Chapter 12: Organic farming
Updated 20 February 2024
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Summary
In 2022:
-
509 thousand hectares were farmed organically in the UK.
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61% (312 thousand hectares) of the total UK organic area was in England.
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Permanent pasture (inc. rough grazing) accounted for 62% of UK organic land, covering 314 thousand hectares.
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9.7% of the total UK organic area was used to grow cereals (49 thousand hectares).
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3.1% of the total UK cattle population was reared organically.
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There were a total of 5.5 thousand organic operators in the UK.
Introduction
Organic farming is a method of farming that requires farmers to operate to a system based on ecological principles which impose strict limitations on the inputs that can be used to minimise damage to the environment and wildlife. Emphasis is placed on natural methods of production and pest control.
All foods sold as organic must originate from growers, processors and importers who are registered with an approved certification body and subject to regular inspection. During these inspections, the crop areas and numbers of livestock present on the organic holding are recorded. Due to the nature of the inspections, the data are collected at varying times through the year. The data presented in this chapter therefore do not give an exact snapshot of organic farming at any specific time of year and this should be considered when interpreting the results.
Land area
Land farmed organically
In 2022, the UK had a total area of 509 thousand hectares of land farmed organically (i.e. the fully converted area and area under conversion), an increase of 0.4% compared to 2021. This increase was driven by an increase of 0.8% in the area of fully organic land, which was offset by a decrease of 3.9% in the area of in-conversion land. Since 2008, when the area of land farmed organically peaked, the organically farmed area has decreased by 32%. The organically farmed area represents 3.0% of the total farmed area on agricultural holdings in the UK.
England had 61% of the organically managed land, Scotland had 22%, Wales 15% and Northern Ireland 1.5%. Within England, 49% of the organically managed land fell within the South West region.
Figure 12.1: Land area farmed organically
Enquiries: Josh Moatt on +44 (0)20 771 41913
Email: [email protected]
Source: Organic certification bodies collated by Defra statistics.
Text description of Figure 12.1: Figure 12.1 shows the area of land farmed in the UK that is either fully organic or in-conversion to fully organic, in thousand hectares from 0 to 800, between 2002 and 2022. The area of organic land farmed in the UK peaked in 2008 at 744 thousand hectares, it then decreased to a low in 2018 of 474 thousand hectares. Since then the total area of organically farmed land has increased year on year to 2022. 2010 had the highest area of fully organic land (668 thousand hectares) and 2002 had the greatest area in-conversion (204 thousand hectares).
Download the full Organics dataset
Table 12.1: Land area farmed organically, 2019 to 2022 (thousand hectares)
Enquiries: Josh Moatt on +44 (0)20 771 41913
Email: [email protected]
| Type | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | Percentage change 2022/2021 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| In-conversion | 28.1 | 31.3 | 42.0 | 40.3 | -3.9% |
| Fully organic | 457.1 | 457.6 | 464.7 | 468.3 | 0.8% |
| Total | 485.2 | 489.0 | 506.6 | 508.6 | 0.4% |
Source: Organic certification bodies collated by Defra statistics.
Download the full Organics dataset
Table 12.2: Area farmed organically by country and English region, 2022 (thousand hectares)
Enquiries: Josh Moatt on +44 (0)20 771 41913
Email: [email protected]
| Region | Area in-conversion | Fully organic area | Total organic area | Total agricultural area at June |
Total organic area as % of June area |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom | 40.3 | 468.3 | 508.6 | 16,912.4 | 3.0% |
| Wales | 2.1 | 75.5 | 77.6 | 1,765.6 | 4.4% |
| Scotland | 18.4 | 92.5 | 110.9 | 5,013.0 | 2.2% |
| Northern Ireland | 0.2 | 7.5 | 7.7 | 1,035.6 | 0.7% |
| England | 19.6 | 292.7 | 312.4 | 9,098.3 | 3.4% |
| North East | 1.7 | 23.2 | 24.9 | 622.1 | 4.0% |
| North West | 0.8 | 11.1 | 11.9 | 963.4 | 1.2% |
| Yorkshire & The Humber | 0.5 | 10.5 | 10.9 | 1,120.7 | 1.0% |
| East Midlands | 2.7 | 11.5 | 14.2 | 1,176.8 | 1.2% |
| West Midlands | 2.1 | 33.3 | 35.4 | 930.6 | 3.8% |
| Eastern | 1.4 | 17.5 | 18.9 | 1,393.7 | 1.4% |
| South East (inc. London) | 2.5 | 40.2 | 42.7 | 1,114.1 | 3.8% |
| South West | 8.0 | 145.4 | 153.4 | 1,776.8 | 8.6% |
Notes:
- Excludes common land.
