In 2017, the European organic food and farming sector continued to excel both in terms of organic production and market growth. Data for 2017 (for full data see page 216) shows the European organic food market recording significant growth – increasing by more than ten percent to 37.3 billion. At the same time, the organic sector faces a number of challenges, notably that the growth rates in organic area, in spite of recent stronger growth, continues to lag behind the dynamic growth seen within the organic food market (Figure 68). A major milestone in 2018 was the publication of the new European Union rules on organic production and labelling of organic products in May, and in June 2018, the European Commission launched its proposal for the Common Agricultural Policy for the period 2021 to 2027
