The Valencian organic sector shows a changing face with younger participants, more women, and rising economic impact across the region.
According to the Organic Sector Annual Report 2022, organic farming is attracting a younger workforce and a higher share of women, signaling a shift in the sector’s structure. The report highlights the growing economic significance of organic farming, noting the autonomy of activity and a strong revenue trend that elevates the sector’s profile in recent years.
During the presentation of the document, which was prepared in collaboration with the Valencia Community Organic Agriculture Committee (CAECV), officials underscored two historic challenges for the agricultural sector in the Valencian Community: generational renewal and women’s participation. The remarks were delivered by the acting Minister of Agriculture, Isaura Navarro, with Deputy Minister Roger Llanes and Deputy Director General David Torres, alongside the CAECV president, Vincent Faro, in attendance.
CAECV data indicate that the average age of those involved in certified organic farming stands at 48, compared with 64 in conventional production. Moreover, 30 percent of CAECV certified producers are women, marking a 26 percent rise in female participation in the ecological sector over two years.
On the economic front, sector turnover has surged from 153.2 million euros in 2015 to 723.9 million euros in 2022, a 372 percent increase. The report emphasizes broad wealth creation across the region, noting that ecological agriculture is present in 92 percent of municipalities in the Valencian Community. In total, 501 of the region’s 542 municipalities host some form of organic agriculture, a dynamic seen as a key weapon against rural population decline.
In visual terms, an organic vineyard represents the sector’s progress, as documented in imagery associated with the report.
Over the past decade, certified area in Spain has grown by about 50 percent, while the Valencian Community has expanded by 129.2 percent, rising from 67,084 certified hectares in 2012 to 153,779 hectares today. This means the organic area accounts for 6.6 percent of total agricultural land and 20.5 percent of usable agricultural land in the autonomous region. Out of the total certified area, 127,636 hectares are dedicated to dry farming, with 26,143 hectares devoted to irrigated farming.
The number of operators increased by 5.5 percent from the previous year and has surged by 116 percent over the last decade to reach 4,258. Additionally, the number of certified importers grew from 23 in 2012 to 100 in 2022.
The Valencian Parliament has taken a firm stance on supporting organic farming to secure the future of citrus crops in the region.
Regarding sales, 2022 saw 64 percent of organic products exported and 36 percent consumed within the country.
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In terms of regional concentration, the most extensive certified areas are Utiel-Requena, Rincón de Ademuz, Els Ports, El Comtat, and Alt Palància. If the focus shifts to cultivation types, viticulture dominates Utiel-Requena and Medio Vinalopó, followed by walnut production in those same zones and Alto Vinalopó. Certified organic olive groves are located in Alt Vinalopó and Baix Maestrat, while interior areas such as Plana d’Utiel-Requena and La Vall de Cofrens-Ayora lead grain production. Citrus cultivation, especially lemons, concentrates in Vega Baja, with fruit production spread across Ribera Alta, La Costera, La Vall d’Albaida, L’Alcoià, and Baix Vinalopó. Vegetable cultivation has expanded in l’Horta, Alt Vinalopó, l’Alacantí, Baix Vinalopó, and La Vega Baja, reflecting a broad and evolving organic agricultural map across the Valencian Community.