Chapter 12: Organic farming
Updated 21 October 2022
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Summary
Key results for 2021 compared to 2020
- The area of land farmed organically increased by 3.6% to 507 thousand hectares.
- The area in-conversion increased by 34% to 42 thousand hectares.
- England has 61% of the organically managed land, Scotland has 21%, Wales 16% and Northern Ireland 2%.
- Within England nearly half of all organic land falls within the South West region.
- There were 5.7 thousand organic operators in the United Kingdom.
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.
Area of land farmed organically
Figure 12.1 Area of land in-conversion and fully organic
Enquiries: Sarah Thompson on +44 (0)20 802 66462
Email: organic-stats@defra.gov.uk
Source: Organic certification bodies collated by Defra statistics
Download the full Organics dataset.
In 2021 the United Kingdom had a total area of 507 thousand hectares farmed organically up from 489 thousand hectares in 2020. Organically farmed area includes both the fully converted area (where organic production comes from) and area under conversion.
The organically farmed area represents 2.9% of the total farmed area on agricultural holdings in the United Kingdom (17.2 million hectares in 2021). Before an area can be considered as fully organic, it must undergo a conversion process. The area in-conversion showed a 34% increase in 2021.
England has 61% of the organically managed land, Scotland has 21%, Wales 16% and Northern Ireland 2%.
Regional breakdowns for England (tables 12.2 and 12.3) are provided to be consistent with other data in this chapter. Within England nearly half of all organic land falls within the South West region.
Table 12.1 Organic and in-conversion land area by country (thousand hectares)
Enquiries: Sarah Thompson on +44 (0)20 802 66462
Email: organic-stats@defra.gov.uk
| 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Land area, in conversion | ||||
| England | 20.3 | 19.0 | 20.4 | 25.8 |
| Wales | 3.6 | 1.8 | 1.8 | 1.7 |
| Scotland | 8.5 | 6.8 | 8.7 | 14.2 |
| Northern Ireland | 0.5 | 0.5 | 0.3 | 0.2 |
| United Kingdom | 32.9 | 28.1 | 31.3 | 42.0 |
| Land area, fully organic | ||||
| England | 269.0 | 281.6 | 281.3 | 285.4 |
| Wales | 81.4 | 82.6 | 81.3 | 81.4 |
| Scotland | 83.1 | 85.3 | 87.0 | 89.6 |
| Northern Ireland | 7.6 | 7.6 | 8.0 | 8.2 |
| United Kingdom | 441.1 | 457.1 | 457.6 | 464.7 |
| Total UK organic land area | 474.0 | 485.2 | 489.0 | 506.6 |
Source: Organic certification bodies collated by Defra statistics
Download the full Organics dataset.
Table 12.2 Area of organic land in-conversion, by region in England (thousand hectares)
Enquiries: Sarah Thompson on +44 (0)20 802 66462
Email: organic-stats@defra.gov.uk
| 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| North East | 1.6 | 1.7 | 0.4 | 2.3 |
| North West | 0.6 | 0.5 | 1.5 | 1.4 |
| Yorkshire & Humberside | 0.6 | 0.7 | 0.5 | 0.4 |
| East Midlands | 1.1 | 1.6 | 1.3 | 2.2 |
| West Midlands | 4.4 | 2.0 | 2.6 | 2.9 |
| Eastern | 1.2 | 2.1 | 2.6 | 3.1 |
| South East (inc. London) | 2.0 | 2.3 | 2.8 | 3.7 |
| South West | 8.7 | 8.0 | 8.7 | 9.9 |
| England | 20.3 | 19.0 | 20.4 | 25.8 |
Source: Organic certification bodies collated by Defra statistics
Download the full Organics dataset.
