Organic farming in the Czech Republic Mgr Karolna

Organic farming in the Czech Republic Mgr. Karolína Dytrtová Institute for Ecological Agriculture and Sustainable Landscape Management

Czech Republic • Central Europe • area 78 866 km² (water 2%) • population 10 306 709 • continental climate • temperature differences • 3. 1 million ha of arable land • share of workers in the primary economic sector (agriculture, forestry and fishery) – 4, 3%

Agriculture • mountain and submountain area with forests and permanent grasslands Livestock production: mainly cattle (for milk and meat), as well as pigs and poultry. There is a very large network of breeding ponds with carp production – carp is a traditional Czech Christmas Eve dish.

Agriculture • lowlands with arable land

Main crops all main kinds of grain (wheat, barley, rye, oat and corn), white beet for sugar production, potatoes, rape, poppy, hops …. .

Conventional agriculture – high inputs

History and Development of Organic Agriculture • started in 1989 with 2 organic farms • 1989 to 2002 there was a strong growth of the organic land • 1990: 4 organic farmers' associations were founded • Ministry of Agriculture supported all new organic farmers through direct subsidies per hectare. • 1993 : first regulation on organic agriculture, and the certification and control system was started + • organic sector decided to have common "BIO" logo. • 2000: first national organic legislation • 2000: CR on the list of third countries • 2004: Action plam for OF to 2010 • 2006: rapid grow – agro-envi subsidy

Organic Statistics No. of organic farmers: 1776, this year 448 Organic land area: 7, 84% of total agricultural area (the aim is 10% by 2010) No. of manufacturers: 375 No. of organic food products: app. 4 000 60% imported

Structure of organically farmed land area

The size of organic enterprises in the Czech Rep.

Regions of the Czech Republic

Number of organic farms and % share in regions

Organic farm area and % share in regions

Employment at organic enterprises

RDP support Axis I – Improving the competitiveness of the agricultural and forestry sector I. 1. 1 Modernization of agricultural holdings I. 1. 3 Adding value to agricultural and food products I. 3. 2 Setting up of young farmers Axis III – The quality of life in rural areas and diversification of the rural economy III. 1. 1. Diversification into non-agricultural activities III. 1. 3 Encouragement of tourism activities Preferential point allowance for OF

Legislation applicable to organic farming Council Regulation (EC) No. 834/2007 National legislation - Act No. 242/2000 Coll. Private standards: Production Directive of the PRO-BIO Association

Control bodies and certification 3 Independent Certification and control bodies

Organic Food Consumption 0, 2% of total food consumption* € 1. 75 person/year Mainly in large and middle size cities Women with higher education, aged 25 – 44 3% consumers buy OF regularly 26% buy occasionally 54% know organic food label * Source Green marketing