Organic farming is an environmentally friendly agricultural practice, and the area and scale of organic farming is a response indicator. Organic farming started in Turkey in 1985 with only 8 types of products that met the requirements for export. In 2002, 12,428 farmers planted 89,827 hectares (including wild collection areas) and harvested 310,125 tons and 150 types of organic products. The organic production volume, which in 2002 was 310,125 tons in 150 product varieties, 12,428 producers on 89,827 hectares (including natural collection areas), reached 2,030,466 tons in 2019 in 213 product varieties, 74,545 producers and 545,870 hectares. In 2020, it is 1,631,943 tons in 235 product varieties, on an area of 382,665 hectares with 52,590 producers. Organic farming lands (including natural collection areas) decreased by 29.9% in 2020 compared to 2019, and product volume decreased by 19.6%.

According to 2019 data, organic farming land accounted for 2.2% ofthe total agricultural land in Turkey. According to the 2018 data, organic farming was practiced on 1.5% of the total agricultural land worldwide113. In the European Union countries, organic farming was practiced on 8.1% of the total agricultural land¹¹⁴.

GRAPH 147- SHARE OF ORGANIC FARMED LAND IN THE TOTAL AGRİCULTURAL LAND (%)

Source: Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry,2021

Notes: (1) Transition data is included. (2) Production areas include wild harvesting areas.

GRAPH 148- ORGANIC LIVESTOCK DATA

Source: Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry,2021