Source: Organic certification bodies collated by Defra statistics and June Survey of Agriculture.
Download the full Organics dataset
Land in-conversion
Organic production comes from fully converted land. Before an area can be considered as fully organic, it must undergo a conversion process. The area in-conversion expressed as a percentage of the total organic area can give an indication of the potential growth in the organic sector. With the exception of 2019, the area of land in-conversion had seen a modest increase every year since 2014. However, in 2022 there has been an area decrease of 3.9% compared to 2021.
Figure 12.2: Land in-conversion as a proportion of the total area farmed organically
Enquiries: Josh Moatt on +44 (0)20 771 41913
Email: [email protected]
Source: Organic certification bodies collated by Defra statistics.
Text description of Figure 12.2: Figure 12.2 shows the area of land in-conversion as a proportion of total land area farmed organically in the UK, with percentage of in-conversion land ranging from 0% to 30%, between 2002 and 2022. The percentage of land in-conversion in the UK peaked in 2002 at 28%, it then fluctuated year on year, with the lowest area of in-conversion land occurring in 2014 at 3.6%. Since then the area of in-conversion land has risen steadily year on year, with the exception of 2019 and 2022, which saw a modest decreases.
Download the full Organics dataset
Land use
Organic land use
Permanent pasture accounts for the biggest share of the organic area (62%) followed by temporary pasture (19%) and cereals (9.7%). The full breakdown of organic land use in the UK is shown in figure 12.3 and tables 12.3 and 12.4.
Figure 12.3: Organic land use, 2022
Enquiries: Josh Moatt on +44 (0)20 771 41913
Email: [email protected]
| Use | Area (thousand hectares) |
|---|---|
| Permanent pasture (inc. rough grazing) | 314.1 |
| Temporary pasture | 96.1 |
| Cereals | 49.5 |
| Woodland | 17.3 |
| Other arable crops | 10.7 |
| Vegetables (inc. potatoes) | 10.3 |
| Unutilised and unknown | 7.7 |
| Fruit & nuts | 2.3 |
| Herbaceous & ornamentals | 0.7 |
Notes:
- Includes fully organic land and land in-conversion.
Source: Organic certification bodies collated by Defra statistics.
Download the full Organics dataset
Table 12.3: Fully organic and in-conversion land use, 2019 to 2022 (thousand hectares)
Enquiries: Josh Moatt on +44 (0)20 771 41913
Email: [email protected]
| Use | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | Percentage change 2022/2021 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cereals | 39.7 | 42.7 | 46.6 | 49.5 | 6.2% |
| Other arable crops | 8.9 | 9.2 | 10.8 | 10.7 | -1.0% |
| Fruit & nuts | 2.0 | 2.0 | 2.4 | 2.3 | -4.7% |
| Vegetables (inc. potatoes) | 9.4 | 9.5 | 9.8 | 10.3 | 4.8% |
| Herbaceous & ornamentals | 0.4 | 0.4 | 0.6 | 0.7 | 4.0% |
| Temporary pasture | 95.1 | 97.1 | 99.7 | 96.1 | -3.6% |
| Permanent pasture (inc. rough grazing) | 305.4 | 304.5 | 310.8 | 314.1 | 1.1% |
| Woodland | 15.2 | 16.0 | 17.4 | 17.3 | -0.7% |
| Unutilised land | 4.5 | 2.8 | 3.3 | 3.2 | -1.5% |
| Unknown | 4.5 | 4.9 | 5.2 | 4.4 | -15% |
| Total | 485.2 | 489.0 | 506.6 | 508.6 | 0.4% |
Notes:
- Includes fully organic and in-conversion areas.
