News
Welcome note December 2021 newsletter
Dear readers, 2021 has been another turbulent year, again with great successes and challenges. Just like last year, I would…
15/12/2021
Climate change
Sustainable Carbon Cycles: New EU Communication
On 15 December, the European Commission presented its Communication on ‘Sustainable Carbon Cycles’. On the one hand, the Communication addresses…
14/12/2021
Organic regulations
EU Organic Regulation guide – Beta version online for members!
As most of you are very much aware of, the new EU Organic Regulation (EU) 2018/848 will be applied in…
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…
14/12/2021
Food policy
Organic in sustainable food public procurement: numerous benefits for a low-hanging fruit
Recent European initiatives related to food policies, among which the Farm to Fork Strategy, Organic Action Plan, and new legislative…
10/12/2021
Organic regulations
New Implementing Regulation of the new EU Organic Regulation published
Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2021/2119 related to the new EU Organic Regulation has just published, a few weeks before its…
IFOAM Organics Europe Meets Business: Bridging business and EU policies, 7 December, online
On 7 December 2021, players from the whole (organic) supply chain – including processors, traders, retailers, and certifiers – joined the…
08/12/2021
Organic regulations
Organic movement defines integrity of organic supply chain
The new EU Organic Regulation (EU) 2018/848 puts integrity of the organic supply chain at its core principles. However, there…
03/12/2021
Vision
They make it happen! Get inspired by ETHIQUABLE’s sustainable code of conduct
In 17 years of presence on the ground, Ethiquable measures how dedicated fair trade is able to provide an answer…
03/12/2021
Vision
Do you contribute to transforming European food and farming? Submit your initiative & inspire!
A variety of organic and other initiatives are already revolutionizing food and farming across Europe, paving the way for the…
EU releases soil strategy & plans legal initiative in 2023
On 17 November, the European Commission published the EU Soil Strategy for 2030 together with a proposal for a regulation…
15/11/2021
Climate change
COP26: Outcomes relevant to food, land & agriculture
The UN Climate Change Conference (COP 26) took place from 31 October to 12 November 2021 in Glasgow. Even though…
Mainstreaming organic plant breeding – celebrating 20 years of organic plant breeders
‘How to make organic plant breeding mainstream’ – was the guiding question of the 20th anniversary event of the organic…
27/10/2021
Climate change
COP26 in Glasgow, Scotland
From 31 October to 12 November, the UN’s climate change conference (UNFCCC COP26) will take place in Glasgow, Scotland in…
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.…
Political hotspot October 2021 newsletter
26 October marked the final day for final contributions to the Commission’s inception impact assessment (roadmap) on the Sustainable Food…
25/10/2021
Organic regulations
Looking for a guide to run you through the new EU Organic Regulation? We’ve got you covered!
New Organic Regulation (EU) 2018/848 will apply from 1 January 2022. The basic regulation published in June 2018 will be…
Register now for IFOAM Organics Europe Meets Business on 7 December, online – The event for companies involved & interested in organic
Register now for the upcoming 4th edition of IFOAM Organics Europe Meets Business, taking place virtually on 7 December. This…
19/10/2021
Vision
Share with us your organic initiative and inspire others to transform food and farming systems!
