Organic Production - Great Export Opportunities for Moldovan Agriculture News Release
December 9, 2005
The Perspectives of Moldovan Organic Agribusiness were discussed today within a conference organized by Agribusiness Development Project (ADP) and the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Industry of Moldova. ADP is financed by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and implemented by the Citizens Network for Foreign Affairs (CNFA). The event gathered approximately 80 key players in the organic business sector – farmers, exporters, and representatives from regulatory bodies and certifying agencies -- to discuss the challenges and development opportunities of this important agribusiness segment.
Organic food enjoys a constantly growing demand in developed countries, a trend that could greatly benefit developing countries’ exports through new market opportunities and premium prices. Organic agriculture is identified as one of the key areas of the Moldovan High Value Agriculture sector that holds significant economic potential. Moldova has all of the prerequisites for organic production - proximity to the biggest consumer of organic produce (EU and Germany, in particular), pesticide-free land areas, availability of companies that provide training and certification services, and a developing regulatory framework. Currently there are over 10,000 hectares of certified organic land and 320 hectares in the process of conversion to organic farming in Moldova. In July 2005, the Parliament approved the Law on Organic Agriculture, establishing a regulatory framework, while a set of additional documents is currently being developed by the Government.
However, organic agriculture in Moldova is still in its initial stages of development. The volume of organic exports continues to be relatively low – around 4,000 tons annually of mainly sunflower oil, shelled walnuts and wine. The Conference on Perspectives of Moldovan Organic Agribusiness sought to promote further linkages between producers and markets by disseminating information about production and certification requirements, and about demand for various organic products in the European Union. The Conference hopes to spur interest in the agribusiness community, thus boosting the growth of such a promising sector. CNFA, through the USAID-funded ADP intends to support organic producers and exporters with technical assistance and matching grants.
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