Area under organic farming

Organic farming is becoming increasingly important in France. The EU target is 25% of land under organic farming by 2030, while France aims for 18% by 2027 in its national strategic plan.

Since 1995, support plans have raised the share of land under organic farming (certified and converting) from 0.4% to 10.4% in 2023. Growth was steady until 2022, but 2023 saw a slight decline (– 0.6% compared with 2022), as some farmers found organic farming less profitable. This drop is mainly due to reduced forage (– 29 545 ha) and arable crop areas (– 24 349 ha). France has 2 767 828 ha under or being converted to organic cultivation and 61 163 organic farms (14.4% of all farms). Organic wheat prices have fallen since 2021, with the sector struggling to find new markets despite increased harvests.

France matches the EU average, where the organic utilised agricultural area reached 10.5% in 2022, with mixed trends across the EU Member States in 2023. Achieving targets is challenging, but it remains crucial to continue transitioning to organic farming and supporting both supply and demand to secure the future of certified farms.