New Law in Andalusia to Promote Organic Food Production

Many Andalusian olive oil producers are involved in what is described as a major push to expand organic farming in the region.

In Spain, Andalusian local authorities have allowed the preliminary drafting of a new law designed to boost organic food consumption. The new law is heralded as a significant push to expand regional organic production.

Local authorities explained that the new law would address the low levels of organic food consumption in Andalusia. Only 2.3 percent of all local food comes from organic products.

Once approved, the new measure will include a series of promotional campaigns involving different media, including institutional communication campaigns.

According to its promoters, the law will provide updated information systems, allowing improved access to the sector’s statistics. The new information systems should ease the exchange of communication and ideas among participating entities and advisors.

Support for organic production research will also be included in the new measure. One of the country’s most relevant farming research institutions, the Agricultural and Fisheries Research and Training Institute (IFAPA), is already deeply involved in determining the scientific basis for developing organic agriculture in Andalusia.

The new law should absorb at least 15 percent of the budget of the Rural Development Plan. Other funds will come directly from the regional government budget.

As reported by Asaja Jaén, the secretary to Agriculture in the Andalusian government, Carmen Crespo, noted that the community has already turned 29.7 percent of its production to organic, nearly five points above the 25 percent goal that the European Union set by 2030.

Crespo underlined how 1.3 million hectares of Andalusian territory are now involved in organic production, with more than 3,000 companies and almost 5,500 livestock farms operating in the sector.

The largest portion of organic farmland is pastures, meadows and fodder (875,000 hectares). Organic olive groves make up 117.380 hectares, much more than the area occupied by organic nuts, cereals, legumes and other crops.

According to the latest data from the Andalusian government, the organic farming sector in the region is expanding significantly.

From 2020 to 2021, the number of local organic producers, food processing companies and related import and marketing firms went from approximately 21,500 to almost 30,000. 493 organic olive oil millers, bottlers, and packers are currently active.

Crespo further acknowledged the interest of Andalusian farmers and entrepreneurs in the project.