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…

Review of events

On November 16, IFOAM Organics Europe and French Member of the European Parliament (MEP) Eric Andrieu (S&D) co-hosted a webinar…
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
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…

Sign by 3 December to stop toxic alliance between FAO and CropLife International

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) recently signed a letter of intent to formalize a partnership…

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…

Organic’s approach to plant health: Webinar with MEP Eric Andrieu - 16 November 2021, online

On November 16, IFOAM Organics Europe and French Member of the European Parliament (MEP) Eric Andrieu (S&D) co-hosted a webinar…
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…

Last chance to register for the event on research and innovation for organic! 30 November-1 December, online

These are the last weeks to register for the Organic Innovation Days 2021, the only EU event on research &…

Join our webinar on the organic approach to plant health on 16 November, online

IFOAM Organics Europe and Member of the European Parliament Eric Andrieu (S&D group) are glad to invite you to their…
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…

Preview of events

On 16 November, from 10:30-12:00, MEP Eric Andrieu (S&D) will co-host our website on the organic approach to plant health…

Save the date: Webinar on organic approach to plant health 16 November, online

On 16 November, from 10:30-12:00, MEP Eric Andrieu (S&D) will co-host our webinar on the organic approach to plant health…

Save the Date & Register now for the Organic Innovation Days 2021

Register now to attend this year’s Organic Innovation Days and discuss Better inputs for organic farming. TP Organics’ annual public…

Registration open: 6th European Conference on Copper in Plant Protection17-18 November 2021, online

Registration for the 6th European Conference on Copper in Plant Protection is now open! Bund Ökologische Lebensmittelwirtschaft (BÖLW), IFOAM Organics…

Watch RELACS’ new video about copper replacement in oil rose plantation

A new RELACS video explores the work and research currently pursued in the Rose Valley in Bulgaria. Organic farmers are…
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…

MEPs in COMAGRI made a first step to improve statistics on organic agriculture

On 12 October, the Members of the European Parliament’s Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development (COMAGRI) adopted their report on…
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…
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…

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…
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),…

Save the date & contribute: 6th European Conference on Copper in Plant Protection, 17-18 November 2021, online

Recent severe weather events and the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) report make it clear: agriculture will have to…

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…
16/08/2021
Events Seeds

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.…
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…

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.…

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…
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.…

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…

Curious about alternatives to contentious fertilisers? Read RELACS’ new practice abstracts

The RELACS project just released two new practice abstracts on promising alternatives to fertilisers suitable for organic farming. Struvite as…

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…
 
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