1.1. Contact organisation
Eurostat, the statistical office of the European Union
1.2. Contact organisation unit
E2: Environmental statistics and accounts; sustainable development
1.3. Contact name
Confidential because of GDPR
1.4. Contact person function
Confidential because of GDPR
1.5. Contact mail address
e-mail contact: ESTAT-SDG-MONITORING@ec.europa.eu
1.6. Contact email address
Confidential because of GDPR
1.7. Contact phone number
Confidential because of GDPR
1.8. Contact fax number
Confidential because of GDPR
2.1. Metadata last certified
28 March 2025
2.2. Metadata last posted
28 March 2025
2.3. Metadata last update
28 March 2025
The indicator is part of the EU Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) indicator set. It is used to monitor progress towards SDG 2 on ending hunger and malnutrition; which is embedded in the European Commission’s 2024-2029 Priorities under 'Sustaining our quality of life: Food security, water and nature'.
SDG 2 - among other things - aims to ensure access to safe, nutritious and sufficient food. Sustainable and resilient food production systems are a key factor in achieving this goal. Organic farming is a method of production that puts the highest emphasis on environmental protection and, with regard to livestock production, animal welfare considerations. It avoids or largely reduces the use of synthetic chemical inputs such as fertilisers, pesticides, additives and medical products.
Indicator can be considered as part of global SDG indicator 2.4.1 "Proportion of agricultural area under productive and sustainable agriculture". While organic farming is not explicitly mentioned in the Agenda 2030, the EU considers organic farming as a method of production, which puts the highest emphasis on environmental and woldlife protection and, with regard to livestock production, on animal welfare considerations. It avoids or largely reduces the use of synthetic chemical inputs such as fertilisers, pesticides, additives and medical products. The production of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) and their use in animal feed are forbidden.
The Biodiversity strategy for 2030 is a key component of the European Green Deal. The strategy aims to reduce the use and risk of chemical pesticides, reduce nutrient losses, and reduce the use of fertilisers and antibiotics. The Biodiversity strategy sets the target of achieving 25 % of the EU’s total farmland under organic farming by 2030.
4.1. Data description
This indicator is defined as the share of total utilised agricultural area (UAA) occupied by organic farming (existing organically farmed areas and areas undergoing conversion).
Organic farming is a production method that puts the highest emphasis on environmental and wildlife protection and, with regard to livestock production, on animal welfare considerations. It avoids or largely reduces the use of synthetic chemical inputs, such as fertilisers, pesticides, additives and medical products.
4.2. Unit of measure
% of total utilised agricultural area (UAA)
4.3. Reference Period
Calendar year.
4.4. Accuracy - overall
The indicator is produced according to the high-level quality standards of European Statistics. Details on accuracy can be found in the metadata of the source datasets (see link to related metadata).
4.5. Source data
4.5.1. Source data - Organisation
ESS
4.5.2. Source data - Comment
Data source: European Statistical System (ESS).
Data provider: Statistical Office of the European Union (Eurostat), based on data reported by the countries.
5.1. Frequency of dissemination
5.1.1. Frequency of dissemination - Grade
Every year5.1.2. Frequency of dissemination - Comment
Indicator is updated annually. Complete and updated ESS data release information can be accessed via Eurostat release calendar.
5.2. Timeliness
5.2.1. Timeliness - Grade
T+1 year5.2.2. Timeliness - Comment
New data points are disseminated within one year after the reference year.
6.1. Reference area
6.1.1. Reference Area - Grade
All EU MS6.1.2. Reference Area - Comment
Data are presented for all EU Member States plus Iceland, Norway, Switzerland, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Albania and Türkiye.
6.2. Comparability - geographical
6.2.1. Comparability - geographical - Grade
All EU MS6.2.2. Comparability - geographical - Comment
Because of missing national methodologies, the reliability of comparisons between countries might be limited in spite of harmonised questionnaire for the data collection on organic farming.
6.3. Coverage - Time
6.3.1. Time Coverage - Grade
> 10 years6.3.2. Time Coverage - Comment
Presented time series starts in 2012.
6.4. Comparability - over time
6.4.1. Comparability - over time - Grade
> 4 data points6.4.2. Comparability - over time - Comment
Length of comparable time series without methodological break is longer than 4 data points.
7.1. Dissemination format - Publications
Analysis of indicator is presented in Eurostat's annual monitoring report on Sustainable development in the EU (progress towards SDGs in an EU context).
7.2. Dissemination format - online database
See table sdg_02_40
7.3. Dissemination format - other
Copyrights: Eurostat Copyright/Licence Policy is applicable.
