Before the end of the year, Andalusia will introduce its first specific regulation for the organic sector: the Law for the Promotion and Encouragement of Organic Production (LIPESA)The announcement was made by the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries, Water, and Rural Development, Ramón Fernández-Pacheco, during the opening of the 8th Altiplano Ecological Fair in Orce, Granada.
The future law aims to organize and accelerate the growth of the "eco" model throughout Andalusia, with a package of actions that seeks better connect supply with demand, strengthen regional leadership and open new avenues for profitability in the countryside.
What the new law contemplates
The LIPESA text will incorporate measures to encourage the consumption of certified products within the community itself, prioritizing their presence in Public procurement of school canteens, hospitals and social health centersThe idea is that public procurement will impact the entire chain, from producer to distributor.
Among the revitalization tools, the Board foresees the creation of an Andalusian Network of Local Organic Markets, designed to bring the product closer to consumers and promote short circuits.
The standard will also promote a Andalusian Organic Production Award to highlight good practices and recognize outstanding careers in the sector.
They will also include tax incentives for livestock farms that operate under ecological criteria, as well as strengthening training, research, and knowledge transfer to accelerate the adoption of innovation on farms and cooperatives.
Boosting consumption and added value
The Andalusian government wants the organic label to gain importance in local shopping, so that domestic consumption responds to the regional productive potential. The commitment to public procurement aims to ensure stable demand and provide an outlet for organic production at all levels of the chain.
The promotion will be aligned with actions of food education, traceability and differentiation, keys for consumers to identify certified quality and its impact on sustainability and health.
Budget commitment and leadership
Andalusia has reserved 42% of its CAP Strategic Plan to agro-environmental aid, including conversion and maintenance to organic; the national average is 28%. This gap reflects a clear commitment to a sustainable production model.
In terms of productive structure, the community maintains national leadership with more than 1,5 million hectares certified and a network of more than 21.500 operators, with a significant share of pastureland (more than 950.000 hectares).
X-ray of the Andalusian organic sector
According to the latest analysis by the Ministry, organic farms have grown by around one in the last four years. 32% in number, while the certified or converted surface area has increased by around 28%.
Specialized farms predominate in Permanent crops, which represent more than 66% of the total and contribute more than 41% of organic production.
Within these crops, the nuts top the list, followed by olive groves. However, in terms of surface area, extensive herbivorous farms stand out, concentrating more than 54% of the total.
In livestock, the beef cattle, with more than 1.500 farms and nearly 500.000 hectares linked, which shows the dimension of this subsector in the "eco" ecosystem.
From an economic point of view, the sector is polarized: 67% of farms (less than €50.000 of standard production) barely concentrate 16% of the production, while those with more than 100.000 € They account for around 67% of the total volume.
Regarding ownership, 81% are individuals and 19% are legal entities; the latter provide more than half of the productionAmong female physicists, 29% are women and 52% are men, with a slightly smaller average size in the farms led by women.
The Granada Plateau as a reference
The Granada Plateau has established itself as a regional laboratory: more than 41% of its agricultural land It has organic certification and, in municipalities such as Orce, the figure is close to 60%.
La VIII Altiplano Ecological Fair, which is being held in Orce until September 14, brings together farmers, ranchers, cooperatives, consumers, and administrations, with tastings, local produce markets, seed exchanges, and a machinery display.
Calendar and next steps
The parliamentary processing of LIPESA is entering its final phase, with a forecast of approval in the coming monthsThe Ministry is confident that the law will come into force this year, with a progressive rollout of measures and calls for proposals so that the sector can adapt seamlessly.
With a combination of public procurement, local commercial network, economic incentives and more applied knowledge, the new law aims to consolidate Andalusia's leadership and improve the profitability of farms, integrating sustainability and quality as levers of competitiveness.
The arrival of LIPESA acts as a turning point: more stable demand, better channels and technical support for a sector that is already a benchmark in Spain and is now seeking to take a qualitative leap, reinforcing the added value of organic products and their roots in the region.
