Organic farming in Catalonia sets new record highs again

This week the Catalan Council for Organic Agricultural Production presented its 2023 report on organic farming in Catalonia, showing an increase in both farmed area and operators on last year. Turnover (2022) grew by +8.74% (€1.294 billion) on the previous year. Over the past decade organic turnover has multiplied sevenfold.

At the presentation, the director of Agriculture and Livestock at the Department of Climate Action, Food and Rural Agenda, Elisenda Guillaumes, highlighted that "in Catalonia we have reached 22.5% of useful organic farmland, bringing us closer to the 25% target for 2030 set out in the Farm to Fork strategy approved in 2021 under the European Green Deal; so we are well on track".

For his part, the president of the Catalan Council for Organic Agricultural Production (CCPAE), David Torrelles, who presented the detailed figures, said that "despite the various crises we are going through — raw material prices, drought and others — the Catalan organic sector shows once again that it is holding up and continuing to grow".

Key figures by segment

During 2023, organic operators increased by 6%, with 5,333 now registered with the CCPAE. Over the past decade this figure has grown 115.91%.

As regards organic area, 283,591 hectares were reached in 2023, a 3.92% increase on the previous year. Over the past decade the area registered with the Council has grown 152.29%. Vineyards stand out as the largest organic crop, growing 11.25% in 2023 to 32,353 ha.

As for organic livestock farming, 2023 closed with 1,135 livestock farms registered with the CCPAE, a 3.56% increase on the previous year. Over the past decade the organic livestock sector has grown 70.16%. Beef cattle is the largest organic livestock subsector in Catalonia and grew 5.23% last year. 

In the field of organic processing and marketing agribusiness, 2023 ended with a total of 2,886 organic agri-food activities registered with the Council, up 3.43%. Over the past decade this agri-food industry has grown 222.75%.

Export growth

As for where organic products are sold, 41% stays in Catalonia, 26% goes to the rest of Spain, 17% to other European Union countries and 16% is exported to third countries. Although not the main destination, exports outside the EU grew 67.59% in 2023. The country to which Catalonia exports the most organic food is the United States, mostly wines, cavas and oils.