In EU countries, organic production is experiencing generally positive though modest and gradual growth, driven by consumer demand for the benefits of organic products, from health environmental protection to local economic development.
According to the latest data on organic agriculture in Europe, published in the yearbook The World of Organic Agriculture 2025, the European Union’s organic farmland continues to grow steadily, reaching more than 17.7 million hectares, accounting for 10.9 percent of total farmland. Spain, France and Italy are the three leading countries in terms of organic farmland. Globally, the EU is the second largest single market for organic products, after the United States, which reported sales of 59.0 billion euros.
The Danish Organic Model, a proven success story
Denmark has the world's highest organic share and the most well-developed organic market. After the market went a bit down in 2023 due to high inflation and a general crisis in the cost of living, organic sales in Denmark increased by around 7.4 % in 2024: organic products generated 16 billion DKK in the retail sector (Statistics Denmark 2024).
Denmark continues to lead the world in organic market penetration: 11.6% of all food purchases in Denmark are organic. According to Organic Denmark, the country’s largest organic food association, the unique and governmentally certified Danish organic label The Red Ø (established in 1990) has been very important to the widespread success, that organic food products have achieved in Denmark.
The labelling scheme underscores the political will to promote organic farming and use its principles to drive food system development. Denmark is a pioneer in providing advisory services to farmers and has created the Innovation Center for Organic Farming, which researches and tests new methods with partial public funding. Furthermore, the food service sector is particularly important: in Denmark alone, professional kitchens serve around 650,000 main meals a day.
Sweden has a strong national organic action plan
2024 was a somewhat calmer year for food trade than the previous ones in Sweden, Organic Sweden reports. Inflation remained relatively low and interest rates began to fall. At the same time, food prices remained high after the high inflation of recent years. Organic food sales reached SEK 30,9 billion, representing 6.7 percent of total sales. The share of organic food decreased by 0.3 percentage points in 2024, and organic food sales is now 4.3 percent of total food purchases.
The Sweden CAP strategic plan provides for a 23% increase in supported organic area, and includes a significant proportion of certified organic land, mainly grassland, not receiving support directly for being organic, but still eligible for other agri-environmental support. Moreover, the country has had multiple organic action plans dating back to 1996. A significant focus of the plans is on training and information initiatives at all levels, including for staff and others engaged in public procurement and catering. It also has ambitious targets for organic share of public procurement (Organic Targets 4 EU).
France has recently returned to positive dynamics
According to FNAB, France represents nearly a quarter of the European organic market, which in total represents €50 billion. Data from Agence Bio shows that the consumption of organic products appears to be stabilizing in the country, and that specialized stores and direct sales experienced continue to grow. In 2024, the share of organic products in the French shopping baskets also declined, mostly caused by inflation. Nevertheless, organic products were less affected by inflation compared to conventional goods.
“These results are highly encouraging for the market, as they show that demand is strong: consumers are looking for high-quality products that are more responsible and respectful of both people and the planet. Organic farming provides answers to the environmental, social, and food-related challenges we face, and French consumers clearly understand this,” says Frédéric Faure, Vice President of Biocoop, a cooperative founded in 1986, which brings together 740 organic stores across France.
The main challenges facing the French market are production, reduced support for organic farming and organic food accessibility. “Europe is now facing increasingly pressing challenges: geopolitical instability that disrupts trade, energy, and supply chains; an escalating climate emergency marked by droughts, floods, and other extreme events; and rural decline that questions the long-term viability of agriculture. In this context, organic farming stands out more than ever as a key part of the solution. Its regulatory framework, in France and in the EU, must support this evolution for the benefit of those working in the field and the citizens who trust the organic label,” Faure adds. “Our aim is to send a clear, inclusive message: organic is not reserved for an elite, it must be accessible to everyone”.
