Current Status of Organic Farming Promotion and Agri-environmental Policy in Austria

Abstract

This paper focuses on the promotion of organic farming and agri-environmental policy in Austria. Austria has the highest percentage of organic farmland in the EU, and is one of the leading countries in organic production and consumption. The organic food market has been growing every year and many consumers choose organic food for their own health. One of the reasons for the increase in organic farming is the government subsidies. Austria mainly uses push strategy, so that it plays an important role in increasing the number of organic farmers that receive organic farmer subsidies before EU accession and the Agri-environmental Programme for an Environmentally Sound Agriculture (ÖPUL) after EU accession. The background to the development of agri-environmental policy is the eco-social agricultural policy introduced by Josef Riegler. This concept emphasises that three objectives— economic efficiency, ecological balance, and efforts to create social conditions— are of equal importance, and has strengthened support for organic farming. In Austria, there is a consensus in support of organic farming because many people recognize the value of agriculture and regard farmers as important for shaping the landscape and providing delicious produce.