It was all over the news: organic fraud in Spain! I wonder if anyone could have really been surprised about that.
The Organic Market
Consumer demands drive market segments, in particular the latest trend about healthy living and organic produce – mainly driven by millennials. Latest research shows that 30 percent of organic consumers are less than 25 years old.
The global organic food and beverage market is expected to reach a size of more than $ 320 bn by 2025, with an incredible CAGR of 13% forecasted. Fruits and vegetables are the largest organic food segment. And what are the major products of Spain? Fruits and vegetables.
The organic farming in Spain is growing continuously. In 2018, the certified organic acreage exceeded two million hectares, taking the lead in Europe. Last year, Spain’s organic market grew 12.5% , worth € 1.68 bn, on track to reach € 2 bn this year. This extreme growth propelled Spain into the top 10 national organic markets and it’s taking 5th place globally by acreage.
What is the gain for farmers? Organic agriculture is boosting crop revenues, and according to the European Commission, some farmers could boost their profits from € 50/ha to € 300/ha in five years. What more incentive does it need for fraud?
The Controls
Looking the the most recently published EFSA pesticide report (we remember that most pesticides are not permitted on organic produce), it shows that the door to organic fraud is wide open.
While Germany had almost 20000 samples analysed in 2017, which equals 24.2 samples per 100000 inhabitants, and Bulgaria 5100 samples, equal to 72 samples per 100000 samples, Spain, the country with the largest certified organic acreage in Europe, only had 2300 samples analysed, equaling 5 samples per 100000 inhabitants.
The Questions
The questions that need answers are:
- Why are so few samples analysed for pesticides per 100000 inhabitants in a primary agricultural production country like Spain?
And while pesticides are just one indicator that a product is not organic, it is usually the one that is easiest to analyse for. - Why did the competent authorities not become suspicious sooner?
With such enormous growth rates of the organic market in Spain, fraud always lurks around the corner. - Which measures will be implemented to prevent organic fraud in future?
Organic fraud is usually accompanied by organic certificates. Here, according to some sources, false certificates have also been issued. How will the certification business be controlled better to prevent this?
It should not really be surprising that organic fraud happened in Spain, and the 470 tons of vegetables seized by Europol recently are most likely only the tip of the iceberg.
