The Andalusian Government has approved the Bill to Promote and Boost Organic Production and other certified agricultural, fishing, and aquaculture productions in Andalusia, which will now be forwarded to the Andalusian Parliament for processing. The ultimate goal of this law is to contribute to a more sustainable and balanced development of Andalusia by promoting the growth of domestic consumption of these foods to align demand with the current Andalusian supply.
Furthermore, the law also aims to strengthen the leading position currently held by the region. Andalusia is a benchmark in Organic Production with over 21,500 operators and around 1.5 million hectares implementing this model, representing 50% of Spain’s organic extension. Another example of Andalusia’s commitment to sustainability certification is the implementation of Integrated Production systems, covering approximately 433,000 hectares and involving around 45,000 producers in the region.
In fact, another objective of the new Andalusian law is to emphasize the compatibility and coexistence of Organic Production with other existing certified sustainable models. Certified production is understood as that which, endorsed by the Administration and evaluated by external entities in accordance with the Andalusian Agri-Food Quality Law, is accredited for complying with more stringent sustainable practices regulations than national and European standards.
Among the initiatives included in the law is the prioritization of these foods in contracts signed by public administrations related to hospitality, catering, and food services. This includes supply contracts for educational, health, and socio-healthcare facilities. Additionally, the law stipulates that the Andalusian government will promote the adoption of Organic Production in the agricultural and forestry areas of the region and include specific actions for organic foods in the promotion plans of Andalusian agri-food production.
Regarding support, the Bill mentions the priority given to applicants with certified productions and advocates for the issuance of subsidies to support promotional activities of organic foods at points of sale. Furthermore, the law underscores the importance of the Andalusian government promoting the promotion of certified products in the Horeca sector (hospitality, catering, and restaurants) and their participation in professional fairs.
Additionally, the law establishes the creation of the ‘Andalusian Organic Production Award’ to recognize individuals or companies for their technical, business, industrial, commercial, or research activities; and aims to boost the direct sale of these foods at farms and markets through the establishment of an Andalusian Network of Municipalities with Local Organic Markets. Moreover, the law proposes a 50% discount on the optional veterinary services fee for organic livestock farms.
A specific section is dedicated to research, innovation, consultancy, and knowledge transfer, which also refers to training related to certified productions. This section involves universities and technological centers in Andalusia and highlights the conservation of native livestock breeds as a specific merit to be considered in the allocation of aid related to these production systems.
Andalusian Organic Production
The area of Andalusian Organic Production has been experiencing a positive growth trend in recent years. Specifically, it has increased by 50% since 2017. In general, the largest area is dedicated to Andalusian organic pastures. Following are the olive groves, which represent 9% of the total hectares of Organic Production in Andalusia; cereals, legumes, and industrial crops, together accounting for 7%; and nuts, which also cover 7% of the Andalusian area under this model. When focusing solely on cultivated agricultural land, the region reaches 475,000 hectares dedicated mainly to olive groves (28% of the area), nuts (24%), and industrial crops and cereals, including rice (21%).
In terms of livestock, the region boasts 6,200 organic farms, representing 58% of the national total. The most prominent are beef cattle, which account for over half of Andalusia’s organic farms. Following them are sheep meat farms (34%) and goat meat farms (7%). The Andalusian organic agri-industrial sector comprises a total of 3,353 industrial activities and 986 processors.
In the case of land under Integrated Production techniques, the majority of Andalusian land dedicated to this sustainable model is focused on olive groves. Specifically, olive cultivation occupies about 75% of the over 430,000 hectares in Andalusia. It is followed by cotton (8.8%), rice (5.4%), protected horticultural crops (2.8%), and sugar beet (1.4%).
The rice production stands out for its high implementation of Integrated Production. In fact, nearly 99% of the cultivated rice area in Andalusia applies this type of production system. The percentage is close to 80% for cotton and red fruits; it reaches around 65% for sugar beet; and exceeds 60% for tomato crops for processing.