The agricultural area under organic farming in the EU continues to grow, reaching 16.9 million ha in 2022, compared to 15.9 million ha in 2021 and 14.7 million ha in 2020, according to data that was recently published by Eurostat. While the trend of organic farming attracts more and more Europeans, in Romania the area under organic farming represents only 5 percent, while in the case of Moldovan farmers these indicators are even lower, IPN reports, with reference to Euractiv and Ecopresa.
The data shows that in 2022, the area used for organic agricultural production in the EU was equivalent to 10.5% of the utilized agricultural area.
Between 2012 and 2022, the area increased in almost all the EU countries. The highest expansion rates in the period were recorded in Croatia (+306%), Portugal (+278%), and Bulgaria (+182%).
The largest areas under organic farming areas were in Austria (27%), Estonia (23%), and Sweden (20%). In contrast, these areas were below 5% in five EU countries in 2022, with the lowest shares in Malta (below 1%), Bulgaria and Ireland (both 2%).
Compared to the growing European data, during the same years the Republic of Moldova saw a decrease in the area of agricultural land used for organic farming.
According to data provided by certification bodies, the area of agricultural land certified organic or in conversion in 2022 decreased by 1,102.86 ha compared to 2021. Moreover, until 2020, the area included in the organic system increased year after year, up to about 29,000 ha, after which the indicators decreased. Currently, less than 2% of the total agricultural area of the Republic of Moldova is cultivated in this way.
The Moldovans manage to obtain organic production of wheat and sunflower, corn, soybeans, peas, walnuts, potatoes, leeks, eggplants, parsley and parsnips, but also of medicinal and aromatic plants, such as lavender and mustard, and other products. Unfortunately, however, the quantities are small.
