The rapid growth of the organic food chain in Germany is partly thanks to the supportive German government policy. The market value of organic food in Germany is nearly €16 billion. This places Germany at the top within the EU-27.
Dutch exporters of organic food can benefit from this, say agricultural counselor Peter Vermeij and agricultural advisor Anna Sandl.
In an interview with Agroberichtenbuitenland, they describe the growth of the organic segment as one of the most remarkable developments. Nearly 11% (1.6 million hectares) of German farmland is now farmed organically. The new German government (SPD, The Greens, and FDP) is fully committed to this goal. The target is 30% of agricultural land to be organically farmed by 2030.
"This target goes significantly beyond the 25% from the European Commission’s Green Deal and Farm-to-Fork strategy and is widely supported in German politics. The desire to grow stems from concerns about climate, the environment, biodiversity, and consumption patterns. The political pressure to expand the organic sector is therefore high," according to Vermeij.
The Dutch agricultural advisors in Berlin and Munich do question whether the 30% target is achievable. Sandl says, "Germany is less affluent than many think. Poverty exists here as well. Organic products are relatively expensive, and not everyone can afford them. The desired growth is probably only achievable if the price difference between conventional and organic becomes smaller."
German consumers’ strong interest in organic food is mainly a matter of mentality, says agricultural counselor Peter Vermeij. "About 70% of Germans live in rural areas and have respect for traditional farming life. This is reflected in supermarket shelves."
Many German farmers are considering switching to organic production. One in five is interested, according to research by the German Farmers’ Association. In southern Germany, more than a quarter of agricultural businesses are open to this conversion.
"That huge interest in the south is not surprising," says Sandl. "Because of the mountainous landscape, farms there find it difficult to intensify. Switching to organic is therefore not such a big step for farmers in the south."
Vermeij notes a difference between the strategies of the Dutch and German governments. According to him, the Netherlands chooses to focus on making agricultural operations more sustainable and on circular agriculture. In the Netherlands, there is little explicit policy for organic farming, whereas in Germany, there is.