Area under organic farming

The share of area under organic production out of the total agricultural area was 11.4% in Denmark in 2023, which was above the EU average. After a steady increase between 2015 and 2021, the area under organic production declined slightly in 2022 and 2023. This stagnation may be related to declining consumer demand and inflationary pressures.

Many Member States face significant challenges in reaching the EU target of 25% agricultural area under organic production by 2030, as set by the European Commission. In Denmark, the ambition is that organic farming area, organic product consumption and organic exports will double between 2018 and 2030.

In 2023, the share of money spent on organic food in retail was estimated at 11.8%. From 2019 to 2023, there was a major development in the sale of organic food in retail. The quantity in tonnes increased by 19.4%. From 2019 to 2020, the quantity increased by 36.6%; from 2020 to 2023, the quantity decreased, but the decrease was only 4% from 2022 to 2023. However, as the price of organic products per kilo increased, sales in Danish kroner were largely unchanged.

Organic agricultural production is considered an important instrument in the forthcoming transformation of the Danish agriculture system, with the purpose of bettering the environment and climate.