“We are seeing a very encouraging growth in organic farming over the past few years,” said agriculture minister Romain Schneider (LSAP) on 19 March, presenting the first results of a government plan to increase organic farming.

On 1 January 2021, organic farming land amounted to 6,324 hectares, including 12 farmers who began their conversion to organic farming in 2020. However, it can take up to three years to become fully certified.

The government’s PAN-Bio 2025 plan aims to increase organic farming to 20% of farming activity by 2025, with a farm to table approach. Pilot projects to introduce organic produce in cafeterias have kicked off at Lycée Josy Barthel school, the Servior CIPA Roude Fiels nursing home and other partner institutions, Schneider said.

The ministry offers coaching to farms who want to convert to organic farming, as well as increasing subsidies in 2021. The budget for the plan will progressively increase from €4.38m this year to €11.4m by 2025.

Consumers spend around €265 per person on organic food every year, the ministry said, placing third in Europe. In terms of production, however, it only ranks 20th.