News
14/12/2021
GMOs
Commission event: Can New Genetic Engineering Techniques (NGETs) be sustainable?
The European Commission invited stakeholders, public officials, and politicians for a high-level event to discuss their plans to launch new…
25/11/2021
Animal welfare
Public consultation revision EU legislation on Animal Welfare open until 21 January 2022
The European Commission launched a public consultation on the revision of the EU legislation on animal welfare, open until 21…
Addressing food & nutrition security at ATF-FEFAC event - Brussels, 18 November 2021
Nowadays, livestock and crop production are intensive and specialised with negative impact on the nutrient flows and environment. An efficient…
Welcome note October 2021 newsletter
Dear readers, Autumn has reached Europe, and unlike nature at this time of year, our work is not slowing down.…
12/10/2021
GMOs
Participate in Commission Public Consultation to keep (new) GMOs regulated and to protect organic
As covered in the last edition of the newsletter, the Commission is considering a new legal proposal for so-called “New…
28/09/2021
GMOs
Public consultation for new legal proposal upcoming
On 29 April 2021, the European Commission published a study on the status of New Genomic Techniques under Union law…
08/09/2021
GMOs
The debate about new GMOs in Europe: Our Policy Coordinator in conversation with Slow Food Europe
In their podcast series on European food and farming policies, Slow Food Europe brings together experts to discuss hot matters…
Comics showing why industrial agriculture is broken
In May 2020, the EU released its Biodiversity and Farm to Fork strategies as part of the European Green Deal.…
Animal husbandry & grazing management in organic farming – Effects of the new EU Organic Regulation
On 10 June, the symposium on animal husbandry and grazing management in organic farming took place, organized by the Austrian…
09/06/2021
GMOs
European retailers take a strong stand against deregulating new GMOs
On 26 May 2021, European retailers took a strong stand against deregulating new GMOs in a joint resolution. One of…
Symposium on animal husbandry and grazing management in organic farming
On 10 June, a symposium on animal husbandry and grazing management in organic farming will cover perspectives for organic producers…
Replacing antibiotics in organic - Handbook on Animal Health and Welfare Protocol (AHWP)
Do you know mastitis (inflammation of the udder) is one of the main reasons for antibiotic treatments on European organic…
Vitamin B2 supplementation and copper reduction in organic farming - New RELACS practice abstracts
The RELACS project recently published three new practice abstracts (practical guidelines) on: Vitamin B2 supplementation for laying and parent hens…
19/05/2021
GMOs
New GMOs in Europe? Slow Food Europe podcast with our Policy Coordinator
Slow Food Europe just launched a podcast series dedicated to European food and farming policies, gathering experts to discuss hot…
Welcome note May 2021 newsletter
Dear readers, It is spring, a period I associate with birth and budding blossoms, the energetic execution of gardening plans…
05/05/2021
GMOs
Political hotspot May 2021 newsletter
On Thursday, 29 April, the Commission released their long-awaited in-house study on the ‘status of new genomic techniques under Union…
29/04/2021
GMOs
Organic movement raises red flag on assumed benefits deregulating new genomic techniques
BRUSSELS, 29 APRIL 2021 – The organic food and farming movement criticises the Commission’s plan to work on a new…
18/04/2021
Agroecology
How can Europe rise to face agroecological transition? Nyéléni Europe’s policy report
How can the European Green Deal, the EU Farm to Fork Strategy, the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) and land policies…
30/03/2021
GMOs
Civil society, farmers and business organizations: Vice-President Timmermans, don't deregulate GM crops & animals
BRUSSELS, 30 MARCH 2021 – Today, a large coalition of 162 civil society, farmers and business organisations calls on Vice…
[Exclusive for members] GMOs and gene editing in agriculture: Event recordings available until 15 March
On 10 February 2021, more than 160 participants and 7 speakers joined the online event GMOs and gene editing in…
22/02/2021
Agroecology
Policy report "Roots of resilience: Land policy for an agroecological transition in Europe"
A collective of organisations, coming together under the banner of the Nyéléni Europe Food Sovereignty, have just released a new…
Organic and Conventional sectors discuss genome editing at IFOAM Organics Europe event - 10 February 2021, online
IFOAM Organics Europe invited food & farming stakeholders and policymakers to discuss GMOs and gene editing in agriculture. With the…
Welcome note February 2021 newsletter
Dear readers, On behalf of the European organic movement, I would like to welcome you back after the winter break…
02/02/2021
GMOs
Detection Cibus’ GM-canola: An update
A regulation is only worth so much as it can be enforced. This is why on 7 September 2020, an…
Register now for our public event “GMOs and gene editing in agriculture: the benefits of regulation” - 10 February, online
How does organic & non-organic food and farming avoid contamination with GMOs? Why is it so relevant for food production…
Welcome note November 2020 newsletter
Dear readers, I would like to use this opportunity to look back on a turbulent year, marked with great successes…
New organic regulations published
Application of the new EU Organic Regulation Originally, the new EU Organic Regulation (EU) 2018/848 was set to apply from 1…
How will the EU Green Deal change Europe’s food prices change? Join our colleague Silvia online to get an idea!
