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Indicator Assessment
Share of organic farming area (sum of existing organically farmed areas and areas in process of conversion) as a proportion of total utilised agricultural area (UAA).
Organic agriculture can be defined as a production system which puts a high emphasis on environmental protection and animal welfare by reducing or eliminating the use of GMOs and synthetic chemical inputs such as fertilisers, pesticides and growth promoters/regulators. Instead, organic farmers promote the use of cultural and agro-ecosystem management practices for crop and livestock production. The legal framework for organic farming in the EU is defined by Council Regulation 2092/91 and amendments.
Sum of organic area and area being converted, measured in ha. Share of organic farming is given as a percentage of total utilised agricultural area.
Organic farming is an environmentally sustainable form of agricultural production. Its legal framework is defined by Council Regulation 2092/91 and amendments. The adoption of organic farming methods by individual farmers is supported through agri-environment scheme payments and other rural development measures at Member State level. In 2004 the EU Commission published a 'European Action Plan for Organic Food and Farming' (COM(2004) 415 final) to further promote this farming system.
No specific EU target on the share of organic farming area.
A number of EU Member States have already set targets for area under organic farming, often 10-20 % in 2010.
Country |
Name of Programme |
Target year |
Target |
---|---|---|---|
Austria |
Aktionsprogramm Biologische Landwirtschaft 2003-2004 |
2004/2006 |
At least 105.000 ha in 2004 and at least 115.000 in 2006 |
Belgium |
Vlaams actieplan biologische landbouw - Flemish Action Plan |
2010 |
10 % organic farmers |
Denmark |
Actionplan II - Developments in organic farming |
2005 |
10 % organic farmers, 20.000 ha more than 1999 |
France |
Plan Pluriannuel de Developpement et la Promotion de l'Agriculture Biologique |
2005/2010 |
2010 France as the leading European organic producing country, Conversion of 1 million ha and 25 000 farmers by 2005 |
Germany |
Bundesprogramm kologischer Landbau |
2010 |
20 % organic by 2010 |
The Netherlands |
An organic market to conquer |
2005/2010 |
5 % organic land until 2005 , 10 % organic land until 2010 |
Sweden |
Action Plan |
2005 |
20 % organic land in 2005 |
UK-Wales |
Welsh Agrifood Action Plan for the Organic Sector (March 1999) |
2005 |
10 % organic land |
Spain (Andalusia) |
The Andalusian Plan for Organic Farming |
2006 |
No specific target with regard to area |
The indicator is calculated by measuring the total agricultural area certified as organic or in conversion to organic farming in accordance with EU Reg. 2092/91 and dividing it by the total utilised agricultural area.
No gap filling
No methodology references available.
Accuracy of data on organic farming varies between countries, and includes provisional estimates.
Depends on research funding and support from organic organic farming associations.
Representativeness is high but some countries still have a rather low share of organic farming which limits the possibility to follow trends.
High comparability.
No uncertainty has been specified
For references, please go to https://www.eea.europa.eu/data-and-maps/indicators/area-under-organic-farming-1/area-under-organic-farming-assessment-1 or scan the QR code.
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