A recent audit by the European Court of Auditors has revealed that EU member states are applying EU funds inconsistently and not adhering to basic principles of organic farming. Despite €12 billion of EU money being allocated to support organic farming since 2014, production has not increased significantly. The audit found that lack of conditionality requiring farmers to produce organic products in return for funds, as well as an inability to measure environmental benefits, were key reasons for the low rate of organic production, which currently accounts for only 4% of the total EU food market.
The audit also highlighted significant variations in the uptake of organic farming practices across EU countries, with countries like Austria having more than 25% of agricultural land farmed organically, while countries like Bulgaria and Poland have less than 5%. The auditors warned that in order to meet the EU’s non-binding target of increasing organic agricultural land by 25% by 2030, uptake of organic farming practices would need to double.
The audit raised concerns about the inconsistent allocation of EU funds to organic farmers, as well as the common practice of using non-organic seeds when planting organic crops. The European Commission was urged to develop a comprehensive EU policy for the organic sector, while member states were encouraged to dedicate national policies to support organic farming. EU auditors stressed the importance of promoting a thriving organic industry that is driven by informed consumers, rather than one reliant on EU funds.
The European organic movement expressed hope that the EU institutions would act on the recommendations of the audit and work towards unlocking the full potential of biological food production. They look forward to seeing how the EU’s ‘Vision for Agriculture and Food’ will address the challenges highlighted in the audit.
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