- Some land areas are provided without a crop category or land use description, therefore these are classified as unknown.
- In 2019 data issues were identified with the detailed split of crops provided for 2018. The overall totals for 2018 remain unaffected but the breakdowns are subject to a degree of error and therefore should be treated with caution.
Source: Organic certification bodies collated by Defra statistics.
Download the full Organics dataset
Table 12.4: Detailed fully organic and in-conversion land use, 2022 (thousand hectares)
Enquiries: Josh Moatt on +44 (0)20 771 41913
Email: [email protected]
| Use | Area in-conversion | Fully organic area | Total organic area | Total agricultural area at June |
Total organic area as % of June area |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cereals | 3.2 | 46.3 | 49.5 | 3,156.1 | 1.6% |
| Wheat | 1.5 | 15.6 | 17.1 | 1,809.2 | 0.9% |
| Barley | 1.1 | 7.0 | 8.0 | 1,104.3 | 0.7% |
| Oats | 0.4 | 17.5 | 17.9 | 173.9 | 10% |
| Other cereals | 0.2 | 6.2 | 6.4 | 68.7 | 9.3% |
| Other arable crops | 1.2 | 9.5 | 10.7 | 1,115.3 | 1.0% |
| Sugar beet | 0.0 | 0.3 | 0.3 | 91.2 | 0.3% |
| Fodder, forage & silage | 1.2 | 8.2 | 9.4 | 90.0 | 10% |
| Maize, oilseeds, & protein crops | 0.1 | 1.0 | 1.0 | 934.1 | 0.1% |
| Fruit & nuts | 0.3 | 2.0 | 2.3 | 32.4 | 7.0% |
| Vegetables | 0.6 | 8.0 | 8.6 | 106.7 | 8.1% |
| Potatoes | 0.0 | 1.7 | 1.7 | 126.6 | 1.4% |
| Herbaceous & ornamentals | 0.0 | 0.6 | 0.7 | 10.1 | 6.5% |
| Temporary pasture | 7.0 | 89.1 | 96.1 | 1,224.9 | 7.8% |
| Permanent pasture | 12.6 | 233.5 | 246.1 | 6,030.1 | 4.1% |
| Rough grazing | 13.9 | 54.1 | 68.0 | 3,567.3 | 1.9% |
| Woodland | 1.2 | 16.1 | 17.3 | 930.6 | 1.9% |
| Unutilised land | 0.2 | 3.0 | 3.2 | X | X |
| Unknown | 0.0 | 4.3 | 4.4 | X | X |
| Total | 40.3 | 468.3 | 508.6 | X | X |
Notes:
- Excludes common land.
- Some land areas are provided without a crop category or land use description, therefore these are classified as unknown.
- X - no comparable June survey data is available.
Source: Organic certification bodies collated by Defra statistics and June Survey of Agriculture.
Download the full Organics dataset
Land use for crops
The three main crop types grown organically are cereals, vegetables including potatoes, and other arable crops. In the UK the area of organically grown cereal crops increased by 6.2% to 49 thousand hectares in 2022. Other arable crops decreased by 1.0% to 11 thousand hectares. The area of organically grown vegetables (including potatoes) increased by 4.8% to 10 thousand hectares compared to 2021.
Figure 12.4: Organic crops
Enquiries: Josh Moatt on +44 (0)20 771 41913
Email: [email protected]
Notes:
- Includes fully organic land and land in-conversion.
- Vegetables includes potatoes.
