demand for organic products, growth in production and imports is expected. (Original version in French by Lionel Changeur)