Austria - country report

by Elisabeth Klingbacher

Contents

• Introduction
• The history of organic farming in Austria
• Statistics
• Standards and certification
• Organic agriculture organisations
• Labeling
• Organic market
• State support
• Research in organic food and farming
• Training
• Challenges and outlook
• References
• Author

Introduction

Austria holds a leading position in organic farming: In 2009, 15 percent of Austria’s farmers cultivate more than 18.5 percent of the utilised agricultural area in accordance with organic principles.

In absolute figures more than 500'000 hectares of land (alpine pastures included) are managed to organic criteria. The number of organic farms remains at the high level of over 20,000.

In relative terms, Austria ranks first in this sector among the European countries (except Liechtenstein).

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The history of organic farming in Austria

Organic agriculture in Austria looks back on a long history and its development can be divided into several periods:

• Foundation stage: 1920s – first organic farms are established (particularly in the southern parts of Austria)
• Stage of qualitative growth: after the “pioneer years” in the 1960s, the number of organic associations increases in the 1970s to 1980s; organic farmers start to get organised and to establish an organic network.
• First boom: late 1980s to early 1990s (first official guidelines for organic farming in 1983, first subsidy programs, increasing ecological awareness, …)‏. Throughout these years the fast development of organic farming takes place primarily in western Austria – in grassland areas with traditionally extensive management.
• Second boom: further fast growth throughout the 1990s – between 1990 and 1995 the number of organic farms increases more than tenfold (marketing via supermarket chains, Austria joins the EU, implementation of the Agri-Environmental Programme – ÖPUL – subsidies)
• After a short period of stagnation another stage of conversion follows during the years 2001 to 2005. Primarily in eastern Austria more than 70,000 hectares of arable land are converted and managed according to the principles of organic farming.
• Stage of consolidation
• In the past few years the extension of organic farming areas slowed down a little, but remained – just as the number of organic farms – at a high level. Currently a certain consolidation and professionalisation of organic production and marketing is noticeable.

(Eder, 2006; Groier and Gleirscher, 2005; Tischler, 2009)

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Statistics

In 2008 Austria more than 20,000 organic farmers (14 percent) cultivated more than 383,700 hectares (16 percent of the agricultural area – alpine pastures not included) according to the criteria of organic farming.

Since 2009, the alpine pastures have been included into the organic agricultural statistics in order to make the organic data comparable to the overall agricultural statistics. According to this new calculation, in 2009 more than 18 percent of the agricultural land and 15 percent of the farms were organic.

Detailed statistics

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Standards and certification

Austria is a pioneer in the implementation of national organic standards, and was one of the first countries worldwide to set official guidelines for organic farming. In 1989 these decrees were already included as Chapter A 8 in the Codex Alimentarius Austriacus, and in 1991 national guidelines for the organic production of animal products were implemented.
Since Austria joined the European Union in July 1994, the minimum legal standards for organic farming in Austria have been defined by Council Regulation No 834/2007 and 889/2008 (former Council Regulation No 2092/91).
In addition, member states are free to adopt stricter national organic rules. Members of organic farmers’ associations must also comply with (usually stricter or more specific) guidelines set by the corresponding association.

Organic farms are monitored by independent inspection bodies that must be approved by the Ministry of Health and the federal provinces. Inspection bodies must establish a quality management system according to European Standard EN 45011 and are monitored by the Austrian Accreditation Service of the Ministry of Economy. Organic inspection applies to the entire production process – organic farming, processing and trading – and is carried out at least once a year.