Source: Organic certification bodies collated by Defra statistics.
Text description of Figure 12.4 Figure 12.4 shows the area of land used to organically farm cereals, vegetables and other organic crops, in thousand hectares from 0 to 60, between 2002 to 2022. Cereals have the highest area of organic farming, which peaked in 2009 at 60.0 thousand hectares and then declined steadily until 2018, and has since increased year on year. Vegetables and other arable crops have had similar areas of organic farming throughout the time series. Vegetables peaked in 2008 at 19.8 thousand hectares and other arable crops peaked at 2002 with 20.6 thousand hectares. 2021 was the first time the area of organically farmed vegetables dipped below that of other arable crops since 2002.
Download the full Organics dataset
Livestock
In the UK organic red meat sector in 2022, sheep reared organically increased by 1.5% to 734 thousand animals and accounted for 2.2% of the total UK flock. Pigs reared organically increased by 9.2% to 35 thousand animals and accounted for 0.7% of the total UK pig herd. Organically reared cattle numbers increased by 1.0% to 299 thousand animals and accounted for 3.1% of the total UK herd. The number of poultry farmed organically decreased by 8.9% to 3,665 thousand birds, equating to 1.9% of the total UK poultry population.
Figure 12.5: Organic livestock
Enquiries: Josh Moatt on +44 (0)20 771 41913
Email: [email protected]
Notes:
- Data relates to fully organic only.
Source: Organic certification bodies collated by Defra statistics.
Text description of Figure 12.5 Figure 12.5 shows the number of livestock reared organically, from 0 to 1,200 thousand head, from 2011 to 2022. Sheep have consistently had the highest numbers of organically reared animals, peaking in 2012 at 1,133 thousand head. Since this peak, sheep numbers have fluctuated across the years, reaching an all time low in 2021. Both cattle and pig numbers have remained stable throughout the time series, with cattle ranging from 281 to 324 thousand head and pigs from 27 to 53 thousand head.
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Table 12.5: Number of livestock farmed organically, 2019 to 2022 (thousand head)
Enquiries: Josh Moatt on +44 (0)20 771 41913
Email: [email protected]
| Livestock | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | Percentage change 2022/2021 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cattle | 300.8 | 303.9 | 295.6 | 298.6 | 1.0% |
| Sheep | 782.2 | 731.2 | 723.6 | 734.4 | 1.5% |
| Pigs | 34.0 | 27.2 | 32.1 | 35.0 | 9.2% |
| Poultry | 3,464.1 | 3,786.3 | 4,020.8 | 3,664.9 | -8.9% |
| Other livestock | 6.0 | 6.5 | 5.7 | 7.9 | 40% |
Notes:
- Data relates to fully organic only.
- “Other livestock” includes goats, farmed deer, horses, camelids and any livestock not recorded elsewhere.
Source: Organic certification bodies collated by Defra statistics.
Download the full Organics dataset
Table 12.6: Detailed organic livestock numbers, 2022 (thousand head)
Enquiries: Josh Moatt on +44 (0)20 771 41913
Email: [email protected]
| Livestock | Total Organic livestock |
Total livestock at June |
Organic livestock as % of June livestock |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cattle | 298.6 | 9,631.9 | 3.1% |
| For slaughter | 122.3 | 3,801.4 | 3.2% |
| Dairy cows | 57.4 | 3,234.2 | 1.8% |
| Other cattle | 119.0 | 2,596.3 | 4.6% |
| Sheep | 734.4 | 33,066.5 | 2.2% |
| Breeding females | 385.1 | 15,779.2 | 2.4% |
| Other sheep | 349.4 | 17,287.3 | 2.0% |
| Pigs | 35.0 | 5,191.9 | 0.7% |
| Fattening pigs | 22.5 | 4,766.0 | 0.5% |
| Breeding sows | 3.4 | 342.8 | 1.0% |
| Other pigs | 9.1 | 83.1 | 11% |
| Poultry | 3,664.9 | 188,186.5 | 1.9% |
| Broilers | 1,576.6 | 126,051.8 | 1.3% |
| Laying hens | 2,004.8 | 40,245.8 | 5.0% |
| Other poultry | 83.5 | 21,889.0 | 0.4% |
| Other livestock | 7.9 | X | X |
| Farmed deer | 4.9 | 42.4 | 12% |
| Goats | 1.2 | 110.7 | 1.1% |
| Horses | 1.5 | 218.4 | 0.7% |
| Others | 0.3 | X | X |
Notes:
- Data relates to fully organic only.
