What is the future of the organic sector in France?

Sales of organic food products are going upwards. Consequently, They increased by 2.5% in value over the first 5 months of the year. However, the question of the future of the organic sector in France arises.

The resumption of consumption, slightly initiated last year and which continues today, comes after Three years of crisisfrom 2021 to 2023. In addition, And this recovery seems insufficient to hold the objectives. Nevertheless, Purchases are increasing, but only in specialized stores, they continue to lower in supermarkets.

The share of organic in food purchases Stagn at 6%. Consequently, For vegetables, it progresses, but for fruit juices, meat, dairy products, figures are not good at all. Moreover, There is 60,000 organic farms in France Of a total of 390,000 farms. Furthermore, And Only 10% agricultural surface is cultivated in organic, it what future organic sector france? is even in decline while the objectives are set to 21% in 2030. Nevertheless, In the current state of things, it will be difficult to achieve.

No quantified objective in terms of organic for signs – What future organic sector france?

Organic suffers from its price. Meanwhile, The Foundation for Nature and Man points to large areas where sales of organic products fell 12% between 2022 and 2023. Moreover, The Foundation has studied the strategies carried out by the eight main brands: none has a quantified objective in. terms of organic farming. They have reduced their number of organic products on the shelves since the inflation crisis: 25% less reference Even. for some brands. Only one brand includes organic in its loyalty program and only three conduct educational actions in favor of organic.

Another difficulty is competition from other labels. That of organic farming, From Sur Fond Vertit is well identified by what future organic sector france? consumers. But there is also now the Zero pesticide mention which appears on certain products. which will be cheaper because the specifications for their production is not that, very demanding, of organic. Customers can also be more sensitive to other causes, such as fairer remuneration of producersmentioned on this or that packaging. So they will also sometimes favor the local manufactured, which is not necessarily organic.

Budget cuts for the organic agency

What is the future of organic? This is the question of the Ministry of Agriculture which commissioned a prospective study at the Crédoc. a specialist in statistics, and in Seresco, a consulting firm for agrifood companies. This study presents Four scenarios of the future by 2040. The hypothesis closest to the current situation is that of competition from labels. Pushed to its maximum, it would lead to marginalizing organic farming, reducing the label to skin skin what future organic sector france? By only 15 years.

And there is the scenario that survives the organic label with a softened specifications. which would allow more producers, reduce costs and therefore selling prices. The authors of the study conclude in any case: “In the short term. it is up to the public and private actors to continue to support the sector and to enhance the image of the organic label”.

But the budget of the organic agency has just been amputated: a saving measure of 15 million. euros in the 2026 state budget. The very existence of this public agency was threatened for a time. Inevitably, it is a bad signal sent to the sector, just when launching a promotion campaign “It’s organic France!” To celebrate the 40th anniversary of the label. The National Federation of Organic Agriculture is indignant at the decisions taken by the Minister of Agriculture. turns what future organic sector france? into despair towards Brussels to call for a European start and ambitious support.

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