Original source in AGRONEGOCIOS: 20 January 2026.
By Carlos Gregorio Hernández Díaz-Ambrona. Professor of Plant Production at the Universidad Politécnica de Madrid (ETSIAAB, CEIGRAM, itdUPM).
Spain is a leader in organic production in the European Union. Organic farming, also known as ecological or biological farming in Spain, is a model of agriculture regulated by the European Parliament and the Council of the European Union through Regulation (EU) 2018/848 on organic production and labelling of organic products and its derived standards. It is subject to control by the administration where the farm is located or where the importer or exporter operates. Organic production is a voluntary production system; there is no obligation to be organic. At a turbulent time for agriculture due to the agreement with Mercosur and the uncertainties of the European Green Deal, organic farming is showing its strengths, but also some weaknesses. The European Green Deal set the target of achieving 25% of the average agricultural area of the European Union certified for organic production by 2030. At first glance, this seemed a very ambitious goal. In the case of Spain, according to the latest data from the Ministry of Agriculture, 12.3% of the usable agricultural area will be certified by 2024. It may seem that we are halfway there and that it will be impossible to reach the target in four years, but today we know how it can be achieved, as shown by the regions of Andalusia, Catalonia and Murcia, which exceed that percentage.
These data show that it is possible to achieve the target, but also that there is great regional inequality, with some regions having barely 3% of their land certified.
We should remember that agricultural policy has been transferred to the autonomous communities. I believe we should learn how some communities have achieved this goal and why others have not. We need to review how organic farming committees work and share best practices. In areas where organic production covers a larger area or has a higher concentration of operators, conditions are more favourable for conversion to organic farming, as they generate a specialised commercial network. It is worth noting that, in response to the crisis in the wine sector, the Penedès designation of origin decided to go organic, and from the 2025 harvest onwards, all its wines will carry this certification.
The global market for organic production shows an uneven distribution between cultivated area, number of operators and consumers. This division is reproduced at all scales. The countries with the largest area under organic production are exporting countries or regions, such as Mercosur, Argentina and Brazil; exporting farms specialise in higher value-added products and adapt to the buyer. The largest number of operators is concentrated in areas where the percentage of the population engaged in agriculture is high, as is the case in India and some African countries. Consumption, which is determined by purchasing power, is concentrated in high-income countries such as Switzerland, Denmark and Austria. This model is also replicated at European and national level.
The certification model is rigid, but it is common to all. It establishes standards based on principles that are questioned. There is debate about the scientific scope of the principles applied, which require regulatory review. For example, the standard authorises the use of biodynamic products, but these products are not regulated by any law. It also classifies all organic farming as sustainable, without the need to study its sustainability, knowing that there are no common criteria for its analysis. The case of Almería and Murcia is paradigmatic, as it is home to both intensive and organic farming models. There is also confusion among consumers, who believe that organic products are free of plant protection products, but the reality is quite different, as more and more plant protection products are being authorised for organic farming. Indeed, organic farming also uses plant protection products. The two major limitations faced by farmers are that the only possible source of nitrogen fertilisation is biological fixation, mainly through legumes, with animal manure being a mere intermediary, and the absence of herbicides. The availability of nitrogen determines potential productivity, and soil management determines the control of spontaneous vegetation. Both elements increase production costs compared to conventional farming. I would like to draw attention to the use of plastics, which is not specifically regulated in organic farming, but I believe that regulation should begin, at least to minimise their use when there are no recycling plans.
Organic production in Spain is focused on international trade, mainly in Europe. It competes under equal regulatory conditions. The model is based on the premise that the rules of the game are the same for everyone. It is one of the few cases in which European standards must also be applied to imported products. The organic market appears to be more robust than the conventional market, even though it is affected by purchasing power. Organic consumers prefer to buy locally. The market has broken out of its niche and is now treated on an equal footing with other products. Shops specialising in organic products continue to exist or share shelf space with conventional products, making it easier for consumers to make their choice.
Another weakness is low consumption in Spain. It is necessary to promote organic consumption. Some channels are not functioning well. Half of the organic land area is grassland for extensive livestock farming. However, the consumption of organic meat and meat products is much lower than that of organic fruit and vegetables. Some organic produce ends up in the conventional channel, which is an efficiency problem. On the other hand, more support is needed for research in the areas of weed control and the availability of nitrogen from biological sources through the cultivation of legumes or grasses.
Organic farming is a voluntary model of officially certified agriculture which, despite its weaknesses, also has strengths that make it attractive to both producers and consumers.
