Organic Food Growing Fast in Eastern Europe

POLAND'S ORGANIC REVIVAL
May 9, 2001 The Guardian (UK)
reprinted from the website <www.organicTS.com>

The transition from communism to a free market economy has been tough on
Poland's agricultural industry but organic farming might come to the rescue,
writes Kate Connolly for The Guardian. An increasing number of Polish
farmers are converting to organic farming in the hope of gaining a strong
foothold in western markets hungry for eco-produce, particularly in the
light of recent food scares.

The days of communism and heavy industry took their toll on the countryside,
leaving it scarred by some of Europe's worst environmental blackspots. But,
at the same time, Poland has more farmland free from pesticides than most
countries in Europe and a growing number of people are keen to milk the
potential that could bring.

As the founder and head of the Polish NGO, the European Centre for
Ecological Agriculture and Tourism (ECEAT), Ms Jadwiga Lopata has taken it
upon herself to convert as many of Poland's farmers to organic farming as
possible before it is too late. She has so far roped over 130 farms into
her fold. Last year her son Chris started an internet service from their
modest farmhouse in the foothills of the Biskidy mountains to ship organic
produce around the country. In cooperation with Ekoland, the association of
organic food producers, they aim to create more cooperation amongst the
local farmers and establish a producers' co-op as well as a strong consumer
body to sell collectively to supermarkets, first at home, then abroad.
Poland is not alone: Hungary already sells 95% of its organic output abroad
and exports are currently growing at a staggering 20%. Bulgaria is trying to
get in on the act, as is Romania.

Under communism, most farmers were unable to pay for chemical pesticides and
fertilisers. That was once seen as a curse. But now, say experts, it means
that Poles can be organic pioneers as the full transition to a purely
ecological approach need not be all that difficult either practically or
psychologically. The counterpoint to this argument is that many farmers are
weary of organic farming, which they see as a throwback rather than a
progressive move.

Until now farmers have lacked the incentives to officially convert to
organic farming, due to expensive registration procedures and a lack of
subsidies. So far 1,300 have made the leap - more than double the number
this time last year. (Organic now counts for 0.5% of the farming, compared
to an EU average of 1.5%. Austria tops the scale with 10%). But fierce
lobbying of the government has had an effect: subsidies to organic farms are
increasing every year - this year 6.5m zloty (£1.15m) has been set aside for
the purpose. In the coming months, an organic farming bill is expected to
be passed, setting out strict guidelines.

''If financial aid for bio-farms increases and promotion intensifies, Poland
can increase the number of its green farms by as much as 50% in five or six
years,'' Mieczyslaw Gorny, a professor at the Warsaw agriculture academy
believes. He and other analysts stress how, while the enthusiasm of farmers
is a huge step in the organic direction, both financial and political help
are at the core of such a project's success or failure.

Organic agriculture in Bulgaria is set to move onto a legal footing with two
new ordinances due to be submitted soon to the Council of Ministers. From
the Higher Agricultural Institute, Prof. Stoicho Karov explained that
producers of organic goods have had to cope with European Union (EU)
regulations because of a lack of domestic legislation on agriculture
practice and activities. The ordinances have already been approved at an
interdepartmental level within the Bulgarian government.
###