August 21, 2009
UK organic farmland up three percent on-year; producers up 3.5 percent
Organic farming in the UK increased in 2008, with land area up around three percent on the year and the number of organic producers and processors up 3.5 percent on the year, data published by the UK's Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) showed Thursday (Aug 20).
"The main changes to land are in the cereals area which has increased by 10 percent to 56,700 hectares and vegetables area which has increased by 16 percent over the year," said the report.
The area dedicated to organic farming as at June 2008 represents around four percent of the UK's total farmland, at 701,284 hectares, said the report.
Organic livestock numbers also increased on the year with pigs up 41 percent, cattle up 28 percent and sheep up 37 percent. However, organic poultry numbers decreased by two percent.
The report said there are now around 7,900 producers and processors in the UK's organic sector.
