According to the European Court of Auditors, organic farming is a rapidly growing sector in the EU, and the area on which this type of agriculture is practiced has almost doubled in the last decade, while the demand for organic products has tripled.

In 2020, the organic food and beverage market in the EU reached sales of 45 billion euros, placing the EU second in the world in terms of organic food consumption.

The European Court of Auditors has launched an audit to assess whether the EU support for organic farming has been well designed and implemented.

Organic farming involves the use of sustainable agricultural practices for crop cultivation and animal rearing. This sector is considered essential for achieving EU objectives in terms of climate and environment.

Farmers practicing organic agriculture rely on natural processes and substances to maintain soil fertility, control pests and diseases, and promote animal health and welfare.

"The European Union faces the challenge of ensuring food security for its citizens while greening the agricultural sector and reducing pollution and environmental pressure. Organic farming is a way to improve the sustainability of agriculture, and the EU has ambitious goals in this field.

For organic practices to yield results, they need to be properly supported, both through funding and a comprehensive policy framework. The Court's audit will examine whether such support exists and what improvements could be made to ensure that taxpayers' money is well spent," said Ms. Keit Pentus-Rosimannus, the Court member responsible for this audit.

According to Eurostat, the share of agricultural land in the EU used for organic farming has increased from 5.9% in 2012 to 9.1% in 2020. Meanwhile, through the "Farm to Fork" and Biodiversity Strategies for 2030, the European Commission has set a target for 25% of EU agricultural land to be dedicated to organic farming by 2030.

Organic farming is regulated and certified at the EU level. The Commission supports the development of organic agriculture primarily through the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP), which also covers other environmentally and climate-friendly farming practices (see also the Court's Report No 16/2021 on climate and the CAP). Between 2014 and 2022, the EU has spent 9.1 billion euros through the CAP to help farmers transition to or maintain organic farming practices.

In this audit, the Court will examine the framework of measures created and implemented by the Commission and the member states, specifically assessing their effectiveness and adequacy in promoting sustainable organic agriculture and achieving related objectives.