France: organic farmers and industrialists sound the alarm against inflation
After ten years of double-digit growth, the organic market is being hit by inflation, with consumers falling back on cheaper products.
RFI / Marc Etcheverry
Text by: RFI Follow
2 mins
In the midst of rising food prices, consumers can no longer keep up and fall back on products that are cheaper than organic food.
While the Agricultural Show is being held in Paris, the profession wants to challenge the politicians who will be visiting their various stands.
Farmers are irritated by the government's lack of action.
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After ten years of double-digit growth, the organic market is being hit by inflation, with consumers falling back on cheaper products.
Last year, organic sales fell 7.4% in supermarkets over one year, according to panelist NielsenIQ.
A drop which is even more marked in the specialized network (Biocoop, Naturalia, Comptoirs de la bio), at -12%, according to two brands.
"
France is letting the organic sectors sink into the crisis without reacting
", deplore in a joint press release the organizations of organic producers and industrialists.
In a rare movement of mood on this subject, the FNSEA and Young Farmers unions, the Chambers of Agriculture and the Agricultural Cooperation judge that the response of the Ministry of Agriculture “at this stage of the discussions is not satisfactory
”
.
“
The 60,000 farms [out of around 390,000] involved in organic today deserve support that is commensurate with the crisis they have been through
”, defend these four organizations.
► Also to listen: Organic food, a weakened economic model
[#CP] The #organic sector in crisis: it is urgent to support producers and the sector!
The 60,000 farms involved deserve support commensurate with the crisis!
Our press release here 👇 pic.twitter.com/54JxS9U2o7
– The FNSEA (@FNSEA) February 23, 2023
Direct support requested
They also deem unrealistic the official objective of reaching 18% of the French useful agricultural area in organic by 2027, against 10.3% in 2021. And this, while conversions are stopped for lack of outlets and that farmers must switch back to conventional production.
"
The deconversion [from organic to conventional] is the worst thing that can happen to us
," Agriculture Minister Marc Fesneau told reporters on Wednesday.
“
We are trying to look at how we can accompany this moment
”, he sketched, recalling that orders from canteens should feed demand.
Objectives had been set for collective catering, supposed to introduce on January 1, 2022 at least 20% organic products in its purchases.
"
We are at 6%
" today, said the minister.
At the previous Agricultural Show, as well as last December, the ministry announced aid to finance communication campaigns in favor of organic products.
But it is direct support for producers that is demanded.
(with
AFP
)
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