The agriculture committee of the European Parliament broadly agrees with the European Commission's action plan to stimulate organic farming. Most MEPs agreed in their monthly AGRI meeting on Tuesday that more organic farming fits within the Green Deal and the EU's climate policy.
However, several MEPs emphasized that a larger market for organic products must first be created before the area can be expanded. Other MEPs expressed concern that prices that are too high would hinder sales.
Austrian Simone Schmiedtbauer (ÖVP) will draft an initiative report on the action plan for the Parliament. By 2030, a quarter of all cultivation areas in the EU should be farmed organically. Currently, this is only 8%.
Schmiedtbauer said that organic production can only grow if demand also grows. She also pointed out the huge potential of short, regional, and seasonal supply chains. “They bring ecological and economic benefits for organic farmers, rural regions, and climate protection.”
The appointment of the Austrian EP rapporteur for organic farming coincided with the opening of the large organic annual meeting in Austria, which is considered one of the most organic-friendly EU countries.
Austrian Minister Elisabet Köstinger said in her opening speech that organic farming is “a real success story” of Austrian agriculture. There are now about 24,500 organic farms, about 23 percent of all farms. 26 percent of agricultural land is farmed organically. Organic farming receives approximately 500 million euros in support annually.