The latest statistical data on global trends in organic farming have been published. The most recent figures for 2024 are summarized in The World of Organic Agriculture statistical yearbook, traditionally presented by the authors at the world’s leading organic food trade fair and conference, BIOFACH in Germany. This year’s fair placed special focus on the role of the younger generation of farmers in the organic sector, and numerous sessions examined commercial trends in organic products as well as development opportunities across the entire value chain. Sales of organic food increased by 3.5% worldwide and by 4.1% in Europe from 2023 to 2024. These products are becoming increasingly popular in Hungary as well: according to the yearbook, Hungary ranked second in the European Union in terms of retail sales growth, with an increase of 13.9%, just behind Luxembourg (20.2%).
At BIOFACH, the world’s leading organic food trade fair, around 2,200 companies from nearly 90 countries presented their product ranges. In addition to Germany, most exhibitors came from Italy, the Netherlands, Austria and Spain, and Hungary was also represented among the exhibitors. Among the international participants, India attracted particular attention this year, having been awarded the title “Country of the Year 2026” as a rapidly emerging region in organic farming.
Year after year, the international fair demonstrates the diversity, modernity and global character of the organic sector, while the parallel congress serves as a platform for international knowledge exchange, dialogue and joint reflection. It is here that ideas are born to promote sustainable nutrition and provide momentum for a future-oriented food sector.
The global organic market reached an all-time high in 2024, while the area under organic cultivation stabilized at 99 million hectares.
Conscious consumers are spending increasingly more on organic food and beverages, sending a clear message to producers, processors and retailers that demand for environmentally friendly, chemical-free and healthy organic products is strengthening. Global retail sales of organic food and beverages rose to €145 billion in 2024, representing an annual increase of €6.9 billion.
In 2024, the United States remained the largest single market for organic products (€60.4 billion), followed by the European Union (€49.5 billion). Within the EU, Germany (€17.0 billion) remained the largest market, while China (€15.5 billion) ranked among the leading global markets.
Switzerland recorded the highest per capita consumption of organic products worldwide, at €481 per capita, and also had the largest market share for organic food: in 2024, organic products accounted for 12.3% of total food sales. This placed Switzerland ahead of Denmark (11.6%), which had previously ranked first. Australia had the largest area of organic agricultural land (53.0 million hectares), while Liechtenstein had the highest share of organic land (43.5%) in relation to total agricultural land. On the production side, organically farmed agricultural land remained largely stable at 98.9 million hectares, while the number of organic farmers worldwide reached 4.8 million.
In Europe, retail sales of organic food increased to €58.7 billion, indicating renewed strengthening of consumer confidence in the region’s key markets. Germany remained Europe’s largest organic market (€17.0 billion), followed by France (€12.2 billion) and Italy (€5.2 billion). Total organic retail sales in Europe reached €58.7 billion (of which €49.5 billion in the EU), representing a 4.1% increase in Europe and a 3.6% increase in the European Union.
The area under organic farming in Europe remained at 19.6 million hectares (EU: 18.1 million hectares), accounting for 3.9% of total agricultural land in Europe and 11.1% in the European Union. The European countries with the largest areas of organic farmland were Spain (2.9 million hectares), France (2.7 million hectares) and Italy (2.5 million hectares).
Record growth in domestic organic retail
In terms of organic product sales growth in 2024, Norway (21.3%) and Luxembourg (20.2%) recorded the most significant increases in Europe. Hungary ranked third overall in Europe and second within the European Union, with a 13.9% increase in sales.
According to an analysis by the Research Institute of Organic Agriculture (ÖMKi), retail sales of organic food in Hungary show steady growth in the measured product categories based on NielsenIQ RMS* data. At the same time, it should be noted that, on average, Hungarians spend considerably less per capita on organic food than European consumers. In 2024, organic farming covered 308,022 hectares in Hungary, placing the country in the mid-range among Central European countries in terms of area.
“Several factors have contributed to the dynamic growth of domestic retail sales. An important characteristic of this growth is that it is not driven solely by price increases but is supported by genuine growth in demand, as the volume of organic products sold has also increased. It is important to highlight that price increases resulting from inflation were lower for organic products than for food products overall. This was partly due to rising sales of lower-priced private-label organic products, particularly in discount stores, which made organic products more accessible to price-sensitive consumers. In addition, online retail of organic food grew significantly, and the organic product range offered by supermarkets and drugstores expanded,” explained Dr. Gyöngyi Györéné Kis, Project Leader at the Research Institute of Organic Agriculture.
“In addition to analysing commercial data, our research institute also examines consumer behaviour among Hungarian consumers. Our analyses show that health- and environmentally conscious choices are playing an increasingly important role in domestic purchasing decisions. The opportunities provided by the retail sector and changes in consumer demand together resulted in the significant growth published in the new statistical yearbook,” the expert concluded.
On the first day of this year’s BIOFACH, the Research Institute of Organic Agriculture once again organised a policy session presenting organic farming trends and results in Central and Eastern European countries. During the session, participating policy representatives outlined the development of organic agriculture in the region and the policy practices applied to enable dynamic organic growth and progress towards sustainable food systems. In addition to Hungary, delegates from the Czech Republic, Poland, Bulgaria and Ukraine presented current trends in organic agriculture in their respective countries.
* Based on NielsenIQ RMS data (Copyright © 2026, Nielsen Consumer LLC)
