Europe Cultivates Organic Foods and Organic Farmers

BRUSSELS, Belgium, June 11, 2004 (ENS) - The EU circle of stars logo is about to blossom on packages of organic fruits, vegetables, breads, meat, dairy products, and possibly, even on wine bottles. On Thursday, the European Commission adopted the European Action Plan for Organic Food and Farming - 21 concrete policy measures aimed at getting more people to produce and eat organic foods.

More funding will flow to organic producers, a greater amount and variety of information about organic foods will reach the public to stimulate consumer awareness, and organic standards will be harmonized across Europe, the Commission said.

Commenting on the new plan, Franz Fischler, Commissioner for Agriculture, Rural Development and Fisheries said, “Promoting environmentally friendly, quality products is one major objective of the new, reformed Common Agricultural Policy. This is why we want to boost organic farming by stepping up information for consumers, strengthening the control system and improving research.”

European Agriculture Commissioner Franz Fischler talks with participants in the January 2004 hearing on organic foods. (Photo courtesy European Commission)

It is based on extensive consultations with Member States and stakeholders including an online consultation in 2003, a hearing in January 2004, and meetings with Member States and stakeholder groups.

At the January hearing, Tony Sullivan, head of produce buying and organics at the 500 Sainsbury's supermarkets across the UK, said, "There is no legal basis for saying that organic foods are healthier, but 26 percent of our customers believe organic food is better for them.

Sainsbury's has over 1,300 organic product lines and aims to provide a complete weekly organic shop, said Sullivan, from organic meat, produce and milk, to organic baby food, organic prepared meals, chocolate and wine.

Organic foods currently hold a market share of about two percent in the EU-15. The Commission says its analysis shows that more emphasis should be put on developing the market for organic foods.

In order to increase the two percent figure or even to maintain it in the long run, more focus on consumer expectations is needed, the Commission believes.

Consumers need better information on the principles and objectives of organic farming as well as its positive impact on the environment.

The main proposals in the action plan concentrate on more information for both producers and shoppers, more transparency on different standards, more research, and greater availability of production, supply and demand statistics as policy and marketing tools.

Very young lambs and their shepherd (Photo courtesy FreeFoto)

The Commission will consider whether to establish specific standards for organic wines, and also consider the need to extend the scope of organic standards to other areas such as aquaculture.

Standards relating to the environment such as the use of energy, the protection of biodiversity and landscapes may also be upgraded, the Commission said.

Within the European Union, trade of organic products is hampered by the many different national and private standards and their implementation, which can make it very complicated to sell organic products from one EU member in other member states. "The developing of common objectives, development of a multilateral concept of equivalence, further harmonization of inspection requirements and more emphasis on the EU logo would help to minimize these problems," the Commission said in its action plan.

To address these problems, an Internet database listing the various private and national standards will be established, including international standards and national standards in main export markets.

On the financial side, there will be greater support for producer organizations in the organic fruit and vegetable sector, the Commission said, and the plan will develop incentives to encourage organic farmers to convert the whole instead of part of their farms to organic production.

Organic farmers will have the same possibilities for receiving investment support as non-organic farmers, said the European Commission, and producers will be encouraged to facilitate distribution and marketing by integrating the production chain through contractual arrangements.

"Government financial support for organic farming is justified by the environmental public good which organic farming delivers, which extend to society as a whole and not just to the minority of consumers who choose to purchase organic food," says the UK Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) in a parallel 21 point organics action plan released earlier this month.

Slicing a loaf of organic, wholemeal bread (Photo courtesy FreeFoto)

The European Commission plans to stimulate the demand side of the organic food equation by promoting the enhanced quality of organics, and the long term benefits of organic farming for the environment and nature protection.

But that will not be enough, said Sullivan of Sainsbury's "if we do not recognize and respond to the central need that organics is part of the modern era. It is now every bit about taste, convenience, value, inspiration and meal solutions as it is about growing systems and the environment."

"For organics to really grow to a new level," he said, "it must compete in the conventional market place for new customers who are not the committed organic consumer but who are instead a group with lifestyle needs around time and meal solutions, supported by the desire to be involved and benefiting from the principles of organic production."

"By delivering on both," said Sullivan, "we will build the market over the coming years. By only focusing on organic production alone we will achieve a small and static market place."

Find the new EU organic foods action plan online at: http://europa.eu.int/comm/agriculture/qual/organic/plan/index_en.htm.

The January 2004 hearing is at: http://europa.eu.int/comm/agriculture/events/organic/index_en.htm

The UK Organic Farmers & Growers Organization is found at: http://www.organicfarmers.uk.com/organic.html

A Welsh definition of organic agriculture is found at: http://www.organic.aber.ac.uk/define.shtml

A Danish scope on organic agriculture is at: http://www.uk.foedevaredirektoratet.dk/Food/Organic_Foods/forside.htm