The following inspection bodies operate in Austria:

• ABG, Austria Bio Garantie Gesellschaft zur Kontrolle der Echtheit biologischer Produkte GmbH (www.abg.at) 
• BIOS, Biokontrollservice Österreich (www.bios-kontrolle.at)  
• LACON GmbH (www.lacon-institut.at)
• SLK, Salzburger Landwirtschaftliche Kontrolle GesmbH (www.slk.at) 
• BIKO, Kontrollservice Tirol (www.biko.at) 
• LVA, Lebensmittelversuchsanstalt (www.lva.co.at)  
• SGS, Austria Controll & Co GmbH (www.at.sgs.com) 
• GfRS – Gesellschaft für Ressourcenschutz mbH (www.gfrs.de)

Source: www.lebensministerium.at

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Organic agriculture organisations

In Austria more than two out of three organic farmers are members of one of the organic farming associations. The largest association is Bio Austria with about 13,000 members, but several other organic farming organisations, partially working on a regional basis, also play an important role in promotion, marketing and advice.

Labeling

To enable Austrian consumers to identify organic products at first glance, several organic labels have been created:

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Additionally there are various organic logos from organic associations like Bio Austria, from supermarket chains and discounters, and from July 2010 onwards all Austrian organic products must be additionally labelled with the EU organic farming logo.

Organic market

The organic market in Austria is one of the best developed in the EU and is dominated by conventional supermarket chains and discounters - they cover about two-thirds of annual turnover (the first organic food brands were launched by supermarket chains in 1994).
But wholefood shops have also played an important role in Austria’s organic history. Presently they are expanding and modernising and - especially in urban areas - organic supermarkets are starting to attract new clientele. Another important and growing marketing channel is kitchens/catering in the public and private sector.

Surveys show that about 20% of Austrian organic consumers are responsible for 80% of overall sales. The entry of discounters into organic retailing increases consumers’ awareness of and interest in buying organic as it becomes more affordable.
While organic milk supply is still slightly higher than demand, the demand for various organic foods – such as organic fruit and vegetables – exceeds domestic production.
The most important reasons for buying organic products are their health-related benefits, their higher quality and their positive impact on the environment. Also, to a high degree, they are considered “simply the best”.
As regionality becomes increasingly important, the chance to link regional and organic could have another positive influence on the growing demand for organic products (Liebing, 2008).

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Imported versus domestic products

Source: Liebing, 2008

To continuously develop the supply side the Austrian organic farmers’ association Bio Austria has launched – in cooperation with the Ministry of Agriculture and the Chambers of Agriculture – the national campaign “Organic seeks Farmers”, to encourage 10,000 additional farmers to switch to organic agriculture (Liebing, 2008).

Austrian organic market data (production quantity for various products according to estimates of Bio Austria) is available for download at: www.bio-austria.at/biobauern/markt/marktdaten_von_bio_austria

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State support

Austria’s organically managed area continues to grow but the current demand for organic products often cannot be met. Another Action Programme for Organic Farming (2008-2010) of the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, Environment and Water Management has been launched and is seen as a political declaration of intent to promote organic farming and its products.
It comprises general requirements and measures to be implemented during the specific years. These measures relate in particular to education and training, schools, extension, research, marketing, public relations work, and inspection (quality assurance).

The main objectives of the action plan are:

• to provide an overall strategy for the development of the organic sector
• to achieve an organic share of 20% of the agricultural area by 2010
• to communicate the environmental benefits of organic farming to consumers
• to enhance the profitability of organic farming.

The Austrian Action Plan for Organic Food and Farming is available for download at: www.lebensministerium.at   

In 2008 about 95% of all organic farmers participated in the Austrian Agri-environmental Programme ÖPUL. ÖPUL is therefore an important factor for the positive development of organic farming. With the approval of the “Programme for Rural Development 2007-2013” organic farming will be further promoted in the framework of ÖPUL 2007 by means of the “Organic Farm Management” measure.

