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Political Hotspot December 2023

With an eye on next year’s elections, the EU institutions have geared up work on many important dossiers. But rushing…
14/12/2023
GMOs

The hidden dangers of NGTs in the EU: key takeaways from our 30/11/2023 press conference

These videos were recorded during a press conference held by IFOAM Organics Europe on 30/11/2023, urging Members of the European…
08/12/2023
GMOs

Can we (gene) edit our way to sustainable agriculture?

We argue “No”. NGTs, so called New Genomic Techniques, are touted as making agriculture more sustainable by tweaking individual traits…
30/11/2023
GMOs

Policymakers should respect organic movement's choice not to use NGTs

BRUSSELS, 30 NOVEMBER 2023 – Speaking at an online press conference this morning, Jan Plagge, President of IFOAM Organics Europe,…

Protecting our soils across the EU

In July, the European Commission published its proposal on a Soil Monitoring and Resilience law. As IFOAM Organics Europe, we…

Agreement on nature restoration law: Important signal to transform farming

Negotiators from the European Parliament and Council reached a final agreement on the Nature Restoration Law (NRL). As European organic…
19/10/2023
GMOs

European Parliament should uphold ban for all NGTs in organic in rapporteur's report

BRUSSELS, 19 OCTOBER 2023 – IFOAM Organics Europe, the voice for organic food and farming in Europe, is strongly against…
15/10/2023
GMOs

Policy process of new EU legislation on “New Genomic Techniques” in full motion – Organic movement needs to be on high alert 

After the publication of the legislative proposal on so-called “New Genomic Techniques”, the policy process in the European Union institutions…

Celebrating life – a few highlights from th September 2023 Newsletter!  

Recently we issued the last edition of our newsletter. Wondering why it’s interesting for you? We have prepared a quick…

Six-fold increase in organic seeds needed in the next ten years in Europe – 2nd European Organic Seed Policy Conference shows pathways to make organic seeds a reality

The Spanish Presidency of the European Union put a spotlight on rural areas and agricultural resilience during a High-level Rural…
11/09/2023
Events GMOs

GMO-free Europe conference - 7 September 2023

On 7 September, the 10th GMO free Europe conference gathered policymakers, scientists, farmers, and representatives of the organic and the…
01/09/2023
GMOs

Organic sector calls on agriculture ministers to prioritise agroecological innovation over techno-fixes

BRUSSELS, 1 SEPTEMBER 2023 – IFOAM Organics Europe urges Agriculture Ministers to uphold a systemic approach of innovation and sustainability…
25/07/2023
GMOs

What are new GMOs and what’s at risk? Watch our new video

In July 2023, the European Commissions published its legislative proposal on “New Genomic Techniques”. We have the pleasure to announce…
12/07/2023
Biodiversity

Nature restoration law adopting gives hope for food & farming systems

BRUSSELS, 12 JULY 2023 – IFOAM Organics Europe welcomes the adoption of the Nature Restoration Law by MEPs today. Jan…
05/07/2023
GMOs

NGT proposal a step backward for biosafety, freedom of choice and consumers' information

BRUSSELS, 5 JULY 2023 – IFOAM Organics Europe considers the Commission’s proposal to deregulate “New Genomic Techniques” (NGTs) as misguided,…
22/06/2023
GMOs

European organic movement resolution: No hidden GMOs, system-based approach to innovation

BRUSSELS, 22 JUNE 2023 – In a resolution adopted yesterday at its General Assembly, the European organic movement re-affirms that…

Jan Plagge re-elected President of IFOAM Organics Europe

BRUSSELS, 21 JUNE 2023 – At today’s General Assembly, IFOAM Organics Europe’s membership elected a new Board and Jan Plagge…
12/06/2023
Biodiversity

Farmers want nature restoration

On 15 June the European Parliament’s Environment Committee will vote on their report on the Nature Restoration Law. Organic farmers…
26/05/2023
GMOs

300+ organizations unite to send strong signal to Frans Timmermans, demanding a shift to evidence-based sustainability food systems rather than unfounded hope on new GMOs

More than 300 organizations signed a letter sent to Frans Timmermans, Executive Vice-President for the European Green Deal in the…

Political Hotspot May 2023

The proposal for an EU nature restoration law is facing major opposition, recently leading to the rejection of the whole…
22/05/2023
Biodiversity

Nature restoration, crucial for resilient food & farming systems

BRUSSELS, 22 MAY 2023 – Biodiversity protection and well-functioning ecosystems are essential for food production. But the Commission’s proposal on…

ECO-READY: Developing a European Observatory for short and long-term food and agriculture resilience strategies

The ECO-READY project aspires to identify climate-change drivers affecting food security and biodiversity across Europe. The comprehensive understanding of the EU…

The multiple benefits of organic for climate and biodiversity – visualised in our new infographic 

The systemic approach of organic farming contributes to climate mitigation, supports the adaptation of farmers to the consequences of climate…

Political Hotspot March 2023

After a postponement in November 2022, on 22 March 2023 the European Commision’s proposal for a Directive on substantiation and…
22/03/2023
GMOs

EU environmental ministers give clear signal to Commission to maintain precautionary principle & risk assessment for NGTs

On 16 March, the Council meeting of environmental ministers sent a decisive message to the European Commission as a large…
08/03/2023
GMOs

We want to be able to choose! Ensure GMO-free food production.

