Organic Bavaria Tour 2025: Innovation and challenges in Aichach-Friedberg!

Organic Bavaria Tour 2025: Innovation and challenges in Aichach-Friedberg!

The Organic Bavaria Tour 2025 stopped at the Scheicherhof in Rehling, in the picturesque Aichach-Friedberg district. Not only organic farmers came together, but also prominent guests such as district farmer Sabine Asum, district chairman Wolfgang Teifelhart and state parliament member Peter Tomaschko to exchange ideas about current developments in the organic industry. At a time when the organic market in Germany is experiencing a slight upswing after stagnation in 2022, many organic farms are also under economic pressure. Rising production costs, stricter regulations and uncertainties in marketing represent major challenges that need to be overcome.

In Bavaria, where around 418,000 hectares are farmed organically, which corresponds to 13.4% of the total agricultural area, the framework conditions for the organic economy are particularly important. According to the Bavarian Farmers' Association, the 11,070 organic farms in the Free State hold a leading position in Germany and are an essential part of Bavarian agriculture.

A view of the Scheicherhof

The Scheicherhof is managed by the Jakob family and is a prime example of innovative agriculture. Gabriel Jakob takes care of keeping laying hens and farming, while Ludwig Jakob is responsible for making spaetzle and ice cream. Paul Jakob is involved in all areas. In recent years, the farm has invested in modern production facilities, particularly in spaetzle production, where 2 to 3 tons of freshly produced spaetzle are hot-packed and flash-frozen after cooking. These are in great demand not only in the catering industry, but also in retail, including regional supermarkets, and bear the Bavarian organic seal.

However, there are also challenges: Scheicherhof's ice cream production is not certified organic. Despite the high demand, organic ice cream has not yet been able to establish itself, which is why 30 to 40 tons of conventional milk ice cream and sorbet are produced every year, which are mainly marketed through farm shops. In addition, 28,000 laying hens are kept on the farm, including 12,000 organically, which leads to the annual production of eight million eggs. However, the newly built organic farm is under pressure due to bureaucratic hurdles, another example of the challenges the industry must overcome.

Political support required

The Jakob family and representatives of the Bavarian Farmers' Association are appealing to politicians to improve the framework conditions for innovative farmers. A concrete problem is the closure of a slaughterhouse in Wassertrüdingen, which means that areas in southern Germany are faced with a major challenge in finding alternatives for poultry farming.

Bavaria's organic queen Anna-Lena II also emphasizes the innovative strength of the companies. She emphasizes the importance of Bavarian organic products in supporting local farms and calls on consumers to rely more on regional products. Despite the current challenges, the organic industry is resilient and consumer purchasing behavior is increasingly changing. According to the latest statistics, the market for organic food in Germany is booming, with sales increasing to almost 17 billion euros. Even if the number of buyers of organic products declines for the first time in 2023, the market share remains at around 6.3 percent.

The Organic Bavaria Tour 2025 is therefore not only an opportunity to visit innovative companies, but also a platform to draw attention to the concerns and challenges of the organic economy. Organic farmers in Bavaria are faced with the task of finding their way in a tricky market characterized by price competition and high standards.

In summary, it shows that the Bavarian organic industry is mastering challenges, but also needs active support from politics in order to continue to be successful in the future. It is important for consumers to make their purchasing decisions consciously and to give local agriculture the well-deserved support it deserves.