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The organic sector in the UK recent trends &

Results of a survey of market data collection in Europe 

Susanne Padel, ORC

Data network for better European organic market information

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ntre Background

• ORC is partner and WP leader in the Organic Market Data Project 

• Jointly with the UK partner Soil Association we carry out a study on market data collection in the UK 

• The UK is one of three countries in Europe that has experienced problems in the development of the sector and especially the market since 2008 

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ntre Organic food consumption [€/head]

UK Market Report

• Kantar Worldpanel data

• Author’s survey of multiple retailers

• Survey of independent retailers/box schemes/multiples

•Total sales declarations

• DEFRA statistics

•The 2013 market report is expected on 19th March 2013

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Data type Current status Who

Production area/number data

Published July for previous yearAiming for earlier publication

DEFRA (Ministry) based on data from control bodies

Volume and value ofproduction

Not published for UKAnnual publications in Scotland & Wales

DEFRA based on estimates SRUC and OCW

Retail values Annual publication

Regular Trade briefings

Soil AssociationKANTAR world panel Other

Import/export data No recent information

Farm gate prices Quarterly estimatesSome collection in Scotland & Wales

Soil AssociationOrganic Producer groupsSRUC and OCW

Consumer prices Ad hoc surveys Research projects

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95 96 97 98 99 '00 '01 '02 '03 '04 '05 '06 '07 8 9 10 11

UK Organic land area, producers and retail sales value trends

Land area (thousand ha) Retail value (£ million) No of holdings

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‐ kha fully organic ...

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2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011

England Wales Scotland N Ireland

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0

50

100

150

200

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2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011

England Wales N Ireland Scotland

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200 000

300 000

400 000

500 000

600 000

700 000

800 000

2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011Cereals Other cropsFruit & nuts Vegetables (including potatoes)Herbaceous & ornamentals Temporary pasturePermanent pasture WoodlandNon cropping

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[decline of 3.7% from 2010 to 2011

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500.0

1,000.0

1,500.0

2,000.0

2,500.0

2007 2008 2009 2010 2011

Other independent [-4.9 %]

Catering [+2.4%]

Farmers markets [-1%]

Farm shops [-3.5%]

Box schemes/mail order [+7.2%]

Multiples [-5%]

Source: Soil Association Market Reports

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ntre The most important sectors 

[% value] and change

Dairy29%

Fruit & veg23%Baby food

13%

Beverages7%

Fresh meat5%

fresh poultry2%

Bread1%

Other20%

Source: Soil Association 2012 Market Report

Sector 2010 to 2011

Dairy -8.9%

Fruit & vegetables -5.1%

Baby food +6.6%

Confectionary -8.3%

Eggs -9.4%

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ntre UK situation remains challenging

• Lack of confidence among some producers when support scheme period come to an end 

• Lack of policy commitment and market uncertainty continues 

• Some sectors (mail order, some supermarkets) are doing better than others 

Mail order and box schemes

Some supermarket that actively invest in the sector 

• Is the committed organic shopper seeking alternative outlets?

•

Data network for better European organic market information

Inventory of organic market data collectors (WP2)

Introduction To understand the availability of data on the organic market an online survey of data collectors was developed. 

112 organisations within the EU, EFTA, the rest of Europe and the Mediterranean responded.

Not Surveyed

No response

1-2 responses

3-4 responses

5 or more Responses

ResultsData types most commonly collected:Production data (area and volume more than value)  Followed by price and retail sales data Export data are more common in non‐European countries.Products: meat, dairy, fruit and vegetables. 

Common data collectionmethods:  SurveysCensuses are often used to collect production volume dataPanels for retail sales value/consumer price data Catering sales data are collected by surveys 

Data analysis: compilation or basic analysis (such as averages, and ranges). 

Results and Conclusions The responses about data publication suggest low publication rates.

The market data collection and publication effort remains varied across Europe.

Without good quality, accurate and timely information it is difficult for stakeholders to make decisions. 

We need to better understand why this is the case