Wageningen researchers: Organic demand requires safeguards to boost Dutch production

Researchers from Wageningen Social & Economic Research have concluded that increased demand for organic products does not automatically lead to higher organic agricultural production in the Netherlands. To ensure that rising demand translates into domestic production, the study suggests that measures such as origin guarantees and long-term sales security are necessary.

The research examined two policy measures: a public procurement commitment, where government institutions commit to organic purchasing, and a selective procurement obligation for certain supply chain parties. While both could increase demand and sales security, the researchers warned that increased demand might instead be met by organic products imported from abroad. To mitigate this, they recommend strengthening origin verification and utilizing long-term contracts to provide security for organic entrepreneurs.