An organization of organic producers calls this Thursday for a “general mobilization” to help French organic farming in the face of falling consumption and the closure of outlets. “The government and all the actors active in the development of organic agriculture must react urgently so as not to watch with crossed arms the burial of France’s agroecological transition,” the National Federation of Organic Agriculture (Fnab) said in a press release. ). ).
He calls for “general mobilization” the day Agence bio publishes its figures for 2022, testifying to the crisis that this mode of production is experiencing without pesticides or synthetic chemical fertilizers. According to this agency responsible for the promotion and development of organic, the share of organic food products in the French shopping basket is decreasing, falling to 6% in 2022 (compared to 6.4% the previous year). .
By comparison, the organic quota exceeds 10% in other European countries such as Denmark or Austria, which have “very proactive” policies, the agency’s director, Laura Verdeau, said at a press conference.
drop in attendance
Sales of organic products for domestic consumption, which represent 92% of the sector’s points of sale, fell by 4.6% in value last year, standing at 12,000 million euros. “The biggest drop affects the 3,000 organic stores, with a drop in attendance and close to 200 closures,” said Laure Verdeau. Its sales fell by 8.6% and those of large distribution by 4.6%. On the contrary, the 26,000 organic farms for direct sale, “that combine organic and local, grow” (+ 3.9%), she adds.
In 2021, sales of organic products for home consumption (supermarkets, farm sales, etc.) had already fallen by 1.4%, the first drop since 2010. Sales of products for consumption outside the home have, for the On the contrary, it increased by 17% in 2022, the first year of full recovery of restaurant activity after the Covid-19 pandemic.
However, the share of organic food remains stable in collective catering (canteens) with 7% of purchases -still far from the 20% target set by law in 2018- and falls from 2% to 1% in the commercial restoration, for which “Everything remains to be done”, estimated Laure Verdeau.
The drop in purchases, in a context of high food inflation, is weighing heavily on organic producers, who are faced with unsold goods and falling prices. Agriculture Minister Marc Fesneau announced in mid-May a €60 million “crisis fund” to help farmers in difficulty, as well as measures to stimulate demand such as a commitment to state-run canteens ( ministry, army ) are “exemplary” in reaching the 20% organic target on the menu.
“A real brake”
An effort still largely insufficient for the Fnab, which had considered the State’s commitment at this stage “symbolic”. “We need the public authorities to approve the course, or the breeders run the risk of converting because the demand does not exist at the moment,” Philippe Sellier, president of the organic commission of the meat interprofessional (bovine, ovine) reacted to AFP on Thursday and goat). ) Interbev. “We can’t convince people to go organic if they can’t value their work,” added this Normandy cow farmer.
In 2022, 10.7% of agricultural land was cultivated organically, a figure that stagnated compared to 2021. France is expected to reach 18% in 2027. With falling demand, land is in the first year of reconversion towards this agriculture without pesticides or synthetics. fertilizers fell 40%. The balance between organic inflows and outflows “is still positive, but reflects a real slowdown in conversion dynamics,” according to the agency.
According to the road map drawn up by the Ministry of Agriculture, “we should already be at 12% of ecological surfaces with 320,000 hectares more than the figures published today,” laments Fnab.
Source: BFM TV
