Organic trend in Styria: Model regions promote direct marketing

Organic trend in Styria: Model regions promote direct marketing

The demand for organic products in Austria shows upswing after a two -year decline. In the first half of 2023, the value -based organic portion in the food retail trade was 11.5 percent, which represents an increase compared to 11 percent in the previous year. A strong consumer demand is recorded, especially for biomilch as well as corn and soy. There is also slight growth in the area of ​​meat and poultry as well as at the organic mast. Nevertheless, the market for organic food remains expandable. "The market opportunities are intact, especially in organic vegetable growing. This shows a trend towards small-scale growing vegetables," explained Maria Pein, Vice President of the Chamber of Agriculture, at a press conference in Graz.

In order to support the positive developments in the field of organic production, the Chamber of Agriculture and Bio harvesting Styria have expanded organic vegetable advice. In addition, organic practice attempts in agriculture are encouraged to offer organic farmers valuable knowledge for their work. A joint organic campaign program from the Chamber of Agriculture, State of Styria and Bioverband aims to extend the biologically managed areas in Styria from currently 25 to 30 percent by 2028.

direct marketing and organic model regions

Food retailing in Austria is a decisive platform for marketing organic food, since around 80 percent of the biologically generated products are discontinued via these channels. In order to expand direct marketing, so-called organic model regions are currently being launched. Thomas Gschier, chairman of Bio Harvest Styria, said: "A organic model region describes a precisely defined geographical area in which new partnerships and cooperation between farmers and consumers are developed." Such models are currently being built up in regions such as Graz, Vulkanland, Schilcherland, Almenland and Murau, with the aim of intensifying the contact between producers and consumers.

An example of the successful implementation of these concepts is the Bionah-Hoftaden opened in autumn 2023 at the Grottenhof Agricultural School. With almost 100 organic suppliers, 90 percent of whom are rural family businesses, this shop offers a wide range of organic products for everyday life. Ferdinand Köberl, the organic farmer from Straßgang and managing director of the Bionah Hoftwaden, announced: "In addition to the inpatient business, we are working on new pick-up stations in the Graz city area to facilitate access to organic products." The organic farmer Karin Forcher from St. Peter OB Judenburg also uses this shop to sell her organic chickens, which is an important source of income for her mountain farm.

political support and funding

agricultural councilor Simone Schmiedtbauer emphasized the need for political incentives in order to continue this way of success. "With our food strategy, we want to start increasingly with consumers and make subsidies in the ÖPUL agricultural environment program for organic more attractive," she said. This support could make a decisive contribution to changing more consumers to organic products and demand continues to increase.

For more information and details on developments in the field of organic food and the associated initiatives, Read the report on newland. .