Demand from consumers is growing and the number of producers and entrepreneurs getting into the organic market is on the rise, but, on the other side of the scale, a reduction in the acreage devoted to such crops is being registered in the province of Aragon. The number of certified organic hectares has already been declining for the past five years.
During 2014, more than 7,000 hectares lost their certification and the total number was reduced to just over 52,000 hectares, which is much lower than, for example, in 2004, when there were 74,000 hectares in full production. The acreage is also at its lowest point since 2001.
Despite this, and after years of ups and downs, the Aragonese Organic Agriculture Committee, the body that certifies and controls that the process by which these foods are produced meets the necessary requirements, both at national and European level, believes that the industry seems to be moving towards better times.
This is largely because, last year, the number of producers and traders devoted to organic food increased with another 150 new members. They also assure that last year's drop was mainly due to the reduction of the cereal acreage, as such crops usually take large amounts of land.
"There have been cereal growers this year that, due to poor price trends, have had to abandon the organic model, but the number of fruit and vegetable producers, who take fewer hectares, is increasing, and this also helps in diversifying the local supply," explains the president of CAAE, José Miguel Sanz.
At the moment there are more than 800 organic producers in Aragon, and the CAAE has set ambitious goals. "From the interest we are observing and the number of producers already in conversion periods, we expect to exceed 1,500 operators within two to three years," he points out.
Awaiting changes from Europe
It is worth keeping in mind that for a crop to receive an organic certification it must go through a period of three campaigns, which often entails a loss of production for the grower, and changes in the EU legislation are also expected.
Brussels is still debating the new regulation on organic farming, which met with some opposition, and which would allow organic food to contain small traces of plant protection products as long as this was the result of unintentional contamination; this, however, must be determined after an investigation by the competent authorities.
Source: heraldo.es