The European organic movement’s vision is transforming food and farming in Europe. To achieve this ambitious and shared Vision for…
15/10/2021
Vision
They make it happen! Playing a key role in the value chain: Transilvania Acasă
Organic food & farming systems aim a developing and adopting new tools to create transparency from farm to fork and…
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…
08/10/2021
Climate change
EU organic movement’s reply to public consultation on carbon farming initiative
The European Commission invited stakeholders to provide input to a roadmap for the Commission’s initiative aimed at developing sustainable carbon…
The future of organic food: Ten take-aways of the Organic Food Conference 2021
Our Organic Food Conference 2021 was a success, and we are happy to share the ten key take-aways. The European…
29/09/2021
Organic regulations
New EU Organic Regulation applies 1 January 2022: Guide to help operators coming soon
New Organic Regulation (EU) 2018/848 will apply from 1 January 2022. The basic regulation published in June 2018 will be…
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…
Last Commission consultation before presentation revised Sustainable Use of pesticides Directive
On 5 October, Mathilde Calmels, IFOAM Organics Europe’s Policy Coordinator on Pesticides, Natural Inputs and Fertilisers, will be one of…
17/09/2021
Organic regulations
Feedback to public consultation on the Revision of the EU legislation on Animal Welfare
During the summer, the European Commission launched an Inception impact assessment (roadmap) on the revision of EU legislation on animal…
16/09/2021
Food policy
Read the leading initiatives for more sustainable foods in FAO's handbook
Sustainable food systems are critical to ensure that future generations have access to food and consume healthy meals. Many food…
Upcoming vote on the Regulation on Statistics on Agricultural Inputs and Outputs (SAIO) in AGRI Committee
On 2 February 2021, the Commission published its proposal for a Regulation on Statistics on Agricultural Inputs and Outputs (SAIO),…
Vote on European Parliament’s Farm to Fork Strategy report: mostly positive on organic
The Farm to Fork (F2F) strategy, published in May 2020 with a view of holistically transitioning towards more sustainable food…
Public consultation on carbon farming initiative roadmap & re-launch climate change task force
The European Commission has opened its public consultation on the roadmap for the initiative “Restoring sustainable carbon cycles” and feedback…
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…
How are cities engaging with food system transformation? FoodSHIFT webinar, 13 September, 15:00-16:00
City councils – either led by the city government itself or by citizens – are key to involve citizens and…
LIVESEED – Organic seed breeding at the Organic World Congress
The LIVESEED project, which IFOAM Organics Europe co-cordinates, is contributing to the Organic World Congress (OWC) with a colourful program.…
Have your say! IFOAM Organics Europe provided feedback to the Commission’s EU School Scheme roadmap
As announced in the Farm to Fork (F2F) strategy, the Commission will “review the EU school scheme to enhance its…
Boosting organic seed & breeding - Policy and stakeholder recommendations
As the LIVESEED project is coming to its end, it has released a synthesis of all its results and recommendations.…
19/07/2021
Organic regulations
Fill in our survey on pesticide residues in organic for a better and more harmonized future legal framework
The new EU Organic Regulation (EU) 2018/848 will enter into application in a few months, and there will not be…
Demand better food & farming – Good Food Good Farming European Action Days - 1-31 October 2021
This year, Good Food Good Farming is again organising its European Action Days 1-31 October 2021. Raise your voice, add…
12/07/2021
Vision
Help us show that organic is a front-runner in transforming food & farming
To make our shared Vision for organic in 2030 a reality, we collect European initiatives that are transforming EU food…
08/07/2021
Vision
They make it happen! Improving biodiversity with flower strip in orchards
According to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) the current biodiversity loss we are witnessing is “the greatest…
24/06/2021
Seeds
Commission opens public consultation on the review of the seed legislation
The Commission’s Directorate General for Health and Food Safety (DG SANTE) is reviewing the Union’s options to update the existing…
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.…
21/06/2021
Biodiversity
CAP
Climate change
EU's agrifood vision
Events
Food policy
Organic regulations
Ten take-aways of the European Organic Congress 2021 - 16-18 June, online, live from Lisbon
Following a successful edition of the hybrid European Organic Congress 2021, we are happy to share the ten key take-aways…
21/06/2021
Biodiversity
CAP
Climate change
EU's agrifood vision
Events
Food policy
Organic regulations
More than 660 discussed transitioning to more sustainable food & farming systems at European Organic Congress - 16-18 June, online, live from Lisbon
This year’s edition of our European Organic Congress took place online and live from Lisbon on 16-18 June 2021. More…
Getting food on the climate agenda - FoodSHIFT2030 webinar - 15 June 2021, online
Climate change policy debates fail to consider the interconnected nature of food systems and involve a wide range of actors.…
Sustainable food systems innovators, read FAO’s handbook!
The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the National Research Institute for Agriculture, Food and the…
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…
IPBES and IPCC call to prioritize solutions benefiting both biodiversity and climate
On 10 June 2021, scientist and leading experts from the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES) and…
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…