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Research in organic food and farming

Federal Research Institutes

• Agricultural Research and Education Centre Raumberg-Gumpenstein (www.raumberg-gumpenstein.at)
  • Institute of Organic Farming and Farm Animal Biodiversity
• Federal Institute of Agricultural Economics (www.agraroekonomik.at)
• Federal Institute for Less-favoured and Mountainous Areas (www.berggebiete.at)
• Federal Agency of Water Management (www.baw.at)
• Austrian Agency for Health and Food Safety AGES (www.ages.at)
• Federal Office for Pomology and Viticulture Klosterneuburg (www.weinobstklosterneuburg.at)
• Federal College and Research Centre for Horticulture Schönbrunn (www.hblagart.bmlf.gv.at)

University Research Institutes

• University of Natural Resources and Applied Life Sciences, Vienna (www.boku.ac.at)
  • Division of Organic Farming (www.nas.boku.ac.at/oekoland.html)
  • Division of Livestock Sciences (www.nas.boku.ac.at/nuwi.html)
  • Institute of Horticulture and Viticulture (www.dapp.boku.ac.at/igow.html)
  • Institute of Agricultural and Forestry Economics (www.wiso.boku.ac.at/afo.html)
  • Department of Applied Plant Sciences and Plant Biotechnology (www.dapp.boku.ac.at)
  • Department of Economics and Social Sciences (www.wiso.boku.ac.at/sowire.html)
  • Institute for Sustainable Economic Development (www.wiso.ac.at)
• University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna (www.vu-wien.ac.at)
  • Institute of Animal Husbandry and Animal Welfare (www.vu-wien.ac.at/tierhaltung/content/index_ger.html)
• University of Technology Graz
  • Institute for Process and Particle Engineering (www.ippe.tugraz.at)
• University of Innsbruck
  • Mountain Agriculture Research Unit  (www.uibk.ac.at/berglandwirtschaft)

Private Research Institutes

• Research Institute of Organic Agriculture FiBL Austria (www.fibl.org)
• Bio Forschung Austria (former Ludwig Boltzmann-Institut für Biologischen Landbau, www.bioforschung.at)
• AKREMI (www.arge-kreislaufwirtschaften.com)

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Training

Most of Austria’s agricultural schools and colleges offer training programmes or individual courses in organic farming within the scope of their curriculum. But the Bioschule Schlägl (www.bioschule.at) is the first and only school in Austria for organic agriculture and forestry.
At university level the University of Natural Resources and Applied Life Sciences Vienna offers a considerable organic curriculum.

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Challenges and outlook

Austria plays a leading role in organic agriculture, and experts still predict an upward trend for the organic market. But to achieve the goal of remaining the EU's number one in terms of share of organic farms and organic area, and to expand organic agriculture in the long term, all relevant players – policy, market, research, producers and consumers – need to cooperate.

The future poses several challenges for organic agriculture as a forward-looking and sustainable strategy for society. It will be important to accomplish the balancing act between professionalisation and sector growth without losing sight of the fundamental ideals and core values of organic agriculture.

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References

• BMLFUW (2009): Grüner Bericht – Bericht zur Lage der österreichischen Landwirtschaft. Federal Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, Environment and Water Management, Vienna.
• Eder, M. (2006): Der biologische Landbau in Österreich – eine Erfolgsgeschichte. In: Darnhofer, I; Walla, C. und Wytrzens, H. K. (Hrsg.): Alternative Strategien für die Landwirtschaft. Wien: Facultas, S. 89-100.
• Groier, M; Gleirscher, N. (2005): Bio-Landbau in Österreich im internationalen Kontext. Band 1: Strukturentwicklung, Förderung und Markt.
• Liebing, R. (2008): Austria, in: The Specialised Organic Retail Report Europe 2008.
• Tischler, K. (2009): Biologische Landwirtschaft in Österreich. Federal Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, Environment and Water Management, Vienna.
• www.bio-austria.at
• www.lebensministerium.at

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Author

Elisabeth Klingbacher
Research Institute of Organic Agriculture Austria FiBL
Seidengasse 33-35/13
1070 Wien
Austria
Tel. +43 (0)1 9076313-24
Fax +43 (0)1 9076313-20
elisabeth.klingbacher@no-spam.fibl.org
www.fibl.org/en/austria
Personal homepage

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