The number of professionals working in the organic production sector grew by 1.6% in 2022 in Catalonia, surpassing for the first time the figure of 5,000 operators, according to data from the annual balance presented by the General Director of Agriculture and Livestock of the Department of Climate Action, Food and Rural Agenda, Elisenda Guillaumes.
Among the outstanding figures of the balance, it is indicated that the most developed organic crop in Catalonia is the vineyard, "which with more than 29,000 hectares, already represents 51.2% of the total vineyards in Catalonia, 19% of the total organic vineyards in Spain and 5.3% of the total organic vineyards in the world, highlighted the Director General of Agriculture and Livestock.
Guillaumes has also underlined that “the total ecological agricultural area registered in the register is more than 272,000 hectares. If we discount the forest area, we obtain the Utilized Agricultural Area, which has already exceeded 242,000 hectares, which represent approximately 23% of the total area, getting closer and closer to the objective of the European Union of having 25% of the area agricultural land used organic in 2030”.
The president of the Catalan Council for Organic Agricultural Production (CCPAE), David Torrelles, has presented the statistical report highlighting the resistance of the organic sector to the crises, since "the global figures of the bio sector [ecological production] continued to grow, both in operators who are dedicated, such as crop area, livestock and agri-food transformation activities”. Torrelles added that "the 1,190 million euros of turnover in the organic sector places Catalonia as the leading market for organic products in Spain and in southern Europe."
During the year 2022, organic operators have increased by 1.62% compared to the previous year, to specifically reach 5,075 registered. In the last ten years, the number of organic operators in Catalonia has grown by almost 150%.
By type of activity of the operators, in 2022 the producers have grown by 2.08%, with a total of 3,834 registered; processors have increased by 1.38% to reach 1,547 registered; importers increased by 10.49% closing the year with 158 registered; For their part, the retailers have also grown, reaching 698, which represents a growth of 1.75%.
According to the latest state comparison, from 2021, Catalonia once again led the ranking of operators dedicated to processing or transformation, specifically with 25.05% of the total in Spain. In the field of imports, Catalonia had 30.3% of State operators. And as far as distribution is concerned, the Catalan territory concentrated 26.72% of the total marketers.
In relation to the area in organic production, in 2022 it closed with 272,883 ha registered, meaning an increase of 0.81% compared to the previous year. In the last decade, the organic agricultural area in Catalonia has almost tripled.
Leaving aside the area of pastures, meadows and forests, in terms of productive crops, in 2022 it has reached 71,788 ha, which represents an increase of 6.08%, much more pronounced than that of the total agricultural area .
Among the majority crops, it is worth noting the growth, during the past year, of citrus crops (286 ha, 13%), nuts (4,311 ha, 8.97%), vineyards (29,082 ha, 7, 07%) or olive trees (9,801 ha, 1.4%). The majority crop is the vineyard, with 51.2 of the area of all crops of this type in Catalonia.
In organic livestock, in 2022 it has ended with a total of 1,096 farms, that is, an increase of 0.37%. Of course, in the last ten years, organic livestock in Catalonia has experienced a growth of 88%.
The growth of beekeeping (17 farms, 21.43%), dairy sheep (7 farms, 16.667%), pigs (21 farms, 5%) or beef cattle (593 farms, 4.04%) stand out. ). The majority livestock orientation is beef cattle with 54% of all organic farms in Catalonia.
The organic agri-food industry, that is, the manufacturing, packaging, distribution, import companies, etc. It has also grown during 2022, closing with 2,771 organic agri-food activities, which represents an increase of 3.63%. In the last decade, the ecological secondary and tertiary sector has established itself -as mentioned above- as the most important in the entire State, multiplying its fabric by 250%.
Among the main organic agro-industries, the growth of wineries (369 companies, 6.65%), oils (134 companies, 6.35%) or marketing and distribution (632 companies, 4.64%) stand out. Import activities (158 companies, 10.49%) and storage (309 companies, 5.1%) also grew.
Regarding the turnover volume of the organic sector -not consumption value, which would be higher-, the last fiscal year recorded, in 2021, closed with an annual growth of almost 20%. Catalonia reached a record figure of 1,190 million euros invoiced, being the Autonomous Community of Spain with the largest market for organic products.
