The situation for organic farms in Austria is still challenging – BIO AUSTRIA is pushing for improvements for organic farms in the ÖPUL agri-environmental program
Nuremberg (OTS) – “Consumers in Austria remain loyal to organic and have once again proven themselves to be reliable partners for organic farmers, even in economically challenging times,” emphasized BIO AUSTRIA chairwoman Barbara Riegler at a joint press conference with AMA Marketing on the occasion of the world’s leading trade fair for Organic products, the BIOFACH, in Nuremberg. The current RollAMA survey shows a 5.3 percent increase in the value of organic purchases in grocery stores. The volume development is slightly declining at -2.8 percent. Compared to the last year before the crisis, 2019, this represents an increase of 50 percent in value and 27 percent in the quantity purchased.
On the winner’s podium in terms of organic market share and per capita spending
The current figures from the annual survey on the international organic market “The World of Organic Agriculture” by FiBL Switzerland and IFOAM Organics International, which was carried out locally by senior researcher Helga Willer (FiBL.) also show that organic has a particularly important status for consumers in Austria ) were presented. At 11.5 percent, Austria has the second-highest organic share of the overall market in the world, behind Denmark (12 percent). When it comes to per capita spending, Austria ranks third in the world with 287 euros (behind Switzerland with 441 euros and Denmark with 369 euros).
Decline in organic land and organic farms in Austria
Despite these generally positive facts, the situation for organic farms in Austria has been challenging overall in recent years. This is also reflected in the fact that the number of organic farms fell by 933 from 2022 to 2023. This corresponds to a decline of almost four percent. In total, there were 24,148 organic farms in 2023, which corresponds to 22.7 percent of all farms. The proportion of organically farmed area has also declined slightly, with a decrease of around 10,000 hectares or 1.5 percent and is now 27.1 percent or 695,180 hectares. Riegler sees various factors as the cause of the decline. On the one hand, the price increase is also noticeable on organic farms, for example in the form of increased costs. On the other hand, the producer prices that organic farmers receive for their food are often too low to be able to generate sufficient income.
ÖPUL agri-environmental program slows down organic development
Last but not least, the agricultural policy framework is making the overall situation more difficult. “Under the given circumstances, the Austrian agri-environmental program ÖPUL is a hindrance for organic farms and a brake on organic development. Organic farms have a worse starting situation in the current ÖPUL than in previous years. Under these circumstances, one should not be surprised if companies are withdrawing from organic farming. This simply cannot be a satisfactory situation for the EU’s model organic country,” emphasized Riegler.
Agricultural policy must use the opportunity to take countermeasures
The program change to the ÖPUL, which is currently being developed in the Ministry of Agriculture and will then be submitted to the European Commission, offers an opportunity to take countermeasures for agricultural policy. These changes will take effect in 2025, subject to Commission approval. “As an association, we urgently encourage the Minister of Agriculture to seize this opportunity and initiate the necessary changes in the ÖPUL for organic farms. In the form of measures that are implemented on the farms in order to improve the situation on the farms. Now is an opportunity for agricultural policy to show that it supports organic farmers in challenging times,” emphasized the BIO AUSTRIA chairwoman.
The role of organic in climate and environmental protection is becoming increasingly important
This is also the order of the day in order to achieve the goals set in Austria of 30 percent organic share of agricultural land by 2027 and 35 percent by 2030. These goals have lost none of their validity and significance, on the contrary. The challenges related to the climate crisis and biodiversity loss are becoming increasingly pressing. And organic farming in particular has proven to have numerous advantages in the areas of environmental, climate and biodiversity protection thanks to its economic method. The less greening is advanced at the EU level in the agricultural sector on a broad level, the more important the role of organic farming will become as a driver for greening,” Riegler concluded.
Service: Link to the international organic market survey “The World of Organic Agriculture 2024”
About BIO AUSTRIA:
BIO AUSTRIA is the network of Austrian organic farmers. As the largest organic association in Europe, BIO AUSTRIA represents Austrian organic agriculture and represents the interests of organic farmers. The association also has almost 500 partner companies in the economy. Further information can be found at www.bio-austria.at
Questions & Contact:
BIO AUSTRIA
Markus Leithner, MSc.
Press spokesman
+43 676 842 214 214
markus.leithner@bio-austria.at
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