Strengthening organic farming: Strategy for the Future of Organic Farming
Organic farming is a particularly resource-efficient, environmentally sound and sustainable form of agriculture that makes an important contribution to the conservation of species diversity and biodiversity. This is why, in their coalition agreement, the ruling parties agreed to aim for 30% organic production in the agricultural sector by 2030.
For this purpose, the Strategy for the Future of Organic Farming, which was published in 2017, will continue to be developed in order to provide a basis for the required policy framework.
The “Strategy for the Future of Organic Farming” aims to boost the growth of the organic farming and food sector. In its current version, it contains five lines of action and 24 action strategies.
The demand for organic products in Germany is increasing. In 2020, the organic market in Germany grew by 22% to 14.99 billion euros. German organic producers cannot fully meet this demand. In 2019/2020, an estimated 15% of organic grain, 28% of organic milk and 27% of organic pork was imported from abroad. There is market potential here, especially for small and medium-sized agricultural enterprises in Germany.
Focal points of the Strategy
The Strategy contains five action areas. They are core national areas for stronger growth in the organic sector. At the same time, they address important challenges that organic farming faces:
- designing a viable and coherent legislative framework;
- facilitating access to organic farming;
- fully utilising and continuing to expand the demand potential;
- improving the productivity of organic agri-systems; and
- providing adequate remuneration for environmental services.
The 24 specific action strategies provide the organic sector with additional growth impetus along the entire value adding chain They include the following:
- developing EU legislation on organic farming;
- intensive professional counselling and support for agricultural enterprises that decide to convert to organic farming;
- supporting canteens in offering guests more organic products in the future;
- legal and financial support instruments, research support, technology and knowledge transfer, and conceptual responsibilities of the federal government.
Implementation and funding
The Federal Scheme for Organic Farming and Other Forms of Sustainable Agriculture (BÖLN) and the Protein Crop Strategy (EPS) are core financial instruments for the implementation of the Strategy for the Future of Organic Farming.
The roadmap for the Strategy for the Future of Organic Farming describes time-frames and responsibilities for implementation of the Strategy. Some measures are already underway. Others are currently being prepared by the Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture and its subordinate agencies and institutions.
