The biological sector in Italy has reached a value of 9.1 billion euros in 2023, with a growth of 8.7% compared to the previous year. The sector must, however, deal with the competition of large retailers, the drop in specialized stores and the danger of Greenwashing
In the last ten years, The Italian biological market has experienced an unprecedented expansion, growing by 135% compared to 2014 and reaching an overall value of 9.1 billion euros in 2023. Despite the economic difficulties and challenges related to competition with large retailers, the organic continues to represent a Productive model in expansioncapable of providing a contribution to the ecological transition and the reduction of the environmental impact of the agri -food.
But what does “bio” mean? The term “biological agriculture” – explains the Italian association for organic agriculture – indicates a method of cultivation and breeding that admits only the use of natural substances, that is, present in nature, excluding the use of chemical synthesis substances (fertilizers, herbicides, insecticides). Biological agriculture means developing a production model that avoids excessive exploitation of natural resources, in particular of soil, water and airinstead using these resources within a development model that it can last over time.
Numbers and trend of expansion
According to the Bio Bank 2024 report, Domestic consumption of organic products reached 4.2 billion euros in 2023with an increase of 6.7% compared to the previous year. At the same time, biological catering has recorded even more significant growth, with an increase of 18%, bringing the value of the sector to 1.3 billion euros. Even exports are confirmed as a fundamental pillar of the sectorwith a value that touched 3.6 billion euros ( +8% on 2022 and +156% compared to 2014), positioning Italy as a European leader in the export of organic products.
However, the market is going through deep transformations. There large organized distribution (GDO) has gained more and more space, grabbing 58% of sales of organic products, at the expense of specialized shops, whose share dropped from 36% to 23% in ten years.
The decline in organic activities and the Greenwashing risk
If on the one hand the organic market grows, on the other the number of specialized activities records a flexion of 5.6% in 2023. Biological shops and specialized restaurants struggle to hold the competition of the GDO, which offers a wide range of organic products often at more competitive prices.
Another criticality concerns the organic cosmetics sectorwhich is experiencing a period of uncertainty due to the absence of unified European legislation and the spread of Greenwashing. The lack of clear standards allows many companies to label their products as “natural” or “sustainable” Without respecting the rigorous criteria of certified biological, thus undermining consumer trust.
Biological and ecological transition
According to the relationship, biological represents a fundamental pillar in the fight against climate change. “The agri -food is responsible for over a third of the global greenhouse gas emissions“And the conversion to more sustainable agricultural practices is essential to reduce the environmental impact. From 1995 to 2024, The CO2 concentration in the atmosphere went from 361 ppm to 427 ppma fact that highlights the urgency of effective solutions.
In this context, we read in the relationship, the biological assumes an important role: thanks to the limited use of pesticides and fertilizers of synthesis, contributes to improving soil fertility and protecting biodiversity. However, to maintain this centrality, the sector must face new challenges, including the need for greater regulation and adequate enhancement of the supply chain.
The leading regions of biological
On Italian territory, Lombardy, Emilia-Romagna and Veneto confirmed the regions with the largest number of bio activities (respectively 519, 426 and 333)while Trentino-Alto Adige, Marche and Emilia-Romagna excel for density. Italy is also positioned in first place in Europe by number of biological transformation companies (23,600 on a total of 92,000), first place for organic agricultural producers and in third place for agricultural surfaces dedicated to organic, with 2.4 million of hectares.
New regulatory challenges: the case of the “Conduct Decree”
One of the main obstacles for the future of biological in Italy concerns the regulatory framework. The recent proposal of ministerial decree on accidental contaminations in biological products, known as “Decree“, He raised a heated debate between producers and environmentalists.
The new rules, more restrictive than European standards, impose farmers to demonstrate the absence of willful misconduct in the event of contamination, a burden that could strongly penalize the sector and encourage conventional agriculture. The harmonization of national and European regulations therefore become a priority to guarantee a fair and sustainable market, capable of protecting honest producers and keeping consumer trust high.
