France's Agriculture ministry ploughs in €60m to help struggling organic farmers

Food prices in France have gone up by an average of 15 percent over the last year, driving consumers to look for cheaper alternatives. Organic products have been hardest hit. AFP - GEORGES GOBET

France’s Agriculture Ministry has announced an additional €60 million in emergency aid for organic farmers facing a sharp slump in sales of organic food, but the sector says it’s far from enough.

After years of double-digit growth that encouraged farmers to take up organic farming and turn away from using pesticides or synthetic fertilisers, the market for organic food in France began to dive in 2021.