Bulgaria is looking to make a bigger impact in the organic market, with subsidies of €12.6m being allocated to the country’s organic growers and food manufacturers.
The funds represent an attempt by the Bulgarian government to promote environmentally sustainable agriculture in the run up to its accession to the EU next year.
The scheme is designed to encourage high altitude, labour-intensive farming with due consideration of the environment - a theme which is reportedly being adopted throughout eastern Europe.
Neil Sorensen of International Federation of Organic Agriculture Movements (IFOAM) commented: “The EU and its member states are very supportive and have set themselves extremely high targets for organic production.”
Poland, Serbia and Hungary are all said to be organic growth, although reports suggest Poland’s sector is not developing as quickly as previously forecast.
