The Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food has published the report Analysis of the characterisation and projection of Spanish organic production in 2020, which shows how this sector continues with its intense growth process and is configured as an important area of differentiated consumption within the the whole of the Spanish food system.
Spending by Spanish consumers on organic products reached 2,528 million euro in 2020, which represents a growth of 7% compared to the previous year, while the percentage of spending on organic food compared to total food spending in Spain in That year stood at 2.48%, indicating a growth of 10.3% compared to 2019. In 2020, spending per person and year reached 53.41 euro, 6.10% more than that registered past year.
In the 2015-2020 period, the growth in spending on organic products has been 67.42%, an increase that is 154.07% if we take a longer reference period (2012-2020).
The Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, Luis Planas, considers the continued growth of the organic sector in Spain to be the result of his professionalism, great experience and clear vision of the future. For the minister, it is a great satisfaction to collaborate in the promotion of this sector, which has good growth prospects in the coming years.
For this reason, the ministry works to publicise the richness and diversity of agroecological production in our country and contribute to increasing consumer confidence about the excellence and quality behind the products that bear the organic logo.
Main data of organic production
The most consumed organic vegetable products in Spain were fresh fruits, with 15.5% in the organic shopping basket; and fresh vegetables, with 13.9%. They are followed by bread, cookies and pastries, which together accounted for 6.6% of organic purchases; and oil and wine (4.4% and 2.2%, respectively).
Regarding organic products of animal origin, the most consumed were meats and meat derivatives, with 15% of the ecological basket, milk and dairy products (7.5%); fish, shellfish and their preserves (4.2%), eggs (2.2%) and honey and derivatives (1.2%).
According to the study data, Spain occupies the ninth position in the world market for organic products by total value of organic sales. In 2020, organised distribution sold 54% of organic products to Spanish consumers, followed by specialised trade, with 30% and the rest of channels (16%).
On the other hand, exports reached 1,165 million euro, which represents an increase of 17% over the previous year; while imports accounted for 1,014 million euro, 5.2% less. In this way, the sector re-joins its traditional trajectory of positive contribution to the Spanish agri-food trade balance of previous years (except in 2019 and 2018). If we take into account the 2015-2020 period, exports of organic products increased by 49.74%, while in the 2012-2020 period they grew by 91%.
The main organic products exported in 2020 were fresh vegetables and legumes (25% of total exports of plant origin); citrus (19%); other fruits (11%); olive oil (15%); wine (7%); cereals and derivatives (6%) and canned vegetables (6%).
The ecological area registered in 2020 reached 2.44 million hectares, 3.52% more than in 2019, and the qualified area (registered and certified as ecological) reached 2.09 million. Thus, the ecological area registered in Spain reaches almost 10% of the useful agricultural area (UAA).
According to the report, 52% of the entire Spanish ecological surface (1.27 million ha) is meadows and pastures. After these, the crops with the greatest implantation are the olive grove, cereals, nuts and the vineyard.
Regarding operators, in 2020 there were 50,047, which carry out a total of 53,325 ecological activities (6.83% more activities than the previous year). By activity, the 44,493 agricultural production operators, the 5,561 processors and processors, and the 2,503 marketers stand out, to which other types such as importers and exporters, aquaculturists and others should be added. By autonomous communities, Andalusia has 33% of ecological activities, Castilla-La Mancha (16%), Catalonia (11%), Valencian Community (7.24%) and the Region of Murcia (7.16%).
The document indicates that the estimated value at origin of organic production exceeded 2,600 million euros in 2020, which is 15.75% more than the previous year. 78% of this value corresponds to organic production of plant origin and 22% to that of animal origin.
