Moosbrugger warns against wasting organic food

At the first AMA Forum Bio yesterday afternoon in Vienna, LK Austria President presented Josef Moosbrugger clear: “It must not be the case that organically produced food from Austria is sometimes sold cheaper than conventional food of the same origin. The highest quality and added value in production must also be reflected in the price.” That’s why the LKÖ president is calling on retailers to stop wasting organic food – to a large extent own brands. “Organic must not become a permanent promotional item; there must be added value,” says Moosbrugger. It is important to further develop the organic sector in a market-oriented manner and to strengthen the AMA organic seal, which optimally combines quality and origin.

“LEH bosses recently expressed their joy in the media that their customers are increasingly turning to organic products because they are less affected by price increases. However, all of this is happening to the chagrin of organic farmers, who are making such jubilant reports in view of the pressure “The current producer prices will probably be viewed as a mockery,” criticized Moosbrugger.

“If organic yoghurt is sometimes sold cheaper than conventional, this certainly does not correspond to a sustainable added value strategy, but only serves to compete for market shares – at the expense of organic farms. This is extremely short-sighted. The result is that the price level and the cost truth of organic food will be permanently damaged and the incentive effect of the market for farms will be lost,” explained the LKÖ president, who at the AMA Forum Bio called for an “end to the squandering of organic and other quality food” and instead advocated sustainable added value strategy in the food value chain.

Develop in a demand-oriented and cost-covering manner

“If you want to protect our organic farmers and set them up for the future, you must not stubbornly and arbitrarily set political organic quotas, but must further develop organic production in a demand-oriented and cost-covering manner. To ensure that the calculation is correct at the end of the day, success on the markets is essential – based on one Balance between supply and demand and with cost coverage from the farmer to the shelf. The key word for the sustainable development of the organic sector is ‘market orientation’,” emphasized Moosbrugger, who also sees a lot of potential in strengthening the AMA organic seal. “The AMA organic seal is the safest sign to guarantee the origin of organic products from Austria,” said the LKÖ president.

“The fact that there is a need for market orientation with profitable producer prices applies to all sectors and divisions of agriculture, including animal welfare-oriented farming methods and their labeling. Farmers must have a say in the additional services required and the necessary price premiums, otherwise additional sales will remain in the system “It cannot be the case that everyone is ‘diligently’ skimming off profits and that farms are left empty-handed at the end of the day and cannot even cover their costs,” emphasized the LKÖ President.