Does organic count? Better statistics and market data

Summary

Statistics and market data are a fundamental cornerstone of organic sector development.
Farmer and food business decisions to engage with and invest in organic to, market transparency including fair pricing and implementation and evaluation of policy all rely on timely organic sector data of good qualilty. There are data gaps and challenges in relation to data on organic production, farm finances, market and trade and environmental sustainability.
Digitalisation and data governance provide opportunities for better data use including from certification. Unique Business identifiers and business wallets could facilitate data exchange between organic operators, control bodies and public authorities, and improve statistical collation and analysis.
In the long-term, with the organic sector approaching 20-25% of EU agriculture, the overall aim should be to ensure there is an organic equivalent for all agricultural and food statistics.