The number of certified organic farms also declined last year. In surrounding countries, there is still some moderate growth. This raises questions about the strategy of the Danish government, given its ambitions to double the organic area by 2030 at the latest.
Production of organic milk also decreased, from 728 million kilos to 691 million. This represents a five percent decline for organic milk, while overall milk production remained unchanged. Organic milk accounts for roughly 12 percent of total milk production in Denmark.
Demand for organic meat also declined last year for the third consecutive year. Until then, sales of this type of organic meat had nearly continuously increased since 2010. Organic food has been on average 6 percent more expensive than non-organic in recent years.
Experts point to various economic causes including falling prices for organic agricultural products and declining demand. Some Danish farmers are even reverting back to conventional farming due to higher yields.
Organic farmers in several EU countries are sounding the alarm. Prices for their organic agricultural products are falling, and in some countries the share of organic farming decreased by 6 percent. With this trend, the sector will reach at most fifteen percent by 2030, far less than the EU target figure.