A growing market for organics in Spain

The CAAE Association celebrates its 20th anniversary in 2011. The association certified more than 38,800 hectares of new organic land and 666 new operators in 2010 alone. The total organic area certified by the CAAE Certification Service in Andalusia and Castilla-la Mancha amounted to almost 830,000 hectares in 2010, an increase of about 5 %. This makes the CAAE Association the organic sector leader both at national and European level. 8,645 operators are working in the region - an increase of over 8 %. 7,931 of those operators were producers and 714 were processors. (Picture: CAAE inspector at work)
 
CAAE has a network of 11,106 members. In 2010, CAAE conducted more than 380 events itself and also attended numerous agricultural and food fairs and events in many different fields. Among the association’s main activity lines are the development of training programmes for professionals and outreach activities, like the Campamentos Ecológicos (Organic Summer Camp) and Semana Ecológica (Organic Week). In 2010, it held round tables, seminars, conferences and professional meetings focused on the development of the sector and the marketing of organic products - both aimed at increasing domestic consumption and exports. In addition to these activities, CAAE has focused on environmental conservation and the protection of biodiversity through sustainable farming and agricultural production. (Picture: CAAE Director General José Luis Garcia Melgarejo has a speech during the Organic Week)
 
CAAE revealed that the most important products (vegetal production) in terms of area were cereals, with more than 81,500 hectares (including grains, legumes, green manure and industrial crops), followed by olive groves, with a total of close to 49,00 hectares, nuts (29,200 hectares) and grapes (11,000 hectares). Economically important but less relevant in terms of area were vegetables (2,400 hectares), citrus fruit (2,400 ha), fruit (500 ha) and tubers (170 ha).

Regarding livestock production certified by CAAE, farms dedicated to beef cattle were most important (1,103). 810 sheep meat producers were counted, 245 farms with goats for the production of meat, and 20 poultry farms (meat and egg production). 65 farms with close to 22,000 hives practised beekeeping. Organic aquaculture is another growing sector in Spain. CAAE certified the products of Piscifactoría de Río Frío in Granada: trout, sturgeon and the only organic caviar in the world. CAAE expects that the supply of organic fish will be increased with new species such as bream and sea bass. (Picture: planting of an olive tree)

Additionally to the organic certification in accordance with the European Union regulation, the CAAE Certification Service processes other complementary certifications like the approvals for the organic markets in Japan “JAS” (14), in the Unites States “NOP” (1,108) and in Switzerland “Biosuisse” (45) or the quality certification for fruits and vegetables “Global Gap” (77). For inputs, CAAE has 135 certified industries.

Last year in September, a new farmers' market, the "Mercat Ecològic de Palma" (picture) was launched in Palma de Mallorca. There are about about 15 stalls offering organic products, aiming at selling 100 % local products. At this point of time, it still seems difficult to get a sufficient amount of local products.