Abstract
Although input use in organic agriculture is strictly regulated, and significantly less contentious inputs are applied in organic than in conventional farming systems, copper, mineral oil, external nutrient input, anthelmintics, antibiotics and vitamins are still commonly used among organic farmers in the EU, partly due to the scarce availability of alternative products and the difficulty of implementing preventive strategies. Moreover, besides the direction set by the European Commission’s organic regulation, only a handful of policy instruments exist at national levels to reduce the use of these contentious inputs. The purpose of this paper is to discuss the results of the RELACS EU-funded project about the current use of copper, mineral oils, external nutrient inputs, anthelmintics, antibiotics and vitamins in organic farming in the EU. The paper is based on six internal reports developed in RELACS which relied on international surveys, in-depth interviews, multiple case study methods, database-based calculations, secondary data sources, plus a survey independent from the reports to map existing policy instruments and voluntary initiatives in the EU aiming to reduce the use of the six input categories. As a result, the paper gives a comprehensive overview of the current consumption of the six contentious inputs within the organic sector, highlighting potential alternative strategies in the pipeline, available preventive measures and the willingness of farmers towards adopting these solutions. It also informs about specific policy instruments already in force, as well as about ongoing voluntary initiatives to reduce contentious inputs. Due to the current dependence of organic farming systems on the six categories of contentious inputs, any sudden phase-out or ban on their usage would do more harm than good to the organic sector. Therefore, gradual, data-driven reduction measures are needed, which require significant further investments in targeted research, and in policy support measures, with the active involvement of agricultural stakeholders.
Highlights
The organic sector has experienced tremendous growth in recent decades in the European Union
Surveys and interviews were conducted to gain insight into the use of copper, mineral oils, anthelmintics and antibiotics and their available alternatives in organic farming, while for external nutrient input usage, a multiple case study method complemented with an expert panel consultation was applied
With regard to copper use in organic farming in the EU, the statistical review complemented by survey results reflect 115 crops and crop categories covering 2.9 million ha of arable and horticultural land in total and provide a comparison of their authorized and effective copper use
Summary
The organic sector has experienced tremendous growth in recent decades in the European Union. In 2019, organic farming was practiced on 14.6 million hectares, resulting in an 8.1% share of the total agricultural area of the EU [1]. The European Union is the second largest market for organic products in the world [1]. The continuity of this growth will be further boosted until 2030 by the targets of the European Commission’s Farm to Fork strategy. The Farm to Fork strategy sets the goal for organic farmland to reach a 25% share of the EU’s total agricultural area by 2030, while substantially reducing the use of chemical inputs (pesticides by 50%, fertilizers by 20%) and nutrient loss (by 50%) [2]. In order to achieve the 25% organic farmland target, the European Commission has issued an Organic Action Plan in 2021 with 23 actions, including the intention to earmark funding under Horizon Europe for research and innovation projects on alternative approaches to contentious inputs and to foster the use of alternative plant protection products through farm advisory services [3]
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