Organic in France 2018 Figures

The Agence Bio report on organic production and consumption in France in 2018 has just been published, 4th June. The results are rather astounding. 2018 saw 5,000 new organic farms being set up, or converted to organic production. There is now 41,600 organic farms in France making up 9.5% of the total number of farms. Organic production has doubled in France in 5 years. In 2018 organic farm land passed the symbolic 2 million hectares, that is 7.5% of all the agricultural land is now organic. The main growth areas have been in organic cereals, vineyards and fruit and vegetables.

The growth in the organic sector is not just at the agricultural level, there has been a 12% year on year growth in the number of companies that transform organic produce, making a 49% increase in numbers in the last five years.

In 2018 18, 714 new jobs were created in the organic sector. 14% of all agricultural workers now work in the organic sector. The broader organic sector now employs 155, 347 full time employees, double that of 2012.

On the consumption side the French organic sector has grown 15% year on year and now represents 9.7 billion euros, or 5% of the total food sales in France.

Imports have stayed constant 1t 31% of all organic produce consumed in France, down to 18% if you exclude tropical produce. The expansion of the Made in France organic sector has kept a loyal clientele and grown alongside the market.

Source Agence Bio

For the full report and figures for Organic in France 2018 the PDF report is here

Here in the Region of Occitanie, the biggest producer of organic produce in France,  the figures for 2018 are