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France to cut support for booming organic farming

During the first semester of 2017, the number of farmers converting to organic increased by 9.2% according to the latest report by Agence Bio.

This growth is fuelled by strong demand from French consumers. “Today, there is a strong demand for organic products, much stronger than in the past”, said Jean-Michel Borja, a winemaker in the Drôme.

According to the latest figures by the French organic agency, consumers are increasingly buying organic products. 58% of French believe that organic agriculture is a solution for environmental problems and should be further developed.

In 2016, the organic market was worth €7 billion – a 7% growth compared to 2016. A growth which is not limited to France.

In five years, organically farmed land in the 28 European member states has grown by 21% to 11.1 million hectares in 2015, compared to only 9 million hectares in 2010 according to Eurostat.

Farmers converting to organic agriculture receive support from the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) but organic farmers in France will soon cease to receive state support of their sustainable farming practices.

These payments, meant to offset some of the increased costs linked to organic production, will be scrapped in 2018. The government wants to enhance conversion incentives.

Read more at Euractiv (Cécile Barbière)
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