Members of the European Parliament’s Committee on Agriculture called on Thursday 31 March for additional support from the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) to encourage farmers to convert to organic farming.
The committee adopted (with 45 votes in favour, none against and no abstentions) the draft report by Simone Schmiedtbauer (EPP, Austria) which, while supporting the development of organic farming, does not explicitly mention the European Commission’s requested target of 25% organic area by 2030 (see EUROPE 12922/7, 12921/14).
The MEPs point out that the proportion of agricultural land devoted to organic farming varies considerably from one Member State to another, and that no single agricultural model is suitable for all countries and regions.
They therefore stress that EU Member States should be supported and encouraged by the European Commission to establish their own national or regional organic farming strategies.
They are calling for sufficient financial support for farmers, as organic production often involves higher production costs.
Promotion and certification of organic products. The Committee on Agriculture stresses that the development and growth of the organic sector must be market-driven and accompanied by measures to stimulate supply and demand for organic food. Therefore, it is calling on the European Commission to identify instruments for Member States to encourage chains of shops to promote the consumption of organic products.
To avoid fraud and the proliferation of different private certifications, MEPs believe that a harmonised European certification system for inputs for organic farming should be established.
MEPs are urging the European Commission to strengthen customs controls through direct and unified control mechanisms, in coordination with Member States and in full respect of the principle of subsidiarity, “in order to prevent food fraud, adulteration, and the import of products that do not comply with EU organic production standards”.
Fertilizers and innovations. The MEPs are encouraging a scientific approach and innovations on new sources of plant nutrients, as well as the simplification of authorisation procedures for alternative plant protection products.
The European Commission should also ensure that sufficient financial resources are allocated to organic seed research, as scientific innovations in plant breeding can improve the resistance of varieties, promote the diversity of genetic resources and strengthen food production systems.
The Parliament is expected to vote in plenary in May on the report, which deals with the action plan for organic farming. (Original version in French by Lionel Changeur)