Table 12.3 Area of fully organic land, by region in England (thousand hectares)
Enquiries: Sarah Thompson on +44 (0)20 802 66462
Email: organic-stats@defra.gov.uk
| 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| North East | 21.6 | 22.3 | 22.2 | 22.4 |
| North West | 11.6 | 11.5 | 11.0 | 11.8 |
| Yorkshire & Humberside | 9.7 | 10.3 | 10.0 | 10.3 |
| East Midlands | 12.6 | 13.7 | 11.2 | 11.8 |
| West Midlands | 28.7 | 30.3 | 32.0 | 32.4 |
| Eastern | 12.1 | 16.4 | 15.6 | 15.6 |
| South East (inc. London) | 39.4 | 42.8 | 41.2 | 41.8 |
| South West | 133.3 | 134.3 | 138.0 | 139.4 |
| England | 269.0 | 281.6 | 281.3 | 285.4 |
Source: Organic certification bodies collated by Defra statistics
Download the full Organics dataset.
Land use and livestock numbers
Permanent pasture accounted for the biggest share of the organic area (61%), followed by temporary pasture (20%) and cereals (9.2%). The three main crop types grown organically are cereals, vegetables including potatoes and other arable crops.
The number of poultry farmed organically in the United Kingdom increased by 6.2% between 2020 and 2021, rising to just over 4.0 million birds. However, this equates to only 2.1% of the total UK poultry population. Sheep reared organically decreased by 1.0% to 724 thousand animals and accounted for 2.2% of the total UK flock. Pigs reared organically increased by 18% to 32 thousand animals and accounted for 0.6% of the total UK pig herd. Organically reared cattle numbers decreased by 2.7% to 296 thousand animals and accounted for 3.1% of the total UK herd.
Table 12.4 Organic in-conversion land area by use; United Kingdom (thousand hectares)
Enquiries: Sarah Thompson on +44 (0)20 802 66462
Email: organic-stats@defra.gov.uk
| 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cereals | 2.2 | 3 | 3.7 | 3.4 |
| Other crops | 0.9 | 0.9 | 1.5 | 1.8 |
| Fruit & nuts | 0.1 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 0.4 |
| Vegetables (including potatoes) | 0.8 | 1.1 | 0.8 | 1.0 |
| Herbs & ornamentals | 0.1 | - | 0.1 | 0.2 |
| Temporary pasture | 7.3 | 6.1 | 6.5 | 8.7 |
| Permanent pasture | 20.3 | 15.4 | 17.4 | 24.5 |
| Woodland | 0.5 | 0.8 | 0.9 | 1.3 |
| Unutilised land | 0.4 | 0.4 | 0.2 | 0.3 |
| Unknown | 0.3 | 0.2 | 0.2 | 0.4 |
| Total area, in- conversion | 32.9 | 28.1 | 31.3 | 42.0 |
Source: Organic certification bodies collated by Defra statistics
Notes:
- Permanent pasture includes rough grazing.
- Land areas provided without a crop category or land use description are classified as “unknown”.
- In 2019 data issues were identified with the detailed split of crops provided for 2018. The overall totals for 2018 were not affected but the breakdowns are subject to a degree of error and therefore should be treated with caution.
- ’ - ‘ means ‘nil’ or ‘negligible’
Download the full Organics dataset.
Table 12.5 Fully organic land area by use; United Kingdom (thousand hectares)
Enquiries: Sarah Thompson on +44 (0)20 802 66462
Email: organic-stats@defra.gov.uk
| 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cereals | 34.8 | 36.8 | 39.0 | 43.2 |
| Other crops | 6.5 | 8.0 | 7.7 | 9.0 |
| Fruit & nuts | 1.6 | 1.9 | 1.9 | 2.0 |
| Vegetables (including potatoes) | 8.5 | 8.3 | 8.7 | 8.9 |
| Herbs & ornamentals | 6.6 | 0.4 | 0.3 | 0.5 |
| Temporary pasture | 54.5 | 89.0 | 90.5 | 91.1 |
| Permanent pasture | 309.9 | 290.0 | 287.1 | 286.3 |
| Woodland | 7.1 | 14.4 | 15.1 | 16.1 |
| Unutilised land | 3.5 | 4.2 | 2.6 | 3.0 |
| Unknown | 8.1 | 4.2 | 4.7 | 4.7 |
| Total area, fully organic | 441.1 | 457.1 | 457.6 | 464.7 |
Source: Organic certification bodies collated by Defra statistics
Download the full Organics dataset.
