In
2011, The CAAE Association will celebrate its 20th anniversary of leading the Spanish organic
sector. In 2010 alone, CAAE welcomed more than 38,800 additional
hectares
(36,921 has. in Andalusia) of organic production and 666 new producers.
Despite
the economic situation, the total organic area certified by CAAE
amounted to
almost 830,000 hectares (742,029 has. in Andalusia), which means a
growth of
about 5% compared to 2009.
As for
producers, in 2010 CAAE followed its continual growth reaching a total
of 8,645
operators (6,840 in Andalusia), 8.34% more than the previous year, 7,931
of
them being producers and 714, industries.
The
organic industrial sector increased by 13.69% compared to 2009 with a
total of
714 processing industries. As for vegetal production, the most
represented
industrial activities are olive oil mills (113 industries), fresh
horticulture
products processing and packing (82 industries), canned food and juice
(55
industries) and wineries (38). In industries related to animal
production, the
most significant growth occurred in honey productions, going from 47
industries
in 2009 to 70 in 2010.
The most important products (vegetal
production) in terms of area were cereals, with more than 81,500
hectares
(including grains, legumes, green manure and industrial crops), followed
by
olive groves, with a total of close to 49,000 hectares, nuts (29,200
hectares)
and grapes (11,000 hectares). Economically important but less relevant
in terms
of area were vegetables (2,400 hectares), citrus fruit (2,400 ha), fruit
(500
ha) and tubers (170 ha).
Regarding livestock production certified by CAAE,
farms
dedicated to beef cattle were most important (1,103). 810 sheep meat
producers
were counted, 245 farms with goats for the production of meat, 51 pig
farms and
20 poultry farms (meat and egg production). Organic aquaculture is
another
sector being promoted and boosted by the CAAE Association and
experiencing an
important growth.
Additionally
to the organic certification in accordance with the European Union
regulation,
the CAAE Certification Service processes other complementary
certifications
like the approvals for the organic markets in Japan “JAS” (14), in the
Unites
States “NOP” (1,108) and in Switzerland “Biosuisse” (45) or the quality
certification for fruits and vegetables “Global Gap” (77). For inputs,
CAAE has
135 certified industries.
CAAE has a
network of 11,106 members. The entity develops an important work for the
promotion of organic production with the aim to boost and improve the
organic-based industrial and commercial sector.
Last year, CAAE conducted more
than 380 events and also attended numerous agricultural and food
fairs and events in many different fields. Among the association’s
activity
lines are also the development of training programs for professionals
and
outreach activities, like the Campamentos
Ecológicos (Organic Summer Camp), for kids and teenagers, and the Semana
Ecológica (Organic Week). In
2010, in collaboration with other private and public entities, it held
round
tables, seminars, conferences and professional meetings focused on the
development of the sector and the marketing of organic products - both
aimed at
increasing domestic consumption and exports. In addition to these
activities,
CAAE implements campaigns for the environmental conservation and the
protection
of biodiversity through organic farming and agricultural production.
