Introduction
Organic farming represents a growing segment of modern agriculture. Organic farming refers to agricultural production methods that avoid synthetic pesticides, fertilizers, and genetically modified organisms, focusing instead on natural processes and biodiversity. The share of organic farming area in total utilised agricultural area reflects the adoption of sustainable agricultural practices and alignment with European Union environmental and food safety policies.
Organic farming has been expanding in recent years, driven by consumer demand for organic products, environmental concerns, and EU support programs. Understanding these trends helps assess progress toward sustainable agriculture goals, market development opportunities, and the environmental impact of farming practices.
Data come from Eurostat's organic farming statistics, which compile harmonised data from national certification bodies and statistical offices across EU member states. These data are updated annually and provide comprehensive coverage of organic farming area, production, and certification trends.
Organic Farming Area
In 2023, the share of organic farming area in Germany rose to 11.16% of total utilised agricultural area (+1.3 p.p. y/y). This indicates continued expansion of organic farming as farmers respond to market opportunities and environmental incentives, supported by EU agricultural policies and growing consumer demand for organic products.
Organic Operators
Organic operators include all entities involved in the organic supply chain, from agricultural producers to processors, importers, and exporters. The number of operators reflects the development and maturity of the organic sector infrastructure.
Agricultural Producers
In 2024, the number of organic agricultural producers in Germany fell to 32,845 producers (-3,641 producers y/y). This reflects barriers to organic farming adoption, including technical challenges and market access constraints.
All Operators
In 2024, the total number of organic operators in Germany fell to 51,583 operators (-5,708 operators y/y), highlighting challenges in building a comprehensive organic sector infrastructure.
Pesticide Sales
In 2024, total pesticide sales in Germany rose to 45,174,476 kg (+4,680,574 kg y/y). This indicates increased pesticide sales, which may reflect expanded agricultural production or challenges in reducing pesticide dependency despite growing organic farming adoption.
Organic Livestock
Organic livestock farming represents an important component of the organic agriculture sector, encompassing various animal species raised according to organic standards. The following sections detail the numbers of different organic livestock categories, reflecting the development of organic animal husbandry practices and market demand for organic animal products.
Bovine Animals
In 2024, the number of organic bovine animals in Germany fell to 814,100 head (-135,200 head y/y). This reflects challenges in organic cattle production, including higher feed costs and certification requirements.
Dairy Cows
In 2024, the number of organic dairy cows in Germany decreased to 227,600 head (-19,800 head y/y), highlighting constraints in organic dairy farming, including feed availability and animal welfare standards.
Swine
In 2024, the number of organic swine in Germany fell to 232,300 head (-11,900 head y/y). This reflects production challenges in organic pig farming, including disease management and outdoor access requirements.
Sheep
In 2024, the number of organic sheep in Germany fell to 215,400 head (-44,400 head y/y), reflecting production constraints in organic sheep farming.
Frequently Asked Questions
Germany's organic farming area currently represents 11.16% of total utilised agricultural area, which exceeds the EU average, demonstrating strong commitment to sustainable agriculture.
Germany's organic farming area share of 11.16% compares to other European countries as follows:
- Austria: 25.69%
- Sweden: 18.44%
- Italy: 18.78%
- Germany: 11.16%
- France: 9.68%
- Czechia: 16.2%
- Hungary: 6.3%
Organic farming development in Germany is influenced by several factors:
- Market demand: Growing consumer interest in organic products and willingness to pay premium prices
- EU support: Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) payments and organic farming subsidies
- Environmental policies: EU Green Deal and Farm to Fork Strategy targets for organic farming expansion
- Technical support: Extension services, training programs, and knowledge transfer for organic farming methods
- Market infrastructure: Development of organic supply chains, processing facilities, and retail networks
Organic Farming in Other Countries
Compare Germany's organic farming results with other European countries to explore broader regional trends.
Methodology and Data Sources
All charts and indicators update automatically based on Eurostat's annual organic farming statistics, typically released approximately 12-18 months after the reference year once national certification bodies and statistical offices publish their final results. The data are derived from organic farming certification records and agricultural surveys, harmonised to ensure comparability across EU member states. The organic farming area share is calculated as the percentage of total utilised agricultural area that is either fully converted to organic farming or currently under conversion, while organic crop production data reflect actual production volumes from certified organic farms.
Pesticide sales data come from Eurostat's agricultural environmental indicators, which track the volume of pesticides sold annually. Organic livestock and animal product data are compiled from organic farming certification records and livestock surveys, providing comprehensive coverage of organic animal production across EU member states.