- “Others” include camelids and any livestock not recorded elsewhere.
- X - no comparable June survey data is available.
Source: Organic certification bodies collated by Defra statistics, June survey of agriculture, and the Cattle Tracing system for cattle populations.
Download the full Organics dataset
Organic producers and processors
In 2022, there were 5.5 thousand producers and processors registered with the organic certification bodies in the UK, a decrease of 4.1% from 2021.
Figure 12.6: Organic producers and processors
Enquiries: Josh Moatt on +44 (0)20 771 41913
Email: [email protected]
| Years | Producers | Processors | Producers & processors | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 | 4,450 | 2,279 | 200 | 6,929 |
| 2012 | 4,118 | 2,206 | 163 | 6,487 |
| 2013 | 3,740 | 2,154 | 178 | 6,072 |
| 2014 | 3,521 | 2,307 | 174 | 6,002 |
| 2015 | 3,429 | 2,454 | 173 | 6,056 |
| 2016 | 3,398 | 2,804 | 161 | 6,363 |
| 2017 | 3,465 | 2,977 | 144 | 6,586 |
| 2018 | 3,483 | 2,569 | 136 | 6,188 |
| 2019 | 3,494 | 2,512 | 123 | 6,129 |
| 2020 | 3,407 | 2,150 | 197 | 5,754 |
| 2021 | 3,401 | 2,126 | 205 | 5,732 |
| 2022 | 3,285 | 1,988 | 223 | 5,496 |
Notes:
- In 2018 work was carried out to clarify how operators were recorded. This resulted in a number of operators that were previously recorded as processors being recorded in the correct categories of wholesalers/traders/retailers etc. We were unable to backdate these changes so earlier data are not directly comparable.
- In 2020 work was carried out by some control bodies to group existing operators together, so they effectively became ‘one operator’ whilst previously they may have been separate operators with separate licences.
- Amendments have been made to 2018 and 2019 data following revisions to the number of organic producers and organic producer/processors.
Source: Organic certification bodies collated by Defra statistics.
Download the full Organics dataset
Table 12.7: Number of organic producers and processors by country and English region, 2022
Enquiries: Josh Moatt on +44 (0)20 771 41913
Email: [email protected]
| Region | Number of producers only | Number of producers and processors | Number of processors only | Total organic producers and processors |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom | 3,285 | 223 | 1,988 | 5,496 |
| Wales | 552 | 29 | 82 | 663 |
| Scotland | 379 | 11 | 138 | 528 |
| Northern Ireland | 152 | 7 | 43 | 202 |
| England | 2,202 | 176 | 1,725 | 4,103 |
| North East | 73 | 5 | 34 | 112 |
| North West | 107 | 11 | 115 | 233 |
| Yorkshire & The Humber | 89 | 6 | 103 | 198 |
| East Midlands | 151 | 8 | 139 | 298 |
| West Midlands | 297 | 19 | 133 | 449 |
| Eastern | 169 | 10 | 228 | 407 |
| South East (inc. London) | 336 | 41 | 665 | 1,042 |
| South West | 980 | 76 | 308 | 1,364 |
Notes:
- In 2018 work was carried out to clarify how operators were recorded. This resulted in a number of operators that were previously recorded as processors being recorded in the correct categories of wholesalers/traders/retailers etc. We were unable to backdate these changes so earlier data are not directly comparable.
