French co-op focuses on organic poultry market
Terres du Sud, the agricultural cooperative based in France’s south-western region of Aquitaine, has said it will double its organic production of cereals and poultry.
The group said that by 2012, it will triple the current area devoted to growing organic cereals and will double its poultry production.
The cooperative has signed a convention with the regional council of Aquitaine for the development of organic poultry farming. The cooperative will benefit from a €50,000 state subsidy for the project.
Terres du Sud currently uses 1,200 hectares to grow organic cereals and in 2008, organic cereals accounted for 1% of its total output.
Meanwhile, organic poultry production accounted for 470,000 birds out of a total 10 million.
The cooperative produced 24 million organic eggs, equal to 45% of the total production, and said it targets 45 million by 2012.
The cooperative covers 6,500 associated members and 1,121 employees, and reported revenues of €455 million last year.
