Organic farming in Wales

Organic farming is an important part of the Welsh landscape. There are over 1000 organic farms in Wales, ranging from smallholdings to large estates, and 8% of the total land area is managed organically.

Organic farms in Wales

The majority of Welsh organic farmers, around 80%, keep cows and sheep for meat production. Dairying is also important especially in the southwest and northeast, and there are smaller number of farms producing poultry, pigs, cereals, vegetables and fruit. Some sell directly to the public, offer holiday accommodation or welcome school visits, so you can get in touch with them direct. Many have their own websites.

The organic food chain

Some farms have farm shops or sell direct to the public through box schemes or on the Internet. Most farmers though sell their produce to organic processing businesses, such as butchers and meat retailers, dairies, egg packers and vegetable wholesalers. These processors are certified organically and have to keep careful records so that they can be sure that food in the shops really is organic.

The Welsh Government

The first Welsh Organic Action Plan was launched in 1999, and the Welsh Government has been supporting the organic sector ever since. It funds an advisory service for farmers who are thinking of going organic and it makes payments to organic farmers under the Organic Farming Scheme. It also provides information for the whole sector through Organic Centre Wales. For more information see the policy page.

Further information

If you want to find out more about organic food and farming in Wales, the UK and beyond, here are some useful links.

Soil Association
International Federation of Organic Agriculture Movements

Organic farming in Wales

Organic farms in Wales

The organic food chain

The Welsh Government

Further information

Useful resources