French organic area will exceed 1 million in 2012

From the latest figures of l'Agence Bio it is clear that this year the total of one million ha of organic agricultural area will be exceeded this year. At the end of 2011 France had 23,135 organic companies, twelve percent more than in 2010. And 4.5 percent of the French companies grow organically on a total of 975,141 ha at the moment.

After the record year 2010 the organic area increased by another 130,000 ha in 2011. This means an increase of 15.3 percent. Due thanks to 811 new organic producers the limit of 1,000,000 HA will be exceeded.

"In reaching this symbolic boundary the double figure growth by the organic branch since 2010 is confirmed," Elizabeth Mercier of l'Agence Bio reacts.

The aim of an 8 percent share of the organic agriculture will not be reached, however. With a share of a little more than 3.5 percent the present share is still far short.

Some products are a lot further than others. The share of organic fruit for instance represents almost 12 percent of the area in this sector, legumes with 25 percent and vines more than 7 percent. This in contrast to the organic share of 1.61 percent of the grain area.

Source: Pleinchamp