- In 2020 work was carried out by some control bodies to group existing operators together, so they effectively became ‘one operator’ whilst previously they may have been separate operators with separate licenses.
- Amendments have been made to 2018 and 2019 data following revisions to the number of organic producers and organic producer/processors.
Source: Organic certification bodies collated by Defra statistics.
Download the full Organics dataset
Table 12.8: Number of organic producers and processors by country and English region, 2019 to 2022
Enquiries: Josh Moatt on +44 (0)20 771 41913
Email: [email protected]
| Region | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | Percentage change 2022/2021 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom | 6,129 | 5,754 | 5,732 | 5,496 | -4.1% |
| Wales | 737 | 701 | 693 | 663 | -4.3% |
| Scotland | 559 | 541 | 529 | 528 | -0.2% |
| Northern Ireland | 206 | 205 | 214 | 202 | -5.6% |
| England | 4,627 | 4,307 | 4,296 | 4,103 | -4.5% |
| North East | 116 | 117 | 118 | 112 | -5.1% |
| North West | 274 | 241 | 244 | 233 | -4.5% |
| Yorkshire & The Humber | 246 | 227 | 216 | 198 | -8.3% |
| East Midlands | 353 | 328 | 308 | 298 | -3.2% |
| West Midlands | 460 | 468 | 454 | 449 | -1.1% |
| Eastern | 457 | 419 | 412 | 407 | -1.2% |
| South East (inc. London) | 1,217 | 1,092 | 1,143 | 1,042 | -8.8% |
| South West | 1,504 | 1,415 | 1,401 | 1,364 | -2.6% |
Notes:
- In 2018 work was carried out to clarify how operators were recorded. This resulted in a number of operators that were previously recorded as processors being recorded in the correct categories of wholesalers/traders/retailers etc. We were unable to backdate these changes so earlier data are not directly comparable.
- In 2020 work was carried out by some control bodies to group existing operators together, so they effectively became ‘one operator’ whilst previously they may have been separate operators with separate licenses.
- Amendments have been made to 2018 and 2019 data following revisions to the number of organic producers and organic producer/processors.
Source: Organic certification bodies collated by Defra statistics.
Download the full Organics dataset
Table 12.9: Number of organic crop and livestock producers and processors by country and English region, 2022
Enquiries: Josh Moatt on +44 (0)20 771 41913
Email: [email protected]
| Region | Crop producers |
Crop producers and processors |
Livestock producers |
Livestock producers and processors |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom | 3,073 | 214 | 2,197 | 137 |
| Wales | 532 | 28 | 451 | 21 |
| Scotland | 350 | 11 | 269 | 9 |
| Northern Ireland | 121 | 7 | 111 | 4 |
| England | 2,070 | 168 | 1,366 | 103 |
| North East | 71 | 5 | 50 | 4 |
| North West | 104 | 11 | 74 | 9 |
| Yorkshire & The Humber | 84 | 6 | 63 | 3 |
| East Midlands | 137 | 8 | 100 | 5 |
| West Midlands | 288 | 19 | 172 | 13 |
| Eastern | 142 | 8 | 67 | 4 |
| South East (inc. London) | 308 | 39 | 161 | 18 |
| South West | 936 | 72 | 679 | 47 |
Notes:
- Mixed organic holdings will be recorded under both the crop and livestock headings above. The numbers shown cannot be added together to arrive at total producers / processors by region as this will lead to double counting.
- In 2018 work was carried out to clarify how operators were recorded. This resulted in a number of operators that were previously recorded as processors being recorded in the correct categories of wholesalers/traders/retailers etc. We were unable to backdate these changes so earlier data are not directly comparable.
- In 2020 work was carried out by some control bodies to group existing operators together, so they effectively became ‘one operator’ whilst previously they may have been separate operators with separate licenses.
- Amendments have been made to 2018 and 2019 data following revisions to the number of organic producers and organic producer/processors.
Source: Organic certification bodies collated by Defra statistics.