By Hugo Struna | Euractiv Est.
Sep 23, 2024
Between 2014 and 2022, European farmers received around €12 billion in CAP support to convert to organic farming or maintain organic practices, ‘without adequately nurturing the organic sector’, adds the Court of Auditors
. [Attasit saentep/ Shutterstock]
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The European Union will miss its target of 25% organic farmland by 2030 because of weak support for the sector, the European Court of Auditors said in a report published on Organic Farming Day on Monday (23 September).
The EU action plan for the development of organic production in the European Union, adopted in 2021, aims to promote the benefits of organic farming. One of the objectives is to have at least 25% of the agricultural land used for organic farming by 2030, a key element of the EU’s “Farm to Fork’ strategy”.
But this target “seems out of reach,” the Court of Auditors’ analysis of EU support to the sector for 2014-2022 reads. The warning comes after also the European Environment Agency (EEA) explained that it was “unlikely” the EU would meet the target.
It is “far too early” to predict whether the target will be met, the European Commission replied in a set of replies annexed to the report.
“Such an assessment is rather outdated and incomplete, given that it does not take into account recent developments under the current CAP,” Commission spokesman Olof Gill said in an email, adding that while inflation has affected demand, “the long-term trend is positive”.
“The Commission – Gill addedd – encourages Member States to support demand for organic production”.
On the same day, the Commission named the winners of the third edition of the EU Organic Awards, eight individual prizes for “innovative, sustainable and inspiring projects” promoting the production and consumption of organic products.
Developing the market and production
Regarding support for organic farming, the CAP provided €12 billion in CAP support between 2014 and 2022 for farms that converted to organic farming or maintained organic practices “without adequately nurturing the organic sector,” the Court of Auditors added.
And another €15 billion or so are planned before 2027.
The EU auditors also acknowledged that the funds had helped increase the area that is now subject to organic farming. However, to reach the 25% target by 2030, the uptake rate of organic farming practices would have to double, with the auditors stressing that it is not just a matter of land.
“We also need to support the sector as a whole by developing the market,” said Keit Pentus-Rosimannus, the member of the Court of Auditors responsible for the audit, at a press conference presenting the report on Monday morning.
Pentus-Rosimannus also noted the need to increase “supply and demand” to prevent organic production from remaining a niche market – currently less than 4% of the total EU food market – and dependent on EU funding.
Euractiv is part of the Trust Project >>>
The European Union will miss its target of 25% organic farmland by 2030 because of weak support for the sector, the European Court of Auditors said in a report published on Organic Farming Day on Monday (23 September).
The EU action plan for the development of organic production in the European Union, adopted in 2021, aims to promote the benefits of organic farming. One of the objectives is to have at least 25% of the agricultural land used for organic farming by 2030, a key element of the EU’s “Farm to Fork’ strategy”.
But this target “seems out of reach,” the Court of Auditors’ analysis of EU support to the sector for 2014-2022 reads. The warning comes after also the European Environment Agency (EEA) explained that it was “unlikely” the EU would meet the target.
It is “far too early” to predict whether the target will be met, the European Commission replied in a set of replies annexed to the report.
“Such an assessment is rather outdated and incomplete, given that it does not take into account recent developments under the current CAP,” Commission spokesman Olof Gill said in an email, adding that while inflation has affected demand, “the long-term trend is positive”.
“The Commission – Gill addedd – encourages Member States to support demand for organic production”.
On the same day, the Commission named the winners of the third edition of the EU Organic Awards, eight individual prizes for “innovative, sustainable and inspiring projects” promoting the production and consumption of organic products.
Developing the market and production
Regarding support for organic farming, the CAP provided €12 billion in CAP support between 2014 and 2022 for farms that converted to organic farming or maintained organic practices “without adequately nurturing the organic sector,” the Court of Auditors added.
And another €15 billion or so are planned before 2027.
The EU auditors also acknowledged that the funds had helped increase the area that is now subject to organic farming. However, to reach the 25% target by 2030, the uptake rate of organic farming practices would have to double, with the auditors stressing that it is not just a matter of land.
“We also need to support the sector as a whole by developing the market,” said Keit Pentus-Rosimannus, the member of the Court of Auditors responsible for the audit, at a press conference presenting the report on Monday morning.
Pentus-Rosimannus also noted the need to increase “supply and demand” to prevent organic production from remaining a niche market – currently less than 4% of the total EU food market – and dependent on EU funding.
Targets after 2030
The EU auditors also stressed the need for a strategic vision beyond 2030 to provide the stability and long-term perspective needed to ensure the sector’s expansion.
“The EU must think beyond 2030. Farmers currently have no guidance and are only using plans beyond 2030,” warned Pentus-Rosimannus.
While the EU’s current action plan for the organic sector is “an improvement” on its predecessor, “it still has neither adequate and quantifiable goals for the organic sector, nor ways to measure progress,” the auditors added.
In addition, the action plan ends in 2027, and the targets are set after 2030.
“Our audit is actually very timely (…) Especially because all the discussions over both the next budget” and “the CAP are just heating,” Pentus-Rosimannus said at the press conference.
The support provided via the CAP to the organic sector, as well as other EU tools such as “the EU’s agricultural promotion policy” and the “research and innovation framework programmes” need to be strengthened, the European Commission said in response.
“However, this remains a prerogative of the next policy cycle”, it added.
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