Update 23.03.2023: Junges Bioland initiated an online petition on this topic, addressed to Olaf Scholz, Germany’s Prime Minister, and to…

February 2023 Newsletter - Multilingual Edition

Read this Special Newsletter edition in CZ, DE, ES, FR, HU, IT, LT, NL, PL, PT, RO Welcome note  Dear reader,  Welcome to a very special edition of our newsletter. At…
13/02/2023
GMOs

European Court of Justice decision on ‘in vitro’ mutagenesis strengthens 2018 ruling subjecting gene editing to EU GMO Directive

The recent ruling by the European Court of Justice, published on 7 February, closes a 2015 case brought forward by…
08/02/2023
Events GMOs

Successful GMO petition handover to the Commission

On February 7, environmental, agricultural, and consumer rights organizations gathered in front of the European Parliament in Brussels to officially…
06/02/2023
GMOs

New year, old narratives – Why genetic engineering is (still) not the solution to food security

The European Commission kicked off 2023 by publishing a report on the drivers of food security, recognising the value of…
22/12/2022
Biodiversity

What the Global Biodiversity Framework means for agriculture

Two years later than initially planned, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, world leaders adopted the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF).…

GMOs – An easy breakdown on common myths 

Global grassroots organization Slow Food International has recently published a short myth-busting article with the most common, but wrong and…

November newsletter: SUR, GMO-free event, and more!

Two weeks ago, we published our November newsletter and it’s rich in updates and information on the hottest organic topics!…

Agreement on new deforestation law

EU consumption is responsible for around 10% of global deforestation. In the beginning of December, the Council and European Parliament…

Welcome note November 2022

Dear reader,  I am happy to welcome you to this year’s last edition of our newsletter. I am proud to…

1 million EU citizens knock on EU’s door: No synthetic pesticides to save bees & farmers

Over 1 million EU citizens are asking to restore nature, provide healthy food, healthy soil and clean water. On Friday 25…
18/11/2022
Events GMOs

GMO-free Europe Event held at the European Parliament to take a stand discuss the European Commission's new NGT legislative proposal

The European Commission announced a new legislative proposal for so-called ‘Novel Genomic Techniques’ in the second quarter of 2023. This…
14/10/2022
GMOs

The scientists behind the GMO deregulation lobby – A story of vested interests

Many scientists currently active in agricultural biotechnology who lobby for deregulating so-called ‘new genomic techniques’ (NGTs) in the European Union…
14/10/2022
GMOs

Add your signature – Support these EU-wide petitions to stop attempts to deregulate new GMOs 

The European Commission is working on a new legislative proposal for ‘New Genomic Techniques’ (NGTs). We expect this to be…
13/10/2022
Events GMOs

Save the Date: GMO-Free Europe Event 2022 - 17 November

We invite you to join us for a GMO-free Europe event at the European Parliament to discuss the European Commission’s…
27/09/2022
GMOs

Worrying step to deregulating GMOs: EU Agriculture Commissioner says “no controversy about direction” among EU Agricultural Ministers

The recent Informal meeting of the EU Ministers of Agriculture set a worrying tone for the political agenda regarding Genetically…
14/09/2022
Biodiversity

European Parliament adopts position on deforestation-free products

The European Parliament has voted on its position on the Commission proposal for a regulation on deforestation-free products. On 13…

June newsletter: measuring pesticides, new GMOs, and more!

We just published our June newsletter and it’s rich in updates and information on the hottest organic topics! Not sure…
27/06/2022
GMOs

Public consultation on new genomic techniques still ongoing + Member briefing

The 12-weeks consultation period of the European Commission in the context of the Impact Assessment for new legislation for ‘New…
03/05/2022
GMOs

Commission opens public consultation on new legislation for new genetic engineering techniques

The EU Commission launched a 12-weeks consultation period in the context of the Impact Assessment for new legislation for ‘New…

Soil Health Law: Organic movement’s contribution to public consultation

60-70% of soils in the EU are not healthy and the EU still lacks a comprehensive soil protection policy. In…
16/03/2022
GMOs

No risk assessment and labelling for eggs and hens of genetically modified origin?

Following an EU Commission statement, it can be concluded that eggs and laying hens that originate from genetically engineered hens…
02/02/2022
GMOs

New GMOs: What’s next for Europe & state-of-play legislative process

As covered in previous editions of our newsletter, the European Commission has been moving forward with plans to create a…

Trialogues on Regulation on Statistics on Agricultural Inputs and Outputs to start

On 10 December, the Council of the EU approved its mandate for negotiations on the Regulation on Statistics on Agricultural…

Revised Directive for a Sustainable Use of pesticides expected on 23 March

The indicative calendar of the European Commission for the first half of 2022 mentions the launch of a “Nature restauration…
 
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