On July 17, 2024, at the “Appuntamento con il ‘Bio’” event organized by Ismea, the 2024 “Bio in Figures” report was presented. This report provides the annual technical analysis, offering insights into the current trends in Italy’s organic sector, covering areas such as land use, operators, production, market directions, and, importantly, consumption.
Below are some considerations and reflections on the trend of the phenomenon.
Certified utilized agricultural areas (UAA).
In 2023, the agricultural surfaces used for organic farming in Italy have recorded significant growth.
The organic UAA reached 2.456.000 hectares, with an increase of 4,5% compared to the previous year.
This increase has led the organic surface area to represent approximately 19,8% of the total Italian UAA, moving further closer to the 25% objective set for 2030 by the European Union’s Farm to Fork Strategy.
The largest increases occurred in the categories of meadows and pastures (+10,1%) and fodder crops (+11,4%).
Infographic no. 1
On the other hand, some crops such as cereals (-1,3%) and legumes (-7,1%) recorded a decline. At a territorial level, Northern and Central Italy have shown a higher growth rate than the South, with a progressive rebalancing of the distribution of biological surfaces across the national territory.
The trend at regional level records positive values in various regions with only sporadic cases of decline, so much so that, in terms of macro-areas (North/Central/South) the result is still positive.
Evolution of biological operators
The number of organic operators in Italy grew again in 2023, although at a slower pace than the previous year.
An increase of 1,8% was recorded compared to 2022, with a total of 94.441 operators. Of these, 84.000 are agricultural companies for 89,1% (77.7% exclusive producers and 15.4% producers/preparers).
Particularly the category of producers/processors, agricultural companies that process products made on their own or by third parties, is the one characterized by the greatest increase with a positive sign of 3,8%. This aspect, in a certain sense, crowns the community objective of increasing and supporting short supply chains.
The geographical distribution of organic operators reflects that of total agricultural companies, with a greater concentration in Southern Italy. However, Central Italy shows a greater orientation towards organic than the North, particularly in the regions of Tuscany, Lazio and Marche.
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Table 2. Regional and geographical macro-area distribution of organic operators in Italy by type of operator
Consumption of organic products
Domestic consumption of organic products reached 3,8 billion euros in 2023, with an increase of 5,2% compared to the previous year. The market share of organic products is 3,5% of the total agri-food sector. Contraction due in part to the inflationary phenomenon which penalized the sector the most.
The product categories which recorded the greatest sales increases were cereals and derivatives, vegetable oils and fats, fresh eggs and non-alcoholic drinks. On the contrary, sales of organic meats and cured meats have suffered a decline.
Infographic no. 3
As regards expenditure on organic products, at farmers’ markets, among the various elements of certain interest at least two appear particularly significant:
- the percentage of consumers who buy exclusively organic products consolidates at 21%, while the share of consumers who buy both organic and conventional is at 39.7%.
- from an economic point of view, those who buy both organic and conventional have a higher expense (€37,05) than those who buy only organic (33,86€) or even only conventional (29,57€). The expense of organic compared to conventional reflects an increase of 14.5%.
Infographic no. 3
In the distribution of expenditure among the various products there is a strong preference for organic oil, flour, milk and fresh pasta with over 50% of total purchases. Followed by herbal products, vegetables, vegetable preserves and honey.
Infographic no. 4
Infographic no. 5
Final thoughts
2023 marked a year of significant changes and developments for organic farming in Italy. The growth of organic areas, the rise in operators, the surge in consumption are signs of a continuously evolving sector. However, new consumption trends, the economic fragility of many families and the ongoing climate changes have introduced elements of uncertainty and complexity.
The future of organic farming in Italy will depend on the ability to adapt to the new regulations and the effectiveness of the support measures implemented.
The redefinition of the identity of the organic and strengthening consumer confidence will be key to ensuring sustainable and competitive development of the sector.
Donato Ferrucci, Nicolò Passeri
Agronomist, master in food law. He deals with certifications and quality systems in the agri-food chain. He collaborates with institutions and universities and is a member of the editorial board of rivistadiagraria.org.
Nicolò Passeri
Ph.D. in 'Economics and Territory' at the University of Tuscia. Consultant for organic product certification and technical-economic analysis of production processes
