The OrganicTargets4EU Horizon Europe project will very soon release its comprehensive policy recommendations to support the EU’s ambition of expanding organic farming and organic aquaculture across Europe.
The new report, “D7.1 Policy recommendations for the delivery of the organic F2F targets by 2030 and beyond”, outlines actionable measures to strengthen organic production, market demand, knowledge and innovation, and covers the feasibility of the organic targets set in the EU’s Farm to Fork Strategy.
Recommendations propose short-term options within existing policy frameworks (2025-2027) as well as opportunities for policy developments in the next phase of CAP and Horizon Europe reform from 2028. As the project, OrganicTargets4EU, comes to an end, it also releases 12 policy briefs summarising the main results and an update of the 29 organic sector country fact sheets with new data.
Launched in 2022 and coordinated by IFOAM Organics Europe, OrganicTargets4EU has analysed the achievability and impacts of the EU’s target of 25% agricultural land under organic management by 2030, together with significant growth in organic aquaculture.
The findings reveal strong progress but also emphasise that the target will require intensified political commitment, policy innovation, and market support.
Analysis calls for stronger action to achieve Europe’s organic targets
Europe’s organic sector continues to expand, with more than 18 million hectares – over 11% of EU farmland – managed organically in 2024.
Growth, however, remains uneven: While several mature markets have slowed following recent economic disruptions, others such as Portugal, Greece, Ireland, Bulgaria and Romania are accelerating rapidly. New projections show that the EU could realistically reach 15–18% organic land by 2030, with the full 25% target attainable closer to 2035 unless political commitment and policy action intensify.
To close this gap, the OrganicTargets4EU project sets out a clear roadmap. It calls for renewed dedication to the 25% target, stronger national and EU-action plans, and more coherent support schemes that reward real environmental outcomes and give farmers stable, predictable conditions. The report emphasises the need to strengthen organic supply chains through investments in processing, logistics, and public procurement, while ensuring fair pricing and greater transparency.
At the same time, maintaining and strengthening consumer trust will be essential. Wider product availability, clearer communication, and targeted education – especially for younger generations – can help drive demand. Countries are also encouraged to invest in better advisory services, training and innovation systems, alongside securing long-term research funding dedicated to organic priorities.
The project also highlights major untapped potential in organic aquaculture, where simplifying regulation, improving feed and juvenile supply, and boosting market visibility could unlock significant growth.
The 12 policy briefs cover all project themes related to the two project strands: Production and markets, and knowledge and innovation. Each brief elaborates on thematically focused policy recommendations that cover short-term options within existing policy frameworks (up to 2027), as well as opportunities for policy developments in the next policy reform from 2028 onwards. Where suitable, they also do horizon scanning for development post 2030 for the whole next multi-annual financial framework to 2034.
1. Drivers and barriers in the organic sector
2. Scenarios and backcasting: foresight analysis of the pathways and policy options
3. Sector growth projections, target achievability and relevance
4. Modelling of production and market trends
5. Organic production support payments
6. Supply chain development
7. Consumer demand influences
8. AKIS: Advice, mentoring and training
9. Research and innovation
10. Statistics and market data
11. Aquaculture
12. Organic action plans and capacity development
Together, these recommendations form a practical strategy for accelerating Europe’s transition to organic food and farming, ensuring that the sector continues to grow, deliver environmental benefits, and bring high-quality organic products within reach for more European citizens.
Dr. Nicolas Lampkin of the Thünen Institute of Farm Economics says:
“The EU’s target of 25% of farmland to be organic by 2030 was highly ambitious and influential on national policies. While the target may not be achieved, it remains relevant for policy making in the next CAP to 2034. Political will, coherent long-term strategies, and investment across the value chain will determine whether Europe can reach the target and unlock the full environmental and social benefits of organic agriculture.”
Last, to track the development of the organic sector in Europe, OrganicTargets4EU has produced organic sector factsheets on production and market trends and policies for 29 European countries. The updated fact sheets with data up to 2024 will also be available here.
Contact details
Authors: Nic Lampkin (TI) and Susanne Padel (IFOAM EU) and project coordinator Ambra de Simone (IFOAM EU)
Background information
The Horizon Europe project OrganicTargets4EU (2022-2026) “Transformation scenarios for boosting organic farming and organic aquaculture towards the Farm-to-Fork targets” aims to support the EU’s targets to reach 25% of agricultural land under organic farming and a significant increase in organic aquaculture by 2030. By 2023, 11% of EU agricultural land was managed organically, with 12% likely to be reached in 2025.
Organic aquaculture represented solely 6.7% of total European aquaculture production in 2020, and its growth trajectory is not sufficient to realise its full growth potential and meet the EU’s objectives. The organic targets require an upscaling of production and consumption and a radical transformation of farm structures and value chains, ambitious R&I for organics, strong advisory services, and knowledge exchange and training opportunities for all organic operators and related professionals.
OrganicTargets4EU is funded by the European Union (Grant no. 101060368) and by the Swiss State Secretariat for Education, Research and Innovation (SERI) (Grant no. 22.00155). Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union, European Research Executive Agency (REA) or Swiss State Secretariat for Education, Research and Innovation (SERI). Neither the European Union nor any other granting authority can be held responsible for them.