Organic farming: double-digit rise in revenues
October 15, 2019 at 1:15 PM ,
Der AUDITOR
Total revenues rise by 8.6%
While conventional farmers witnessed a decline in sales revenues to EUR 43.55 billion in 2018, total revenues rose by 8.6% to as much as EUR 2.393 billion in the organic sector. At 46% plant-based products constitute a larger share in revenues in organic farming than in conventional farming, where 63% of revenues are generated with animal products.
Nevertheless, animal products also generated the highest rises in revenues in the organic sector. The largest rise in revenues was witnessed in the dairy sector as revenues for organic milk rose by 18% to EUR 550 million. Although prices remained largely stable, sales volumes increased considerably. Revenues for organic pig climbed by 16% and for organic poultry by 25%.
Notable increases were also recorded for eggs, vegetables and cereals and fruit as revenues ranged at EUR 309 and 205 million. Although acreage for organic cereals increased by 11.9% in 2018, the drought witnessed throughout the summer caused production to decline by 5%. The high domestic demand for organic oilseeds and the experience gained in cultivating organic oilseeds prompted a 36% rise in acreage. The sales revenues for organic oilseeds and organic sugar beets have also risen sharply
Germany lags behind in the European ranking
Organically managed acreage has risen by 10.8% to 1.52 million hectares in 2018, 41% of which is arable land. The share of organically managed agricultural land has thereby climbed by 1% to 9.1%. With this figure, however, Germany lags way behind other countries on the European ranking. There are nine countries in which organic agricultural acreage ranges above 10%. Austria ranks first with 24%, followed by Estonia, Sweden and Italy.
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