In 2010, Romania recorded exports of organic products of 100 million euros, according to the Chairman of the Bio-Romania Association, Marian Cioceanu.
"The exports of oranic products reached 100 million euros in 2010, according to first estimates, which is a record level compared with the year before, with oil seeds, honey, fruits and vegetables being the heaviest exported, particularly as raw materials, and some processed products," said Cioceanu.
He mentioned that the increase in such exports, after a drop by 20 percent in 2009, was the result of public subsidies having been earmarked for producers of organic products, which boosted the areas under such crops and the number of producers.
"Consumption of ecologically certified products reached only 1 percent of total consumption in Romania, but most of such products came from abroad because Romania is still an export market for raw materials but not for processed products," Cioceanu explained.
He said that a solution to boost the development of the local market for organic products would be higher per hectare subsidies and aids for the time conversion period.
There are currently more than 4,500 operators on Romania's market for organic products, which is valued at 10 million euros. The organic area (inclduding wild collection) increased from 240,000 hectares in 2009 to 260,000 hectares in 2010.
Germany is one of the most important destinations for Romanian exports of organic products. The Netherlands, Denmark, Italy and the UK are also important destinations.
Data from Bio-Romania indicate the highest in demand on the domestic market or cheeses, eggs, cereals and breads, while oil seeds, cereals, protein crops and processed products including cheese, honey, oil and wine are the main export products.
Romania could reach exports of organic productsof more than 1.5 billion euros in next five years, if the sector will be supported by the authorities, stated Adrian Radulescu, Secretary of State for Agriculture and Rural Development (MADR) at the occasion of the BioFach organic trade fair 2011. Radulescu said that in 2011 producers of organic products benefit of an aid of some 35 million euros, to which European funds are added.
Source: Record 100-million-euro bio product exports for Romania in 2010 . ACTMedia News Agency, Feburary 20, 2012
Links
- ActMedia.eu: Record 100-million-euro bio product exports for Romania in 2010
- Organic-World.net: Romania
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