The area for organic farming dropped to 2.83 million hectares in 2024. This is 7.1 percent less than the previous year. For the first time in twenty years, the percentage of organic farmland within the total French agricultural area also declined: from 10.7 to 9.7 percent.
The number of farmers who have completely stopped organic practices increased by 16 percent within one year. In total, 8,400 farms have either stopped or switched to conventional farming. This emerges from data by Agence Bio and is confirmed by several sources. The influx of new entrants remains far behind previous years.
According to Le Monde, supermarket sales of organic products have declined by 16 percent since 2021. This decrease aligns with consumer behavior, as many prioritize cheaper products due to inflation. Sales through markets and specialized shops remain slightly more stable but do not compensate for the loss.
At the same time, political support for organic farming has also diminished. Le Monde reports that under President Macron, structural support for organic farmers has significantly decreased. For instance, the so-called “aide à la conversion” (conversion aid) was drastically reduced. Temporary aid measures from the crisis year 2023 were not extended in 2024.
According to Agri-Mutuel, half of the organic farmers lost their environmental subsidies because they no longer qualify for the European ecosystem program. As a result, many farmers are financially forced to cease organic production.
The French government did announce a new support plan for the sector at the end of 2024, but it came too late to reverse the negative trend. Farmers' organizations blame the government for a lack of vision and priority, especially as other agricultural sectors continue to receive support.
The structural consequences are becoming increasingly visible: there is not only less supply but also a loss of trust among producers. Without stable policy and sufficient market demand, the organic sector remains vulnerable. L’Agence Bio fears this downward trend will continue unless there is a change in course.