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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…

Debate and discussion: Which recycled nutrients products could be suitable for organic farming? 

On 18 September, 14:00-17:00, we are holding an online workshop on Recycled Nutrients for Organic Farming with the European Sustainable…
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
Soil

From a Soil Health law to a Soil Monitoring Directive

On 5 July, the European Commission published its proposal concerning a Soil Monitoring and Resilience law. IFOAM Organics Europe welcomes…
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…
26/05/2023
Climate change

Council and Parliament are advancing on their positions on the Industrial Emissions Directive

The European Parliament’s Committees on Environment and Agriculture have voted on their reports on the revision of the EU Industrial…
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…

BIOFRUITNET project: Making stronger networks in organic fruit growing

Knowledge sharing is key for bringing together innovative ideas and identify new solutions in organic farming. The Horizon 2020 BIOFRUITNET…

New video on organic plant health care & updates on the SUR 

We are happy to announce that we just published a new video on the organic approach to plant health care…

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…

The Sustainable Use of Pesticides Regulation (SUR), moving forward but slowly

The legislative process of the Sustainable Use of Pesticides Regulation (SUR) proposed by the European Commission back in June 2022…
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…

Scientific study shows synthetic pesticides significantly more dangerous than natural ones 

More organic farming means less pesticide use and risk  BRUSSELS, VIENNA, 23 FEBRUARY 2023 – The European Green Deal’s targets of…
20/02/2023
Climate change

IFOAM Organics Europe at carbon farming panel discussion

IFOAM Organics Europe has been invited to participate to the event “Carbon farming – New potential for farmers or Greenwashing?”.…

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…

Online press conference: Conventional and organic pesticides compared, 23 February

“Organic farming is not what it claims to be. Organic farmers also spray poisons – and not too sparingly.” “Organic…
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…

Innovative solutions in organic fruit production – BIOFRUITNET project's final conference - 2 March 2023, 9:15-13.30 (CET), online 

Organic farming relies on knowledge and information flow and has a biodiversity-based approach to plant health. Sharing the available best…

Organic movement's recommendations on EU pesticides regulation (SUR)

IFOAM Organics Europe’s position paper gathering our recommendations on the Sustainable Use of Pesticides Regulation (SUR) is out.   As our…

Save the bees and farmers hearing at the European Parliament  

The official hearing of the European Citizens (ECI) Initiative Save the Bees and Farmers, which we are part of, take…

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…

Member States call for ‘new impact assessment’ on the Pesticides Regulation (SUR), delaying strict EU pesticide regulation

On 19 December, Member States1 voted in favour of requesting complementary data to the existing impact assessment the Commission carried…

EU pesticides regulation (SUR) under attacks from Member States & industry

The EU Pesticide Reduction proposal SUR has been under attack by lobbyists. They developed a strategy to delay and possibly…

Promoting recycled fertilizers in Europe: IFOAM Organics Europe position paper & outcomes policy workshop on closing the nutrients’ cycle

On 28 February, IFOAM Organics Europe has published a new position paper on the Commission’s Integrated Nutrients Management Action Plan…

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…

Bold pesticide reduction plan faces attack on Saturday

BRUSSELS, 6 DECEMBER 2022 – EU plans to cut pesticide use and risk by half and protect the most sensitive…
30/11/2022
Climate change

Commission proposal on the certification of carbon removals leaves crucial questions unanswered

BRUSSELS, 30 NOVEMBER 2022 – The Commission’s proposal on the certification of carbon removals touches on important aspects like the…

Press conference: EU pesticide reduction under fierce attack

In June 2022, the EU Commission presented a legislative proposal on the “sustainable use of plant protection products” (SUR), which…

Political Hotspot - November 2022

The legislative process of revising the EU’s pesticide legislation, the Sustainable Use of Pesticides Regulation (SUR), is full of hurdles,…

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…

‘Way forward in organic plant health care strategies’ Conference, 17-18 November 2022, online

On 17 & 18 November, IFOAM Organics Europe, BÖLW and JKI Institüte organised an online conference on the ‘Way forward…
22/11/2022
Climate change

This was COP 27 for agriculture 

From 6-18 November the COP27 took place in Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt. Like every year, our colleagues from IFOAM – Organics…
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…

Commission's fertiliser communication, short term fixes, no long-term solutions

In its Communication on ensuring availability and affordability of fertilisers, the EU Commission postpones necessary changes to achieve more sustainable food systems by…

Organic movement asks for higher environmental ambition in the upcoming Fertiliser Communication & digitalization of pesticide use data in SAIO’s implementing act 

Upcoming Fertilizers Communication of the Commission  On 24 October, we co-signed a joint letter with 9 NGOs calling on the…
25/10/2022
Soil

Organic movement responds to public consultation on Soil Health Law 

Soil health is a cornerstone of organic farming and common organic farming practices improve actively soil quality. Healthy soils are…
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…

Updates on pesticides and recycled nutrients: Regulation (SUR), statistics and data

IFOAM Organics Europe welcomed the Commission’s proposal on the revision of the Sustainable Use of pesticides Regulation (SUR). It could…
 
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