Assessment of CAP support to organic farming: economic aspects
This thematic working group will develop practical guidance to assess how CAP funds contribute to the economic sustainability of organic farming and strengthen the evidence base for evaluation within the broader EU policy framework.
Organic farming is an important component of the CAP Strategic Plans because of its environmental, climate and socioeconomic benefits. All CAP Strategic Plans include funding to support organic farming through area-based payments, alongside other forms of support, in support of the EU’s Green Deal ambitions, including the target of at least 25% of EU agricultural land under organic farming by 2030.
Although EU legislation does not specifically require an evaluation of this support, the scale of CAP funding and the importance many Member States attach to organic farming make it a clear priority for assessment.
Moreover, the European Court of Auditors Special Report 19/2024 points to weaknesses in the EU’s strategic framework, including the absence of a long-term vision beyond 2030 and financial and operational shortcomings in CAP programming. The report also notes that the environmental and market objectives of the EU Organic Regulation are not systematically monitored.
This underlines the importance of better evidence on how CAP support contributes to the economic sustainability of organic farming, and the thematic working group’s focus on the economic dimension is intended to help address that evidence gap.
Objectives
The main objectives of this Thematic Working Group (TWG) are to:
- Develop practical guidance for Managing Authorities and evaluators to assess how CAP funds contribute to the economic sustainability of organic farming, including proposals for evaluation frameworks adaptable to different Member State contexts.
- Contribute to the increased understanding of how indicator frameworks can be used, how data gaps can be overcome and appropriate methods to use in relation to the assessment of economic aspects of organic farming.
- Provide a methodological framework structured around two complementary tracks:
- Track 1 relates to the dynamics of participation in organic farming, including decisions to enter and remain in organic production.
- Track 2 concerns the economic sustainability effects of supported organic farming, including its contributions to the economy and society, and examines aspects such as profitability, value chain functioning, rural sustainability and consumer demand.
Working process
This Thematic Working Group will run from March to December 2026 and is structured as follows:
- Working Package 1: Launch of Thematic Working Group 12
- Working Package 2: Coordination and content development
- Working Package 3: Quality control, finalisation and dissemination of the guidance document
Organisation
The TWG is established by the EU CAP Network, with support from the European Evaluation Helpdesk for the CAP, to prepare the draft guidance document. Participation in the group is by invitation only, and its members include evaluation experts, European Commission staff and, where relevant, representatives of Member States.
A Good Practice Workshop on the same topic will be held in autumn 2026. Its primary purpose will be to facilitate the exchange of relevant experience among Member States and EU-level evaluators, while also providing an opportunity to gather feedback on the draft guidance document prepared by the Thematic Working Group.
The draft document will be circulated in advance as background reading. Participants may include Managing Authorities and other Member State representatives, evaluators, European Commission representatives and relevant experts. Written feedback will also be invited, and the views expressed during and after the workshop will be taken into account in finalising the document.
For any questions, please contact the European Evaluation Helpdesk for the CAP at evaluation@eucapnetwork.eu.
