A new report by IFOAM Organics Europe highlights how much of the national CAP budgets will need to be dedicated to organic farming in all Member States to reach the EU Farm to Fork and Biodiversity Strategies’ average target of 25% organic land by 2030.
According to research IFOAM Organics Europe commissioned, the European Union should dedicate 3 to 5 times the current amount of CAP budget dedicated to conversion and maintenance of organic farming from 2023 onwards. Depending on their potential national target, baseline, and payments rates, in some cases, Member States should dedicate 10 times more national budget to organic support measures.
“Achieving 25% organic land in the EU by 2030 will only be achievable if Member States dedicate a much higher share of the CAP budget to organic conversion and maintenance”
Jan Plagge, IFOAM Organics Europe’s President said: “Despite the disappointing deal on the CAP Strategic Plans Regulation, Member States still face a huge responsibility to ensure that the next CAP will address the collapse of our biodiversity and the climate crisis. Conventional farmers should be incentivised to transition to organic farming, and organic farmers should be properly rewarded for the public goods they deliver by producing quality food while protecting nature. Increased support to organic farming is a smart public policy tool to ensure that the next CAP will contribute to the Green Deal and to the Farm to Fork and Biodiversity strategies targets. Achieving 25% organic land in the EU by 2030 will only be achievable if Member States dedicate a much higher share of the CAP budget to organic conversion and maintenance compared to what is currently envisaged in most countries.”
Eric Gall, IFOAM Organics Europe’s Policy Manager and Deputy Director added: “The organic movement is concerned that, despite a clear EU target to triple the organic area in 10 years, several governments currently envisage to lower national payment rates to organic farming in their draft CAP Strategic Plans, or foresee clearly insufficient budgets to achieve their own ambition. With the new EU Organic Action Plan and the right policy incentives to increase both the production and demand for organic products, reaching the 25% target is achievable, provided Member States dedicate an adequate budget and payment rates to organic farmers in their CAP Strategic Plans.”
Photo by Stijn te Strake on Unsplash
