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…
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…
Parliament approves disappointing new CAP - Organic needs environmentally ambitious national CAP Strategic Plans
BRUSSELS, 23 November 2021 – Today, the European Parliament’s Plenary adopted the new Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) (2023-2027) Regulation with…
Organic movement warns of insufficient ambition in CAP Strategic Plans
BRUSSELS, 18 November 2021 – Today, the organic food and farming movement published an evaluation of measures and budgets to support organic agriculture in Members States’ draft CAP Strategic Plans (CAP SPs). The analysis, based on organic farmers associations’ feedback…
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…
Welcome note September 2021 newsletter
Dear readers, I would like to welcome you back to our first newsletter after the summer break. I hope you…
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…
Celebrating the launch of EU Organic Day – 23 September
On 23 September, the European Parliament, Commission and Council of the European Union celebrated the launch of the new annual…
Organic movement welcomes new EU Organic Day on 23 September
BRUSSELS, 23 SEPTEMBER – Today, the three EU institutions – European Parliament, Council of the European Union and European Commission…
23/09/2021
EU Organic Day
23 September is now EU Organic Day
This year the European Parliament, Council of the European Union and European Commission will sign a Joint Declaration establishing 23…
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 can EU policies consider organic farming’s benefits for biodiversity?
IFOAM Organics Europe recently published a new report highlighting the contribution of organic farming to protecting Europe’s biodiversity. By setting…
New report highlights need for increased support to organic farming in future CAP plans to reach EU 25% target
BRUSSELS, 29 JUNE 2021 – A new report by IFOAM Organics Europe highlights how much of the national CAP budgets…
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…
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…
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…
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…
IFOAM Organics Europe welcomes new Organic Action Plan
BRUSSELS, 25 MARCH 2021 – The organic food and farming movement welcomes today’s publication of the European Organic Action Plan…
New router database connects Member States’ organic seed databases
A long-awaited solution for seed suppliers, European organic farmers, and national authorities arrived. The new router database will increase the…
[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…
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…
“Wir haben es satt!” alliance : Use the election year to vote out an agricultural policy that is harmful to farmers, animals and the environment
This press release was first published by Wir Haben Es Satt! Agriculture change alliance (“We are fed up!”) demands sustainable…
CAP ‘reform’: Parliament's small steps not good enough for a green transformation of food and farming
BRUSSELS, 23 OCTOBER 2020 – This week, Members of the European Parliament voted on the reform of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP), and Agriculture Ministers reached an…
Organic Movement calls on MEPs to align the CAP with the Green Deal ambitions
IFOAM Organics Europe has sent a press release to all Members of the European Parliament as they are voting on…
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…
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,…
IFOAM Organics Europe welcomes public consultation on new EU Organic Action Plan and additional time to finalize new organic rules
BRUSSELS, 4 SEPTEMBER 2020 – The organic food and farming movement welcomes the announcement today by the Commission that the…
March for agricultural reforms opens three days of protest at the informal agriculture council in Koblenz (Germany)
Koblenz/Brussels, 30 August 2020 – Protestors rallied in the city of Koblenz at the start of three days of protest accompanying the informal EU agriculture…
PRESS RELEASE: Organic is part of the solution, speakers of European Organic Congress agree
BRUSSELS, 3 JULY 2020 – High-level speakers from the European Commission, European Parliament and the German Presidency of the EU…
PRESS RELEASE: Jan Plagge re-elected President of IFOAM Organics Europe (and a rebranding for IFOAM EU)
BRUSSELS, 30 JUNE 2020 – At its 10th General Assembly, IFOAM Organics Europe’s members elected a new Board. They re-elected Jan Plagge as President. He is the President of Bioland e.V. (Germany and North Italy) and has…
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…
28/05/2020
Press release
Joint Press Release: YOUR LAND, MY LAND, OUR LAND: Nyéléni Food Sovereignty Movement in Europe and Central Asia releases access to land handbook
Today the Nyéléni Food Sovereignty Movement in Europe and Central Asia (Nyéléni ECA) launches a practical tool to support and…
Press Release: IFOAM EU welcomes landmark decision to put organic at the heart of future European food system
BRUSSELS, 20 MAY 2020 – IFOAM EU welcomes the EU Biodiversity and Farm to Fork (F2F) strategies and the target…
PRESS RELEASE: IFOAM EU calls for a target of 20% organic land in the EU
BRUSSELS, 13 FEBRUARY 2020 – As the European Commission is expected to release the Farm to Fork and Biodiversity strategies,…
PRESS RELEASE: Organic movement at the helm of two Civil Dialogue Groups
BRUSSELS, 16 OCTOBER 2019 – Yesterday, IFOAM EU President Jan Plagge was re-elected as Chair of the Civil Dialogue Group…
PRESS RELEASE - Taxation can be a tool towards true cost accounting according to new study
BOLZANO, ITALY, 10 APRIL 2019 – Conventional potato cultivation in Germany costs €1298/hectare in ground water pollution alone. For organic…
PRESS RELEASE: The organic movement calls for a more ambitious CAP reform
BRUSSELS, 2 APRIL 2019 – The organic movement regrets the limited ambition of the European Parliament’s Agriculture Committee on the…
IFOAM EU welcomes the European Court of Justice decision that new genetic engineering techniques will be regulated as GMOs
BRUSSELS, 25 JULY 2018 – The organic food and farming movement welcomes the decision of the European Court of Justice…