Full Breakdown
England’s Organic Action Plan Aims for 10% Farmland by 2036
By Drooid · · How we work
Launch of the Organic Action Plan
On October 14 the government unveiled the Organic Action Plan for England (OAPE). Environment Secretary Dame Angela Eagle announced a target to raise the share of English agricultural land farmed organically from roughly 3.4 % to 10 % by 2036. The plan rests on three pillars: support for organic producers, aligning domestic supply with demand, and promoting English organic products through consumer awareness and public-sector procurement.
Background & Context
England’s organic footprint is among the lowest in Europe; the last dedicated organic farming strategy was published more than twenty years ago. By contrast, France farms 10.4 % organically and aims for 18 % by 2027. The UK’s Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI) – a key source of transition funding – closed its September 2026 window in six hours, leaving many farmers without support for conversion.
Data & Statistics
- Current organic land in England: ? 3.4 % (about 301,000 ha).
- Target for 2036: 10 % of English farmland.
- Organic food sales: > £3.9 bn annually, growing 4.2 % year-on-year.
- Survey by the Soil Association: 85 % of organic farms report stable or rising sales.
- UK-wide organic farmland remains at ? 3 % according to 2024 government figures.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
- Land share figures: The plan cites England’s organic land at 3.4 %, while the latest UK-wide data reports 3 % overall, creating a slight inconsistency in baseline measurements.
- Funding provisions: OAPE references continued support through existing schemes (SFI, Countryside Stewardship) but does not announce new ring-fenced funds, despite EOF calls for dedicated financial incentives.
Verbatim Quotes
- “Organic farming should not be treated as a niche. More people are looking closely at where their food comes from, how it is produced and whether it meets standards they value.” — Rob Haward, Riverford CEO
- “Supporting domestic production will strengthen the resilience of our food supply chains and ensure British farmers and growers benefit from opportunities, rather than increasing our reliance on imports,” — Paul Tompkins, deputy president of the union
- “In the plan’s foreword, Eagle said: “Across England, organic farmers, growers and food businesses play an important role in producing high-quality food while caring for soils, wildlife and the rural communities they are part of.” — Angela Eagle, environment secretary
What’s Next
The plan’s rollout will be scrutinised at the Organic Trade Conference 2026 on October 15, where industry representatives will discuss implementation timelines, funding mechanisms and progress metrics.
