Following the rise in tariffs in the United States, the Spanish sector ecological production is adjusting its foreign strategy to protect sales and open new commercial avenues. Intereco, the association that brings together public authorities for organic food control, will present its first practical guide this month. export to Far Eastern markets.
The turnaround comes after the North American country, despite having barely 0,5% of agricultural land is organic compared to around 20% in Spain, has become more expensive as a destination for shipments that were worth around 50 million euros per year, with olive oil, wine and almonds as the most notable products. In parallel, the five-year renewal of the EU-Japan equivalence agreement for organic wine, in force since October 1, provides continuity and certainty to 3.500 Spanish wineries with an organic seal.
Turn to Asia and certifications that open doors
The new Organic Export Guide Intereco's aim is to facilitate landing in China, Japan, South Korea, India, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates, among others. The tool will gather requirements, approvals, and access codes for these destinations, in a context where recognized certification is a key entry lever.
The organization emphasizes a vision of organic farming based on the health of the ecosystem: it does not compete in price with conventional industrial production, but provides environmental and social value along the chain. With a sector that exports nearly half of its production, geographic diversification is a priority.
On the international regulatory front, Intereco warns of the implications of the EU-Mercosur agreement if the asymmetries are not resolved: in part of Latin America, partial certifications (regenerative, sustainable, carbon) operate that allow chemical inputs and They are not equivalent to the EuroleafMaintaining the robustness of the European standard, they insist, is key to consumer confidence and competitiveness.
Internal policies and demands
COAG AndalucÃa has registered in the regional Parliament a series of amendments to the future Organic Production Law (LIPESA) so that the standard has the Board's own budget (beyond EU co-financed funds), create a sector advisory body, prioritize localization in public procurement, and promote organic supplies in school cafeterias and social-health centers. It also calls for a real administrative simplification that reduces paperwork and bureaucracy.
In Galicia, Agrarian Unions have asked to activate the exceptions provided for in the European Regulation for catastrophic situations, in response to the fires that devastated fodder and pastures. Without transitional measures, they warn, many CRAEGA-certified farms would have difficulty meeting the organic feed ratios, jeopardizing the continued existence of the seal and CAP requirements.
The debate on land management returns to the scene after the summer: voices in the sector argue that the Extense livestock farming and active forest management (clearing, harvesting cork, resin, mushrooms or wood) are effective fire prevention tools, always with updated regulations that facilitate grazing.
Market and consumption: demand signals
A joint study by the University of Murcia and the Rey Juan Carlos University, published in the journal Agriculture, confirms that the attribute with the greatest weight in the purchase of EVOO is the organic production systemIn their choice test, consumers showed a willingness to pay more than twice as much as conventional oil; in figures, it was estimated 7,4 EUR/L for organic oil and 6,7 EUR/L for locally certified oil, compared to a standard product without a seal.
Labels of origin add up, but with nuances: the local brand and the DOP increase demand, although researchers detect substitution effects When certifications accumulate, without linear price increases. The moral of the story: authenticity, proximity, and territorial narrative work, but it's worth fine-tuning the mix of seals in the commercial strategy.
The work points to operational challenges: strengthening distribution channels (supermarkets, online sales, short circuits), and containing the certification costs through incentives that accelerate the transition. This approach is in line with Regulation (EU) 2024/1143, which promotes sustainable practices and geographical designations to stimulate added value and local development.
Territorial dynamics and sector events
In Navarre, the Navarrese ecological fair in Noáin will gather around 40 companies at the Parque de los Sentidos, with a direct sales market, a gastronomic area, workshops, and activities for families. The new event, "Another World is Now Possible," will feature representatives of the ecological movement such as Karmelo Bizkarra, Nicolás Olea, and JoaquÃn Araujo, as well as musical performances and educational activities.
The regional administrations emphasize that the organic agricultural area Navarra's agricultural production grew by 3,8% to approximately 73.000 hectares, and more than one hundred young people who have entered the agricultural sector in the last decade have opted to produce organically. For producers, direct contact with the public and local sales reinforce loyalty and help explain the value behind the seal.
Between market reorientation, regulatory adjustments and the push in demand, the Spanish organic production is facing a phase of change: consolidating Asia as a destination, strengthening standards in international agreements, ensuring budgetary and administrative support for producers, and converting consumer interest into stable sales with logistics and distribution at the top of the game.