In 2007, the total organic area accounted for 4.1% of the total utilised agricultural area in the EU27. The highest proportions of organic area were recorded in Austria (15.7% of the total agricultural area), Sweden (9.9%) and Italy (8.9%).
Highest increase in organic area between 2005 and 2008 in Poland, Lithuania and Spain
Between 2007 and 2008, the total organic area increased in all Member States for which data are available, except Italy (-13%). The highest increases were recorded in Spain (+33%), Bulgaria (+22%), Slovakia (+19%), Hungary (+15%) and Greece (+14%). For the longer time period between 2005 and 2008, the highest increases were found in Poland (+94%), Lithuania (+89%), Spain (+63%) and Belgium (+57%). Decreases were registered only in Italy (-6%) and Hungary (-5%).
Cereals and green fodder most important organic arable crops
In 2008, the three main uses for organic land in the EU27 were pastures & meadows (44% of the fully converted organic area in the EU27 excluding Germany), arable crops (37%) and permanent crops (10%). The remaining 9% are fallow and unutilised land.
In 2008, the most important arable crop in the EU27 was cereals (44% of the fully converted organic area under arable crops), followed by green fodder (42%), other arable crops such as dried pulses, potatoes, sugar beet, arable seeds & seedlings (7%), fresh vegetables and industrial crops (both 4%).
Cereals were particularly important in Lithuania (79% of the area under arable crops), Portugal (75%) and Ireland (73%), while the highest proportions of green fodder were found in Latvia (67%), Estonia (66%) and Sweden (58%).
