The Danish Organic Model

The experience and innovation that Danish companies bring are rooted in the solid organic domestic market. Denmark is world-renowned for its organic products, with Germany taking more than 50% of all exports from Danish companies. The sale of organic goods to the state, the private sector, and Danish consumers also increases every year, forming the basis for food safety, innovation, and credibility. We call it the Danish Organic Model.

In 1990, Denmark became the first country in the world to introduce an organic label, The Red Ø, which is a state-controlled certification. The labeling scheme is the cornerstone of the Danish Organic Model and underscores the political will to promote organic farming and use its principles to advance the development of the food system.

In this process, the food service sector is particularly important. In Denmark alone, professional kitchens serve around 650,000 main meals a day. In several large public kitchens, there is a requirement to use organic ingredients. About 3,500 professional kitchens (public and private) have the Organic Cuisine Label, which is a special organic labeling scheme for professional kitchens.

To meet the demand and achieve the political goal, farms must be converted from conventional to organic farming. Denmark is advanced in advising farmers and has also established the Innovation Center for Organic Farming, which tests and researches new methods in organic farming. The center is partially funded by public funds.

The labeling scheme The Red Ø sets requirements for both producers and companies. Most companies see the labeling scheme as a minimum requirement and go much further when it comes to, for example, climate considerations and biodiversity protection.