Denmark's agricultural and food sector is one of the largest in the EU relative to the country's size. Agricultural and food products account for approximately 20–25% of Denmark's total goods exports. Denmark is one of the world's largest exporters of pork (approximately 28 million pigs slaughtered annually for a population of 5.9 million), dairy products (Arla Foods is one of the world's largest dairy cooperatives), and processed food ingredients. The sector directly employs approximately 185,000 people (about 6% of total employment). Denmark's agricultural success within the EU is often cited in Iceland's EU debate as evidence that small Nordic countries can thrive under the Common Agricultural Policy — though Denmark's agricultural sector (temperate arable and livestock farming) differs fundamentally from Iceland's (sub-Arctic pastoral farming dominated by sheep and dairy).