Report presented at BIOFACH “The World of Organic Agriculture 2026”, developed by FiBL in collaboration with IFOAM – Organics International, which depicts a European sector at two speeds: stable acreage and record-high consumption. In 2024, organic land in Europe remained essentially unchanged at 19,6 million hectares, 18,1 million of which were in the European Union. Organic farming represents 11,1% of EU UAA, compared to 3,9% for the continent as a whole.
In terms of national acreage, Spain leads the way with 2,9 million hectares, followed by France (2,7 million) and Italy (2,5 million). However, Italy stands out in terms of its impact: over 20% of Italy's UAA is organic, nearly double the European average. Italy also maintains its leadership position in terms of the number of operators: 87.042 producers out of 490.637 active in Europe, confirming a structured and widespread supply chain throughout the value chain.
The most dynamic data comes from the market: organic retail sales in Europe are expected to reach an all-time high of €58,7 billion in 2024, up 4,1%. For the first time, consumption growth outpaces cultivated area. Germany remains Europe's leading market with €17 billion, ahead of France (€12,2 billion) and Italy (€5,2 billion). Switzerland, on the other hand, has the highest per capita consumption in the world, at €481 annually. Globally, organic acreage remains stable at 99 million hectares, while global sales reach €145 billion. The United States leads with €60,4 billion, followed by Germany (€17 billion) and China (€15,5 billion).
For FederBio, the picture highlights a demand structurally oriented toward sustainable and healthy products. "For the first time, consumption growth is outpacing that of acreage," says President Maria Grazia Mammuccini, "but increased sales must go hand in hand with increased production." From a B2B perspective, the mismatch between supply and demand opens up significant opportunities for farmers, processors, and distributors: investments in conversion, agronomic innovation, varietal research, and logistics become strategic levers for capturing growth. The report also emphasizes the role of European policies: achieving the Green Deal's agroecological objectives remains crucial for supporting the competitiveness and resilience of agricultural businesses.
In a context of pressure on production costs and market volatility, organic products are thus consolidating their position not only as an ethical segment but as an economic asset for the European agri-food industry. The picture emerging from Biofach 2026 is clear: the market is accelerating, and production must keep pace. For Italy, a leader in terms of both incidence and operators, the challenge is to transform this structural primacy into further added value along the entire supply chain.
