Danish state buys organic farmland to convert it to conventional use

The Danish state has purchased 310 hectares of organic farmland from a Jutland dairy farmer, with 300 of those hectares now set to be farmed conventionally under a land redistribution scheme, Danish broadcaster DR reports.

Torben Myrup, who sold his land in April 2025, called the decision “hollow,” noting the government’s stated goal of doubling organic farmland by 2030. “The state says one thing and does another,” he told DR’s P1 Morgen.

The land is part of a three-party agreement aimed at reallocating agricultural areas to support nature restoration, reduce nitrogen runoff, and protect groundwater. While Myrup acknowledges the scheme could enable environmental projects elsewhere, he argues the conversion of his organic land undermines the government’s own targets.

“If you want to double organic acreage, you had 310 hectares right here. But taking 300 out and converting another 300 elsewhere leaves you in the same place,” he said.

Myrup, who farmed organically for 28 years with state subsidies for avoiding chemicals and artificial fertilizers, added: “Everything I was paid to do no longer matters.”

Another organic farmer, Erik Møller Andersen of Mariagerfjord, recently sold 300 hectares near the protected Store Blåkilde spring area to the state. He fears his land may face the same fate, with only a small portion reserved for nature.

“Nearly 30 years of effort might go down the drain,” Andersen said.

The Agency for Green Land Redistribution and Water Environment stated in writing that it “strives to lease acquired organic land for organic use.”