French farmers face declining demand for organic food

Organic farmers in France are facing a significant drop in demand for organic food. After experiencing good growth during the Covid-19 pandemic, sales have declined sharply. Many consumers are now more cautious about their food spending amid rising inflation. Pierre Gratacos, an apple producer, noted that organic produce is often more expensive because it is harder to grow. Organic apple trees yield less fruit compared to conventional trees, leading to higher prices. Today, organic apples cost about 25 to 30 percent more than regular ones. Gratacos believes that consumers are willing to pay more for organic food, but middlemen in the supply chain are not ready to support these prices. Only about 6 percent of food consumed in France is organic. This decline in demand has caused many farmers to rethink their business models. In 2023, there were around 61,000 organic farms in France, a drop of 1.3 percent from the previous year. Interest from new farmers in going organic is waning, as they face challenges in securing investment and navigating the market. Philippe Camburet, president of the National Organic Agriculture Federation, highlighted the need for more support for aspiring organic farmers. Without strong consumer demand, many potential farmers are hesitant to enter the organic sector. The recent agricultural reform law aimed to address farmers’ concerns but has faced criticism for weakening environmental protections. Some believe that the law does not do enough to support organic farming, despite maintaining a goal to increase organic agriculture to 21 percent by 2030. Experts say that attention must be focused on changing consumer perceptions and increasing awareness about organic farming. The Agence Bio has launched a campaign to promote organic products. They stress the importance of connecting consumers with farmers to help grow the organic market.