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Environment Secretary Dame Angela Eagle Launches Organic Action Plan To Raise England Organic Farmland To 10%
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England aims 10% organic farmland by 2036, up from about 3.4%. Plan launched on 14 October by Environment Secretary Dame Angela Eagle.
10% by 2036
Environment Secretary Dame Angela Eagle launched the Organic Action Plan for England on Wednesday 14 October, setting an ambition to increase organic farmland from about 3.4% to 10% by 2036. Defra said the plan is a 10-year effort to expand organic farming in England, and it aims to help domestic producers meet rising consumer demand as UK organic retail sales reached £3.9bn in 2025.
Defra also said the plan will focus on supporting producers, strengthening domestic supply chains and stimulating demand through consumer awareness and public-sector procurement. Dame Angela Eagle said, "People are buying more organic food, and we want English farmers to be in a strong position to respond to that demand."
Funding and barriers
The English Organic Forum welcomed the plan but warned that delivery would be the real test, with Adrian Steele saying the sector needed a more joined-up approach to overcoming supply-chain barriers. Adrian Steele said, "An Organic Action Plan for England is a win for the UK’s food and farming system."
The plan also faced concerns over funding, with the English Organic Forum warning that stronger financial support would be needed to turn the government’s ambitions into reality. The Guardian reported that the plan set an ambition to increase the share of English land farmed organically to 10% by 2036, while it also highlighted concerns over how the transition will be funded.
Public procurement focus
Defra said the plan would improve links between farmers, processors and buyers to identify supply gaps and create more opportunities for English produce on supermarket shelves, in restaurants and in export markets. The plan also aimed to increase demand for English organic products through greater consumer awareness and public sector procurement, with government spending about £5bn/year on food and drink.
The GOV.UK blog said produce qualifies under the Higher Environmental Production Standards within the Government Buying Standards for Food and Catering Services, tying organic to public procurement. Helen Browning said, "It’s great to see government backing organic with an action plan that will help us build farming systems that are less dependent on harmful chemicals and more resilient to climate change, boosting nature and safeguarding food security in the process."