However, the picture is nuanced – while the findings suggest an extra 15% of organic land will come on-stream in the near future, about two-thirds of that will be in Scotland. Half (48%) of the total will be used for rough grazing.
At the same time, organic land in production rose by just 1.4% in 2024 to 461,000 hectares, with the total number of operators in the sector down from 5,133 to 5,004 and output declines in several commodity categories.
The Defra stats show the UK had 461,000 hectares of organic land in 2024 across England (56%), Scotland (31%), Wales (12%) and Northern Ireland (1.2%).
“The rise in land entering organic conversion suggests renewed interest, but organic farming is evidently not without challenges.”
NFU Deputy President Paul Tompkins
Permanent pasture including rough grazing (64% ) – which saw the biggest increase by 11% – temporary pasture (17%) and cereals (9.3%) were the leading land uses.
Organic livestock on the decline
Organic livestock numbers mostly declined:
- Cattle: 3.8%
- Sheep: 4.6%
- Poultry (overall): 2%, eggs increased
- Pigs: 21%
Every major livestock category is shrinking, with pigs showing the sharpest decline with a 21% reduction.
However, there is one notable exception within the poultry sector; organic laying hens increased from 2.174 million to 2.333 million, representing a 7.3% rise.
Future remains uncertain
NFU Deputy President Paul Tompkins said the findings presented an “interesting, somewhat contradictory picture”.
“The rise in land entering organic conversion suggests renewed interest, but organic farming is evidently not without challenges,” he said.
“Part of the sector has either seen small increases or is in decline; some livestock numbers are falling, arable areas shrinking, and the number of operators is continuing to drop.
“Consumer demand for organic food remains strong and the NFU wants that appetite to be met here in the UK. However, while policy incentives appear to have encouraged farmers and growers to begin the journey toward organic production, the closure of the 2024 Sustainable Farming Incentive created uncertainty, making it harder to plan in the long term.
“And with regulatory alignment with the EU expected in the next couple of years, the future remains uncertain.
“It’s never been more important to have a resilient British food system with farmers and growers at its heart, and that includes organic. We just need the confidence and support to grow our businesses.”
