United Kingdom
February 2026
We’ve just returned from BIOFACH 2026 in Nuremberg — the world’s leading organic trade fair — where the global organic sector came together under the theme “Growing Tomorrow: Young Voices, Bold Visions.”
Over four days we met farmers, buyers, processors, certifiers, policymakers and innovators from across Europe and beyond. The conversations reinforced what we’re seeing in UK and EU markets: strong demand for organic seed and crops, rising interest in traceability and quality, and continued pressure to align supply with growing market demand.
Organic Market Signals — Demand Outpaces Supply
Latest figures highlighted at the fair show that global organic retail sales continue to grow, reaching strong double‑digit figures. Europe’s organic market alone hit around €58.7 billion, with Germany, France and Italy leading. Across Europe organic farmland now accounts for nearly 20 million hectares — but demand is growing faster than the number of producers.
For COPE, this posed a clear message: organic seed & grain supply must expand and become more resilient. Buyers increasingly expect consistent production, traceability and quality — not just certification. This aligns with what we’re hearing from UK growers and processors: reliability and supply assurance are now core priorities.
Regulation & Compliance — Simpler, Stronger, Transparent
Regulatory discussions were a major focus at BIOFACH. EU regulators and certifiers emphasised protecting organic integrity while exploring ways to simplify compliance. There was clear consensus that regulation must safeguard consumer trust, but also support producers without adding unnecessary complexity.
For seed & grain companies like COPE, this means working more closely with growers on documentation, traceability and open data sharing — helping end‑users and regulators alike to have confidence in seed & grain integrity and origin.
Plant‑Based and Organic — A Strong but Distinct Connection
A session by IFOAM Organics Europe highlighted that plant‑based market growth and organic growth are not automatically the same thing — though they clearly overlap. While plant‑based products are booming, true organic production remains relatively small within this space.
This distinction matters for COPE and our partners. It points to opportunities for organic seeds and grain in plant‑based product development — especially varieties that meet clean‑label, high‑nutritional standards. Growing demand for simpler, less processed organic ingredients aligns closely with the types of crops our customers are increasingly asking about.
Digital Transparency & New Market Tools
Throughout BIOFACH we noticed a growing emphasis on digital tools and transparent sourcing platforms — aiming to bridge gaps between producers and buyers. Open platforms where growers can list availability, certificates and origin data were well received by attendees looking for reliable European suppliers.
This trend supports what we’re building at COPE: enhancing visibility of seed & grain provenance, performance data and agronomic information to help buyers make informed decisions and to give growers confidence in what they’re sourcing.
Connecting, Partnering & Looking Ahead
Having a physical presence and meeting partners face‑to‑face was invaluable. We shared insights on organic seed varieties, organic grain supply challenges, traceability and certification expectations — and heard first‑hand what buyers and growers need in 2026 and beyond.
BIOFACH 2026 reaffirmed that organic agriculture is shifting from a niche segment to a key pillar of sustainable food systems — but to fulfil that promise we need stronger foundations, collaboration across the supply chain, and continued innovation in traceability and quality.
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