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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…
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…

Read our new leaflet on plant health care in organic farming

Have you ever heard of all the preventive plant protection measures implemented by organic farmers to produce food without using…

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…

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…

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.…

Review of events

On 22 September, the European Environmental Bureau (EEB) organised a workshop to discuss the potential role of public policies in…

Our Director speaks on biodistricts at ‘Added Value of the Organic Farmer, Bioregions’ conference 12-14 October 2021, online & in the Netherlands

On 12-14 October, the Conference ‘Added Value of the Organic Farmer, Bioregions’ discussed the broader benefits of organic farming 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…

Over 1 million signatures demanding a restoration of biodiversity & support for farmers

Across Europe, more than 1 million citizens are calling for a reduction of 80% in the use of synthetic pesticides…
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…
22/09/2021
Biodiversity

Sign ‘save bees and farmers’ before 30 September!

In case you have not signed the European Citizens’ Initiative to ‘Save bees and farmers’ yet, you can still do…
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…

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…
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…
06/08/2021
Biodiversity

Only few days left to sign the European Citizens’ Initiative to save bees and farmers!

To those in our network who have not signed the European Citizens’ Initiative to ‘Save bees and farmers’ yet, you…

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…

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…

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…

Organic farming part of EU Commission’s long-term vision for rural areas

The European Commission’s new communication A long-term Vision for the EU’s Rural Areas – Towards stronger, connected, resilient and prosperous…

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.…

Beekeepers and civil society concerned about pesticide risk assessment methodology

At the Agriculture and Fisheries (AGRIFISH) Council on 28-29 June, Member State representatives will vote on a crucial step for…

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…

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…

For a just transition to align the EU food system with the Green Deal - 26 May 2021, online

French and European food systems need to be transformed to address health, environmental and social challenges. However, the current policy…
22/05/2021
Biodiversity

Organic is Part of the Solution in Ensuring Biodiversity

This article was first published by IFOAM Organics International on their blog ‘Organic without boundaries‘. Each and every animal, microorganism…
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…
20/04/2021
Biodiversity

Sign the European Citizens’ Initiative to save bees and farmers!

To all our members, newsletter subscribers & website visitors who have not signed the European Citizens’ Initiative to ‘Save bees…
19/04/2021
Food policy

Take part in the public consultation on promotion policy and contribute to support sustainable consumption

This year the European Commission earmarked an unprecedented share of €49 million to promote organic production and consumption in the…

Towards a new framework for EU soils?

Soil is a non-renewable resource key to all growing and living on it. Part of the EU Biodiversity strategy for…

New Organic Action Plan: Focus on research & innovation

The new Organic Action Plan (OAP) published at the end of March 2021 recognises that research will be key for…
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…

European Commission’s Soil Strategy

Healthy soils are essential to meet climate and biodiversity goals set by the European Green Deal. As part of the…

Welcome note March 2021 newsletter

Dear readers, On behalf of the European organic movement, I would like to welcome the new European Organic Action Plan…

Political hotspot March 2021 newsletter

The new action plan for the development of the organic sector was published  on 25 March 2021. IFOAM Organics Europe…

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…

[Exclusive for members] Let's discuss organic hot topics

As a follow-up of the thematic sessions hosted during BIOFACH, we are bringing our members live sessions during which they…
24/03/2021
Food policy

"Develop a sustainability claim, they said; it will be fun they said" - IFOAM Organics Europe position paper on substantiating claims & Product Environmental Footprint (PEF)

The Farm to Fork strategy reveals that the Commission will set up an EU sustainable food labelling framework, likely as…
11/03/2021
Biodiversity

Help us save bees and farmers - sign the petition to transform Europe’s food and farming systems now!

Do you want to help save bees and farmers? Then add your signature to The European Citizens’ Initiative (ECI) before…
23/02/2021
Events GMOs

[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…

IFOAM Organics Europe’s expert session on promotion policies during BIOFACH 2021

During BIOFACH 2021, IFOAM Organics Europe’s Food Policy Officer Silvia Schmidt organized an “Ask the Expert” Session on the Commission’s…
 
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