Organic Food Iberia, the new international organic trade fair, taking place in Madrid next June, gained further significant Spanish support today, with the announcement that Andalucía – the country’s biggest organic producing region – will host a 100 producer-strong pavilion.
The 800sqm pavilion, hosted with the support of leading organic association Ecovalia, will showcase hundreds of organic food and drink products from across this richly-biodiverse province.
Álvaro Barrera, president of the Organic Value Association ECOVALIA and president of CAAE, one of the most important organic certifier associations in Europe, says: “It’s time for Spain to have a dedicated meeting point between production, industry and marketing that reflects the growing increase in organic consumption, which will be facilitated by Organic Food Iberia in June 2019. Sales opportunities will be improved for exhibiting companies, as well as distributors and specialised retailers, who can source products in line with the Ecological Philosophy of Consumption.”
“It’s time for Spain to have a dedicated meeting point between production, industry and marketing that reflects the growing increase in organic consumption”
Susana Andrés Omella, project director at Organic Food Iberia, commented: “When you consider that Spain’s organic market is now worth almost 2,000 million euros, with more rapid growth forecast, there are huge opportunities ahead. Organic Food Iberia couldn’t have come at a better time and we’re look forward to staging, what we hope will become, one of the most important organic trade events in the world,” she says.
Today’s announcement comes shortly after the Valencian Community – the fastest growing region for organic farming in Spain – also confirmed its presence at Organic Food Iberia.
Other confirmed exhibitors include key Spanish brands – Productos DulceSol, Laboratorio Almond, AxarFruit, Biosabor Nature SL, Gimeno Fruits, Biográ Alimentación Ecológica, Jacoliva, Ekotrebol, Kimera, Beltrán Hermanos SL, BIOcomercio, and Bras del Port SA, plus big international suppliers. Many more are due to be confirmed over the coming weeks, including international pavilions.
The rise of organic in Spain
Spain is the European country with the largest area of land under organic methods, at over 2,082,173 hectares. It is also now among the top ten of most important organic markets in the world.
Speaking at BioCultura Madrid earlier this month, Luis Planas – the Spanish Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, highlighted the “rapid growth” of the country’s organic market and the Ministry’s continuing support to promote both domestic consumption and international trade of organic products via the ‘Strategy for the organic production 2018-2020’.
According to figures revealed by Minister Planas, organic consumption per capita rose from €36 in 2016, to €43 in 2017 (doubling the figure of four years ago). While domestic consumption may still be low in comparison to the EU average of €60.5, increasing retail availability has ensured constant market growth – taking approximate spend to almost 2,000 million euros.
Organic Food Iberia
Organic Food Iberia will take place at the IFEMA exhibition centre in Madrid on 6-7 June 2019. Further information is available at www.organicfoodiberia.com and www.ecolivingiberia.com. Alternatively, contact Susana Andrés Omella on [email protected] (Spain) or Fiona Allen on [email protected] (UK).