Organic products have been gaining popularity in Germany for years, and the organic area has also increased significantly – but recently, this development has stalled. In 2024, the share of organic land in the total area used for agriculture is 11.5%, only slightly above the previous year's level (11.4%).

How does Germany compare with other European countries – both in terms of area and organic retail sales? Are the dynamics similar, or does Germany play a special role here? Data from FiBL for 2019 and 2023 enable a comparison of the seven EU countries with the most organic land.
 

According to this, in 2023, 1.9 million hectares of land in Germany are farmed organically, which is significantly less than in Spain (3 million hectares), France (2.8 million hectares), or Italy (2.5 million hectares). At 11.4% of the land used for agriculture, the share is slightly larger than in France (9.6%) but still smaller than in Spain (12.2%) and Italy (18.7%).

Between 2019 and 2023, an increase in organically farmed area is observed in all countries considered. It is also evident that this increase is somewhat weaker in Germany and Austria than in the other countries shown. The dynamics of conversion vary over time depending on the country. The pace of conversion varies from country to country.

Germany stands out in terms of organic retail sales: at around €16 billion, it is well ahead of France (€12 billion) in 2023. The gap has only grown in recent years – in 2019, sales were still close together at €12 billion (Germany) and €11.3 billion (France). In Italy (€3.9 billion) and Spain (€2.75 billion), organic sales are significantly lower, even though larger areas are farmed organically and the populations are also high, at 59 million and 48 million inhabitants respectively. These countries are among the major exporters of organic products, while Germany covers a large part of its demand through imports. Depending on the product, there are separate markets: vegetables such as cucumbers and tomatoes are often imported from Spain, while products from third countries – such as coffee, cocoa, and bananas – are frequently imported as raw materials and sometimes processed further in Germany, creating additional value added domestically.

The topic of organic farming is coming into sharp focus at Berlin International Green Week, which is regarded as an important platform for dialogue between agriculture, politics, and consumers. The continuing high demand for organic products in Germany—as reflected in organic retail sales—creates favorable conditions for further expansion of organic production. At the same time, political regulations and regional differences in soil and climate conditions influence productivity and competitiveness. Land area and market development are not directly related, but together they provide insightful information about the structure, dynamics, and trade links of the national organic market.

Targeted use of domestic potential can help to increasingly meet demand with domestic organic products and strengthen regional value chains. At the same time, a European perspective remains indispensable: differing production conditions, climatic challenges, and common sustainability goals require a coordinated EU agricultural policy and trade coordination. In light of geopolitical uncertainties, increasing demands on security of food supply, and the trend toward more resilient food systems, cooperation within Europe is becoming increasingly important.

The figures show that organic farming in Germany is strong but has room for improvement. Targeted efforts are needed to ensure that domestic production can meet the high demand in the future. The path to more resilient and sustainable food systems remains a joint task.
 

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