News Organic
Organic area growing, fewer companies in transition
The organic agricultural area grew by 2023% to 9,5 hectares in 87.416. However, there were 2023% fewer hectares in conversion in 11,1 than a year earlier. This is stated in the trend report on developments in the organic sector by Bionext.
Last year, Bionext reported an increase of 2,1% for 2022 and a share of organic land of 4,4%. The share of organic land is now 4,8%, that is without the companies that are in transition. This means that the target of 15% is still a long way off.
The growth rate of organic land in 2023 was highest in Gelderland (+30,8%). North Brabant was the second largest climber (+16,9%). South Holland was the only province to see its organic area shrink (-0,2%). Flevoland (+1,5%) is still the province with by far the largest organic area (15,5%). North Holland and Drenthe follow at a distance with 5,9% and 5,4%.
The number of organic pig and dairy farms remained (approximately) the same. The number of organic goat farms decreased further and for the first time a decrease was seen at poultry farms and sheep farmers who work organically.
The organic farming figures come from Skal Biocontrole, which supervises the organic quality mark. The general agricultural figures come from Statistics Netherlands (CBS). Where Skal also published broken down figures on arable farming and horticulture in previous years, they stopped doing so this year 'to prevent confusion'. "Because the subsectors are not clearly demarcated, these figures often gave rise to questions and ambiguity", according to Bionext in the trend report.
In Europe as a whole, the organic area has an average share of 3,7% of the agricultural area. In the EU countries, this is an average of 10,4%, with Austria leading with 25,5%. Estonia and Sweden are also at the forefront with 23,4% and 19,9%). There are a total of ten Member States where the organic area is above 10%.
Organic sales in supermarkets growing faster than inflation
Organic food sales at supermarkets grew by 2023% in 14,5, faster than food inflation (12,1%), according to data from Circana. This company processes the scanning data of all supermarkets except Aldi and Lidl, which together had a 16,3% market share in 2023. By €150 million to more than €1,2 billion. Organic sales at specialty stores (including butchers and health food stores) grew less rapidly, by 6,9%.
Linda van Eekeres
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