In recent years, the European Union has developed a long-term strategy to become climate neutral: the EU Green Deal. Among its goals is a sustainable food system and increased protection of our environment and biodiversity. To realise this, it published two important strategies for food and farming: the Farm to Fork Strategy and the EU Biodiversity Strategy. The Farm to Fork Strategy set a target of “at least 25% of the EU’s agricultural land under organic farming and a significant increase in organic aquaculture by 2030”. The EU Biodiversity Strategy aims to put Europe’s biodiversity on a path to recovery by 2030. Both strategies mention organic as a tool to reach their targets.
Organic, truly green at heart
As European organic movement, we have tirelessly advocated to ensure organic has (its rightful) prominent place in these green goals and we are very happy that we succeeded. Our members and many other actors along the food chain contribute to achieving the targets of these strategies in their day-to-day work. In my career, I have time-andagain witnessed organic practitioners and the strong principles they have at heart: health, ecology, fairness, and care.
As a food and farming system that looks at a systemic approach to food and farming, organic practitioners have always been at the forefront of innovation – innovation that looks beyond technologies and focuses on improving social, environmental and governance aspects. A big part of this success comes from being a united movement that shares knowledge, innovations, and best practices. I am very happy to share an overview of some European initiatives you and/ or your network can use to increase the sector’s and (y)our visibility.
The Farm to Fork strategy set a target of “at least 25% of the eu’s agricultural land under organic farming and a significant increase in organic aquaculture by 2030”
Showcasing & sharing best practices
Awarding organic excellence: EU Organic Awards
EU Organic Day, on 23 September, marks the annual European Organic Awards ceremony. These awards are dedicated to rewarding European actors who greatly contribute to enhancing, developing, and stimulating the organic value chain.
Aimed to reward European organic excellence along the entire supply chain, the EU organic awards scheme consists of 7 categories and 8 awards:
- Best organic farmer (female and male);
- Best organic city;
- Best organic region;
- Best organic bio-district;
- Best organic food processing SME;
- Best organic food retailer;
- Best organic restaurant / food service.
Every year, applications open from mid-March until mid-May. From May until July, a jury of representatives from the EU institutions and organic supply chain analyses more than 100 applications from across the EU. Out of these applications, three nominees in each category are presented. The winners are announced during a public awards ceremony and celebration on 23 September.
Anyone in the organic supply chain can become the next EU Organics Awards winner! Have a look at the European Commission’s website for this year’s timeline at www.organicseurope.bio.
Giving visibility to initiatives transforming food & farming
Whether you are active in organic or not, if you are transforming food and farming and have an inspiring initiative, you can submit it to www.euorganic2030.bio. We host this platform as a place to give visibility to inspiring initiatives. We select the best initiatives and help them reach more visibility on our social media and in our newsletter. Whether you want to get inspired or have an inspirational initiative, visit www.euorganic2030.bio. Of course, you are welcome to share this with any good examples you know!
For practitioners: The Organic Farm Knowledge platform
Organic Farm Knowledge is a platform for all types of practitioners in organic. Whether you produce crops, have farm animals, are interested to improve your farm management, soil quality or the overall environment and society, www.organic-farmknowledge.org will provide you with useful resources.
The toolbox offers over 1,000 tools in 16 European languages for farmers and farm advisors. Short, easy to read articles, fact sheets and videos are available. The mobile-friendly toolbox allows for text search and targeted searches by theme, language, organisation, project, keyword, type, country of origin and year.
If you want to share your tools or help promote the platform, please contact ambra.desimone@organicseurope.bio, Research & Innovation Associate Manager.
Increasing the movement & sector’s visibility
Spotlighting European organic: EU Organic Day
On 23 September 2021, the EU institutions officially declared 23 September the official EU Organic Day. This is the perfect opportunity to widely celebrate organic and, at EU level, evaluate Europe’s progress towards achieving its goal of 25% organic land by 2030.
This is a day for your organisation to highlight your own work, your staff, clients, partners and/or products. In the past years, I have seen great examples along the movement and sector that use EU Organic Day to launch new campaigns, partnerships, EU organic action plans, organise major events and/or farmers’ markets and much more! Do you want to know more? Have a look at the 2023 initiatives at www.organicseurope.bio/get-involved/european-organic-day.
As the European umbrella organisation, we provide our members with visibility, access to information, idea sharing and a communications package ahead of EU Organic Day. Not a member yet? Or interested to become a member? Get in contact at membership@organicseurope.bio.
Promoting European products: EU promotion policies
Created in 2014, EU promotion policies help open new market opportunities for EU farmers and the wider food industry. The European Commission has pledged a total of €185.9 million to promote European agri-food products in 2024. Thanks to our advocacy work, there was a large share available for organic products’ promotion: €40+ million. If you want to promote your organisation’s activities on the EU and international market or raise awareness on the EU organic logo, consider applying for the promotion policies. The European Research Executive Agency website will soon issue information on eligibility, how to apply and deadlines. We will also organise moments for our members to get informed in webinars and via mailings.
Global social visibility: #IGrowYourFood Day
Since 2019, the online action #IGrowYourFood gives those growing our globe’s food a platform to address citizens, consumers, and policymakers – and connect with other farmers around the world. Organic and agroecological farmers are invited to share videos, articles, or photo stories explaining why they #IGrowYourFood and #LuvOrganic on social media. Policymakers, organisations, advocates and citizens then amplify their messages, re-post their videos, and join the conversation on how organic can be a pathway to true sustainability.
Would you like to raise your voice together with the global organic movement, every year in September? Have a look at www.igrowyourfood.bio or search for #IGrowYourFood on your social media of choice.
Closing words
As you might have experienced, over the past months, organic has been facing headwinds from those who want to maintain the status quo in agriculture and food. As an organic believer, I am convinced that it is important for us as an organic movement and sector to stay in close contact, share ideas, continue inspiring and speak with one voice. I hope the opportunities I shared with you inspire you to act and continue (y)our work of transforming food and farming. As I like to say, don’t panic, the future is organic!
As IFOAM Organics Europe, we are the united voice of organic with the EU institutions. Every day, our team works hard to ensure the voice of everyone in the organic supply chain is heard – to ensure your voice is heard. With and for organic farmers, retailers, processors, traders, certifiers, and researchers, we advocate for a transformation of food and farming based on organic’s principles: health, ecology, fairness & care. To learn more, visit www.organicseurope.bio.
Author: Eduardo Cuoco, IFOAM Organics Europe Director
Article Originally Published in Bio Eco Actual International Yearbok 2023 – Trends 2024.
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Read the Bio Eco Actual International Yearbok 2023 – Trends 2024
