IFOAM Organics Europe presented a new study ‘Prospects & developments for organic in national CAP Strategic Plans', at its General Assembly. The study is a 64-page document providing an overview of every EU Member State’s potential to contribute to Europe’s ambitious but achievable target of 25% by 2030 – put forward in the Farm to Fork Strategy. The document is commissioned from an independent researcher and provides readers with an overview for the EU and each Member State. On 27, and an EU country card, the following information is available:

• Key indicators of production, market, and CAP support;
• Scenarios for CAP expenditure and their effect on the 2030 organic area;
• An overview of the current CAP support payments;
• Information about a national organic action plan; and
• Other policy support measures impacting the organic land area.

In 2019, Europe had an organic land area of 9%, with average payments rates of €213.15/hectare. Only 64% of the certified organic area is currently receiving organic support payments, amounting to almost €2 million of CAP support/year (Note: Average payment rate, percentage of certified area supported, and total spend are 2018 data).

• Achieving 25% organic land in the EU by 2030 would require the EU to:
• Triple its organic land area between 2019 and 2030;
• Increase its overall CAP expenditure 3-5-fold by 2030;
• Dedicate 9-15% of the CAP budget to organic (instead of 3% as in 2018).
• Achieving 25% organic land in the EU by 2030 would require Member States to:
• Increase payment rates per hectare before 2030 – to consider increases in costs since payments rates were last set in 2014;

Some individual countries with low levels of support for organic farming would need to consider a 5-10-fold increase in expenditure to deliver realistic targets for their national organic land area.

According to IFOAM Organics Europe, Member States should introduce a national target for organic land in their CAP Strategic Plan, based on an analysis of the organic sector’s production needs, and of its contribution to the CAP, EU Green Deal, Farm to Fork and Biodiversity strategies’ objectives. The Commission should ensure that all CAP Strategic Plans include a target for organic land representing a fair contribution to the EU’s 25% target. Countries have different baselines and should have different targets, and Member States with already more than 25% organic land should also continue to develop organic farming. This is in line with the EU Organic Action Plan’s call for all Member States to set a target and national strategic plan for developing their organic sectors.

The study can be downloaded HERE .

Source: IFOAM Organics Europe