Is organic farming the solution for the future of Walloon agriculture ?

Summary

Organic farming is considered to be one of the solutions for the problems of sustainability faced today by the agriculutral sector. This paper describes the growth of the Walloon organic sector during the last years thanks to the support of the regional authorities through financial incentives and a new regional strategic development plan. It also presents some results collected during an on-farm survey concerning organic cereals. It appears that organic farming has significantly developed thaks to public support even if the prices of organic products are exceeding by 30% those of conventional products. Organic farming can play a significant role in the future of Walloon agriculture. However, due to the high conversion rate during these last years, it is not guaranteed that the financial support could be conserved at a such level.