Organic Research with WUR Students

Wed, Feb 25, 2026

While organic food products offer numerous benefits for health, nature, and society, the market share of organic food in the Netherlands remains stuck at just 4%. This is significantly lower than in other European countries. The Dutch government has expressed the ambition to increase this percentage to 15% by 2030. To support this objective, and backed by European regulations, the Robin Food Coalition has commissioned Wageningen University to research more effective measures.

One of the primary issues is that organic products currently do not compete on a level playing field. The hidden costs of conventional products—such as negative impacts on health and the environment—are not reflected in the price, making organic appear ‘too expensive.’ However, several European countries have achieved significant growth in the market share of organic products through the collective efforts of farmers, producers, retailers, NGOs, governments, and consumers.

Research Mandate

The university’s ACT group was commissioned to investigate the factors and measures that have led to organic market share growth in other European countries and what could be effective in the Netherlands. This includes analyzing:

Current market share and recent growth of organic food in various EU countries, including the Netherlands.
Products involved, including locally produced, imported, and exported goods, as well as the relevant sales channels.
Trends and drivers that either promote or hinder growth.
Government measures and commercial initiatives that have influenced this growth.

Impact and Application

This research will not only provide relevant data for refining the Dutch strategy for organic production and consumption but will also serve as a foundation for future actions and policy developments. Additionally, it supports the members of the Robin Food Coalition through the 5M Framework: Materiality, Measuring impact, Managing impact, Marketing impact, and Monetizing impact.

Findings

As expected, there is no "silver bullet" to create a perfect food system overnight; collaborating for impact remains essential. However, there are several clear leverage points that can significantly increase the attractiveness of organic production, sales, and consumption.

Check out the report and factsheets to discover how government, retailers, and organic associations can accelerate the food transition through organic policy measures and subsidies, increased consumer awareness and accessibility, and improved cooperation.