Ireland continues to lag behind the rest of Europe for organic farming.
Latest data compiled by the EU’s statistics agency suggests only around two per cent of Ireland’s agricultural land is classed as ‘organic’.
The EU has set a target of 25 per cent organic farming by 2030.
Austria is already exceeding that proportion.
Over the last decade, organic farming in Ireland has increased by 60 per cent, but from a very low base.
Only Bulgaria and Malta have a smaller proportion of organic land than Ireland.
The European Commission says its farming strategy, including the organic target, is “at the heart of the European Green Deal”.
The Green Deal is the EU’s comprehensive plan to make Europe more environmentally friendly and sustainable in the face of climate change.
It is backed up with billions of Euro from the EU’s budget. And tough targets.