European organic market growth in double digits
In 2015, almost 1 million hectares more were reported compared with 2014.
Germany is the largest organic market in Europe (8.6 billion euros), followed by France (5.5 billion euros), the UK (2.6 billion euros) and Italy (2.3 billion euros) (2015 data). The first figures available for 2016 show that the market continues to grow (Germany 2016: 9.5 billion euros). Globally, Germany is the second largest market after the U.S. (35.8 billion euros in 2015).
Dynamic organic market
Helga Willer of FiBL states: "The dynamics of the European market is showcased by the strong increase. For the first time since the financial crisis, the market showed double-digit growth (+13 %). In France and Italy, the markets grew by 15 % and in Germany by 11 % in 2015."
Each year, European consumers are spending more for organic food – on average 36.4 euros in Europe and 53.7 in the European Union. The Swiss spent the most on organic food: Switzerland is the country with the highest per capita spending on organic food worldwide (262 euros), followed by Denmark (191 euros) and Sweden (177 euros). European countries also have the highest organic market shares: Denmark has the lead with 8.4 %; in Switzerland, the organic market share is 7.7 % and in Luxembourg 7.5 %. Diana Schaack of AMI adds: "Many products and product groups reach far higher shares. In Switzerland, for example, every fourth egg sold is organic, and for dairy products, the organic market share can be 10 percent and more."
Organic market grows faster than organic farmland
The trend of the market to grow faster than organic farmland continued in 2015. However, it is encouraging that the area of organic farmland grew at a faster rate than it had in past years: it increased by almost one million hectares or by 8.2%. At the end of 2015, 12.7 million hectares were under organic management in Europe (in the European Union, 11.2 million hectares). This constitutes 2.5% - 6.2% respectively - of the total agricultural land. The countries with the largest organic farmland areas are Spain (1.97 million hectares), Italy (1.49 million hectares) and France (1.37 million hectares). In each of these three countries, the area of organic farmland increased by at least 100’000 hectares. Nine European countries report that at least 10 % of their farmland is organic and the highest organic shares worldwide are in Liechtenstein (30.2 %), Austria (21.3 %) and Sweden (16.9 %).
Switzerland has the highest per capita consumtion or organic food in Europe and worldwide.
Organic processors and importers - double-digit growth
In Europe, there were almost 350‘000 organic producers (European Union: 270‘000), 60‘000 organic processors and almost 3’700 organic importers. While growth in the number of organic producers was at 3 % (European Union: 5 %) and therefore comparably modest, the number of organic processors and importers increased by 12 % and 19 %, respectively.
Matthias Stolze of FiBL concludes: "The fact that the number of processors and importers grows faster than the number of producers is another indicator that organic production does not keep pace with demand. Countries should pursue a clear organic sector strategy, support shorter organic supply chains that provide environmental and social benefits, and set up improved statistical processes to increase the accuracy of organic market data collection."
Organic in Europe at BIOFACH
The yearbook: "The World of Organic Agriculture", can be obtained at BIOFACH at the FiBL stand in Hall 1 (stand 555). The book includes a detailed chapter about organic in Europe, with many tables and graphs.
Data can be explored through online interactive infographics available on IFOAM EU’s website or by visiting IFOAM EU at BIOFACH Hall 1, stand 447.
The BIOFACH session on the European organic market takes place on February 15, 2017, from 5 to 5.45 pm in room Copenhagen, NCC East, Nürnberg Exhibition Centre.
The survey on organic farming in Europe was conducted by FiBL and AMI. The FiBL data collection activities were carried out under the framework of the global survey on organic farming supported by the Swiss State Secretariat for Economic Affairs, the International Trade Centre and NürnbergMesse.
For more information:
www.fibl.org