Organic farming in Greece

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The official practice of organic farming in Greece first appeared in the 1980s with the implementation of the EU regulation 2092/91; the first organic certifications started a few years later in 1993. Organic viticulture is the second most prevalent form of organic agriculture.

Viticulture in Greece benefits from many of the conditions necessary for organic farming: the temperate climate, the unusual landscape relief, and the small size of wine farms. As a testament of the prevalence of organic farming practices used in Greece, approximately 50% of all Greek wineries currently recommend wines made from organic grapes. The EU has set the foundation for the future establishment of a European organic wine certification by updating regulation 2092/91 with regulation 837/2007.

Apart from the vineyards that are applying strategies of organic farming in Greece, many wineries meet the requirements for food safety and quality management established by the well known ISO and HACCP. Additionally, wineries may receive an organic certification through one of eleven local Greek organizations; two of which certify the majority of local organic wines. The organic viticulture movement has become so extensive that since 2005, there has been an annual wine competition for wines made from organic grapes.