The total area of organic farmland in the world is 98.9 million hectares, which represents 2.1% of total farmland, according to new research.

Organic agriculture is now practised in more than 180 countries by at least 4.8 million farmers.

The 27th edition of The World of Organic Agriculture - published by the Research Institute of Organic Agriculture FiBL and IFOAM – Organics International - also shows that global sales of organic food and drink have hit almost €145 billion.

The detailed statistics on organic farming, land use and crops were presented by researchers at BIOFACH, a leading trade fair for organic food in Nuremberg, Germany, which runs until Friday (February 13).

According to researchers, consumers are spending more on organic food and drink across key markets, sending a clear signal to producers, processors, and retailers that demand remains resilient.

Based on statistics for 2024, the US has the largest organic market (€60.4 billion), followed by Germany (€17 billion) and China (€15.5 billion).

Switzerland recorded the highest per capita consumption worldwide at €481 per person and the highest organic market share globally at 12.3% of total food sales in 2024.

Organic farming

On the production side, organic farmland remained broadly stable at 98.9 million hectares, indicating continuity in the global production base.

Australia had the largest organic agricultural area (53.0 million hectares), and Liechtenstein had the highest organic farmland share (43.5%).

In 2024, combined organic imports into the EU and the US reached 5.9 million metric tons, reflecting strong market pull and increasingly connected supply chains (up 12.3%, by 0.6 million metric tons).

The largest exporters to the EU and US markets were Mexico, Ecuador, and Canada.

Ireland

Closer to home, according to Bord Bia, 67% of Irish shoppers buy organic food and drink on a monthly basis. In 2025, the same organisation found that there were 5,500 Irish organic farmers in operation.

Through recent national food strategies, Ireland has a target to increase the amount of agricultural land being farmed organically to 10% (or 450,000ha) by 2030.