On 12 November from 15:30-17:00, Silvia Schmidt, our food policy officer, will take part to the online event “The Green…
15/10/2020
COVID19
European Parliament pushes for fast recovery aid
On 13 October, the Agriculture Committee of the European Parliament voted for a fast, targeted and sustainable recovery package for…
Save the date for ‘Improving sustainability and welfare in organic poultry and pig production’, an online conference - 25-26 January 2021
It is with great excitement that OK-Net EcoFeed announces its final project conference bringing together four research projects: OK-Net EcoFeed,…
Members can re-watch farmers’ workshop on CAP, animal welfare label & access to land - 2 October 2020, online
With crucial CAP negotiations ahead, starting discussions on an EU animal welfare label, and IFOAM Organics Europe’s ongoing work within…
17/09/2020
GMOs
Reveal of a detection method for a gene-edited rapeseed - What is the significance and why is there a controversy?
A regulation is only worth so much as it can be enforced. This is why on 7 September, an open…
Smaller, greener, healthier? Sustainability of livestock farming in Europe
On Wednesday 9 September, Kurt Sannen, Chair of IFOAM Organics Europe’s Interest Group of Organic Farmers, participated in the online…
07/09/2020
GMOs
First open source detection test for a gene-edited GM crop
This press release was first published by Greenpeace EU Brussels, 07 SEPTEMBER 2020 – Greenpeace, together with other non-governmental organisations,…
Read about heather as an alternative to control worms in sheep in RELACS’ news story
Anthelmintic resistance is spreading globally, impacting the environment and animal welfare. As the organic sector we are seeking non-chemical complements…
European Patent Office: No patents on conventionally bred varieties
On 14 May 2020, the enlarged board of appeal of the European Patent Office (EPO) has released an opinion that…
More than 100 tuned in to online OK-Net EcoFeed Thematic Group meeting!
On Tuesday 26 May 2020, the Thematic Group meeting brought Innovation Groups involved in the OK-Net EcoFeed project together with external interested…
Welcome note April 2020
Dear readers, For all of us, these days are really challenging. We are facing a crisis where no one can…
Political hotspot April 2020
The current COVID-19 pandemic has far reaching effects on Europe, life as we know it, agriculture and the organic sector.…
21/04/2020
COVID19
COVID-19 – A double-edged sword for the European organic sector
The coronavirus is causing the biggest and most acute crisis Europe faced in the last decades, and it is also…
Open Letter: CSOs open letter on the importance and urgency of publishing the Farm to Fork strategy: no further delays, keep April 2020 as publication date
Brussels, 14 April 2020 To:Executive Vice-President Frans TimmermansCommissioner Stella KyriakidesCommissioner Janusz WojciechowskiCommissioner Virginijus Sinkevičius CC:Anne Bucher, Director-General of DG SANTE…
01/04/2020
COVID19
JOINT LETTER: Measures to support farmers in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic
To: Commissioner WojciechowskiCc: Commissioner Sinkevičius and Commission Executive Vice-President TimmermansEuropean CommissionBerlaymont, Rue de la Loi 2001000 – Brussels 1st April…
European Organic Congress - Registration opening postponed to April 2020
The 2020 edition of the European Organic Congress is scheduled to take place on 1 and 2 July 2020 in Berlin, Germany.…