{"id":57318,"date":"2022-03-28T08:08:50","date_gmt":"2022-03-28T06:08:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.bioecoactual.com\/?p=57318"},"modified":"2022-03-28T10:24:22","modified_gmt":"2022-03-28T08:24:22","slug":"first-eu-organic-awards-applications-open","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.bioecoactual.com\/en\/2022\/03\/28\/first-eu-organic-awards-applications-open\/","title":{"rendered":"First EU organic awards: applications now open"},"content":{"rendered":"

Commissioner for agriculture Janusz Wojciechowski<\/strong> launched the applications for the first ever EU organic awards<\/strong> alongside representatives of the awards\u2019 co-organisers a high-level event. IFOAM Organics Europe\u2019s President, Jan Plagge<\/strong>, and representatives of the awards\u2019 co-organisers were all there \u2013 together, in the spirit of pan-European collaboration. These awards will recognise excellence along the organic value chain, rewarding the best and most innovative actors in organic production in the EU.<\/p>\n

\"EU<\/p>\n

First EU organic awards<\/h1>\n

Organic operators can now apply for eight awards within seven categories<\/strong>, including best organic farmer female, best organic farmer male, best organic region, best organic city, best organic bio-district, best organic SME, best organic food retailer and best organic restaurant. There will be an award ceremony to announce the winners on the annual EU Organic Day on 23 September 2022<\/strong>. The organising partners are the European Commission, IFOAM Organics Europe, the European Economic and Social Committee, the European Committee of the Regions, and COPA-COGECA.<\/p>\n

“These awards can inspire many practitioners to make the switch to organic and be part of the solution”<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Jan Plagge<\/strong>, IFOAM Organics Europe\u2019s President, said: “These EU Organic Awards are a great way to showcase the innovative potential in the EU organic sector and how the sector contributes to the EU Farm to Fork and Biodiversity strategies\u2019 goals. The current crisis shows that the EU should seek to speed up its work towards an agroecological and social model which is more resilient, fairer, healthier, more knowledge-intensive and based on shorter supply chains. The war in Ukraine and its devastating consequences show that the agro-industrial model, which is highly dependent on global imports and exports, fossil-fuels, and non-circular inputs, is broken. The EU Farm to Fork Strategy sets the right mid- and long term objectives to ensure food security in an uncertain and volatile world”.<\/p>\n

Eduardo Cuoco<\/strong>, IFOAM Organics Europe\u2019s Director, adds that “these awards will inspire those working to make our food and farming system more sustainable, using organic\u2019s potential. Some of their criteria are based on the holistic principles of organic \u2013 care, health, ecology & fairness. I believe organic\u2019s approach to food and farming is a good way to re-think our food production system, to make it more independent from external inputs, less input intensive and more resilient. These awards can inspire many practitioners to make the switch to organic and be part of the solution to many crises we are facing, including food security, and the biodiversity and climate crises”.<\/p>\n

Applications are open until 8 June 2022<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Applications are open until 8 June 2022<\/strong>. After the application period, a jury consisting of one representative from each of the different organisers and a representative of each of the European Parliament and European Council will shortlist the best candidates.<\/p>\n