Bertil Sylvander and Aude Le Floc’h-Wadel
INRA, France

This paper delineates trends in European demand for organic products, particularly for poultry and livestock. Although, on average, the price of organic products is twice that of conventionally grown food, excess demand still exists within Europe. There are, however, several challenges ahead in order to meet this demand including further development of agricultural systems that allow for certification of products on the basis of animal welfare, environmental stewardship, ethics, and employment conditions.

Key words: European Union (EU); organic production; consumer demand; regulatory policy.