Some 5% of Romania’s agricultural land is dedicated to organic farming. Also, 14,000 operators in Romania are active in organic farming. The data were presented by Viorel M Morărescu, a representative of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development of Romania, during a public debate titled “Agricultural chambers in the European Union, models for the Republic of Moldova”. According to the Romanian official, the European Union’s target is to increase the area of agricultural land for organic crops to 25%.
According to the head of the Plant Sector Policy Department within the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development of Romania, by 2030 the European Union aims to ensure that 25% of the agricultural potential is intended for organic agriculture. Romania also aims to stimulate organic agriculture and offer healthy and safe products to consumers.
“I also serve as Romania’s ambassador for the development of the organic agriculture sector. A few years ago, at European Union level, the goal of increasing the area of organic farming was set. The target is quite ambitious - that 25% of the agricultural area of the European Union will be intended for organic farming. Based on this target, a European plan for the development of the organic farming sector was worked out, based on three axes: stimulating consumption and increasing consumer confidence; stimulating production, and axis three is based on research and sustainability. Based on this structure, each member state of the European Union had the obligation to develop its own national plan for the development of the organic farming sector. We have achieved this together with agencies, the Ministries of Health, Environment and the Academy of Agricultural and Forestry Sciences. Organic farming comes with high-quality products, safe products, without chemical fertilizers. Healthy eating is a component of quality of life,” said the representative of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development of Romania.
He also said that in recent years, the area of agricultural land for organic crops has been considerably increased. Also, the number of certified organic farming operators has grown.
“At European Union level, between 2011 and 2020, we have an increase in the share of organic agriculture of 62%, to about 7.5 million hectares. At national level, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development is responsible for the organic farming sector. The ministry assigned particular duties to 15 certification and control bodies that are accredited to carry out inspection and certification of operators in organic agriculture. These bodies are private and have very clear procedures, norms and specialists in each field in which the inspection is carried out. They certify the products. In the last three years, the organic farming sector has followed an upward trend, both in terms of areas and production. We have ensured organic farming on 5% of Romania’s agricultural area. It goes to almost 700,000 hectares. 14,000 operators are in organic farming. I consider this is quite a large number and from year to year this number increases,” stated Viorel Morărescu.
The public debate entitled “Agricultural chambers in the European Union, models for the Republic of Moldova” was the fourth installment of the project “Double integration through cooperation and information. Continuity”, which is funded by the Department for Relations with the Republic of Moldova. The content of this debate does not represent the official position of the Department for Relations with the Republic of Moldova.
