Organic farming: local leaders call for a stronger role in the implementation and evaluation of the action plan

The CoR welcomes the EU action plan for organic farming and endorses its comprehensive approach. The aim of the action plan is to increase the production and consumption of organic products, thereby reducing the use of fertilisers, pesticides and antimicrobials. Under three axes - increasing consumption, increasing production and further improving the sustainability of the sector - 23 actions are proposed.

The rapporteur on EU action plan for organic farming, Uroš Brežan (SI/Greens), mayor of Tolmin, said: “Increasing support to organic farming is urgent, in order to ensure the achievement of the 25% target of agricultural land devoted to organics by 2030. We must ensure that the next Common Agricultural Policy will contribute to the European Green Deal and to the Farm to Fork and Biodiversity strategies' targets. Local and regional authorities have a key role in the creation and development of 'biodistricts' and structuring the organic sector. Thus, local and regional authorities should be closely associated in both the implementation and the evaluation of the action plan through a network at the regional level. We call the Commission to set up such a network.”

Local leaders emphasised their key role in raising awareness at local level, informing consumers about the positive impact of organic farming and developing educational programmes for nurseries and schools. The opinion points out that local and regional authorities have a key role also in structuring the organic sector in terms of production, logistics and trade, facilitating structured cooperation between producers and consumers.

To stimulate the production side, all European and national policies must be mobilised to increase the consumption of organic products, stressed local leaders. In 2019, the EU had an organic land area of approximately 8%, while subsidies for organic farming represent only 1.5% of the total European agricultural budget. Organic farming is underfunded under the CAP, which is currently not fully consistent with the objectives of the Organic Farming Action Plan. Moreover, the opinion recommends the Commission to thoroughly evaluate the CAP national strategic plans submitted by the Member States in order to monitor that they will contribute to achieving the target of 25% of agricultural land devoted to organic farming by 2030.

The CoR welcomes the recognition of Bio districts as effective rural development tools. In the geographical area of a Bio district, farmers, the public, local public administrations, associations and commercial tourist and cultural enterprises enter into an agreement for the sustainable management of local resources based on principles and methods of organic production and consumption. Such regions in particular should therefore receive support and common services via a network to be set up by the European Commission.

Webstreaming : On the web​​site of the CoR.