Table 12.6 Estimates of organic livestock numbers; United Kingdom (thousand head)
Enquiries: Sarah Thompson on +44 (0)20 802 66462
Email: organic-stats@defra.gov.uk
| 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cattle | 324 | 301 | 304 | 296 |
| Sheep | 827 | 782 | 731 | 724 |
| Pigs | 37 | 34 | 27 | 32 |
| Poultry | 3,381 | 3,464 | 3,786 | 4,021 |
| Other livestock | 6 | 6 | 7 | 6 |
Source: Organic certification bodies collated by Defra statistics
Notes:
- Certification bodies record production data at various times of the year, so figures should be treated with care as they will not represent an exact snapshot of organic livestock farming.
- Data relate to fully organic only.
- “Other Livestock” includes goats, farmed deer, horses, camelids and any livestock not recorded elsewhere.
- 2020 poultry data have been amended following receipt of revised data.
Download the full Organics dataset.
Organic operators
There were 5,732 certified organic operators in the United Kingdom in 2021, a decrease from 5,754 in 2020.
The figures shown in table 12.7 are not directly comparable between years due to recalibration of how producers are classified by some control bodies in 2018 and 2020, see notes (2).
Table 12.7 Number of organic operators (a) – by region
Enquiries: Sarah Thompson on +44 (0)20 802 66462
Email: organic-stats@defra.gov.uk
| 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| North East | 113 | 116 | 117 | 118 |
| North West | 263 | 274 | 241 | 244 |
| Yorkshire & Humberside | 240 | 246 | 227 | 216 |
| East Midlands | 350 | 353 | 328 | 308 |
| West Midlands | 475 | 460 | 468 | 454 |
| Eastern | 477 | 457 | 419 | 412 |
| South East (inc. London) | 1,196 | 1,217 | 1,092 | 1,143 |
| South West | 1,522 | 1,504 | 1,415 | 1,401 |
| England | 4,636 | 4,627 | 4,307 | 4,296 |
| Wales | 759 | 737 | 701 | 693 |
| Scotland | 577 | 559 | 541 | 529 |
| Northern Ireland | 216 | 206 | 205 | 214 |
| United Kingdom | 6,188 | 6,129 | 5,754 | 5,732 |
Source: Organic certification bodies collated by Defra statistics
Notes:
- Organic operators include producers, processors and producer/processors. Processors can include abattoirs, bakers, stores and wholesalers. The recorded location depends on the address registered with the certifier bodies and so larger businesses may be recorded at their headquarters.
- In 2018 and 2020, work was carried out to clarify how operators were recorded. As a result, in 2018 a number of operators, that were previously recorded as processors, were moved to the correct categories of wholesalers/traders/retailers etc and in 2020, existing operators were grouped together to become 1 operator. Care should be taken when making comparisons.
Download the full Organics dataset.
Table 12.8 Numbers of organic crop and livestock producers and processors 2021 – by region
Enquiries: Sarah Thompson on +44 (0)20 802 66462
Email: organic-stats@defra.gov.uk
| Number of operators | No crop producers | No crop producers and processors | No livestock producers | No livestock producers and processors |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| North East | 68 | 7 | 49 | 6 |
| North West | 104 | 11 | 75 | 8 |
| Yorkshire & Humberside | 88 | 7 | 64 | 4 |
| East Midlands | 147 | 8 | 107 | 4 |
| West Midlands | 298 | 13 | 174 | 10 |
| Eastern | 150 | 11 | 85 | 4 |
| South East (inc. London) | 319 | 39 | 161 | 20 |
| South West | 976 | 73 | 683 | 45 |
| England | 2,150 | 169 | 1,398 | 101 |
| Wales | 573 | 12 | 483 | 10 |
| Scotland | 359 | 10 | 276 | 7 |
| Northern Ireland | 142 | 7 | 115 | 4 |
| United Kingdom | 3,224 | 198 | 2,272 | 122 |
Source: Organic certification bodies collated by Defra statistics
Notes:
- Mixed organic holdings will be recorded under both the crop and livestock headings above, so the above numbers cannot be added together to get total producers/processors by region as this will lead to double counting. For totals, please see table 12.7.