Spatial and Economic Differentiation of Land Use for Organic Farming in the European Union

This study investigates the spatial and economic differentiation of organic farming across the European Union by analyzing regional specialization patterns using Location Quotients (LQ). The results reveal a highly heterogeneous landscape shaped by the interaction of agro-ecological conditions, production traditions, market development, and structural characteristics of national agricultural systems. Six distinct regional models of organic farming are identified: the Nordic–Baltic cereal–forage model, the Alpine–Central European grassland model, the Mediterranean permanent-crop model, the Central–Eastern European raw-material model, the Western European intensive horticultural model, and the island-based niche-specialization model. Regression analyses show that overall organic specialization is strongly associated with market development, whereas the structure of organic crop production is primarily determined by agro-ecological and structural factors rather than consumer demand or purchasing power. These findings highlight the strong embeddedness of organic farming within long-term regional development pathways and underscore the need for regionally differentiated policy instruments within the Common Agricultural Policy. Effective support measures should be tailored to dominant crop types, production systems, and comparative advantages across Member States.