News
![Sustainable school meals as catalysts for food system change](https://www.organicseurope.bio/content/uploads/2023/04/SF4C-1-420x540.png)
Sustainable school meals as catalysts for food system change
On 22-23 March, during the conference titled ‘Small Farm to Fork Procurement’ and held at the ICLEI Brussels office, IFOAM…
![The multiple benefits of organic for climate and biodiversity – visualised in our new infographic](https://www.organicseurope.bio/content/uploads/2023/04/Climate-change-420x540.png)
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…
![Farmers at the heart of innovation applying and sharing knowledge in living farm labs](https://www.organicseurope.bio/content/uploads/2023/04/TP-Organics-420x540.png)
10/04/2023
TP Organics
Farmers at the heart of innovation applying and sharing knowledge in living farm labs
“Organic living labs and lighthouse farms in Europe” is a study by TP Organics, the European technology platform for organic…
![The Sustainable Use of Pesticides Regulation (SUR), moving forward but slowly](https://www.organicseurope.bio/content/uploads/2022/11/comm_website_THUMBNAILS_SUR-420x540.jpg)
23/03/2023
Plant health care
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…
![EU environmental ministers give clear signal to Commission to maintain precautionary principle & risk assessment for NGTs](https://www.organicseurope.bio/content/uploads/2022/09/comm_website_THUMBNAILS-1-420x540.png)
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…
![Green claims: The fight against greenwashing must be based on methodologies promoting the transition towards more sustainable food systems](https://www.organicseurope.bio/content/uploads/2022/11/pressrelease-1-420x540.png)
Green claims: The fight against greenwashing must be based on methodologies promoting the transition towards more sustainable food systems
BRUSSELS, 22 MARCH 2023 – IFOAM Organics Europe welcomes the publication of the Substantiating Green Claims initiative by the Commission,…
![We want to be able to choose! Ensure GMO-free food production.](https://www.organicseurope.bio/content/uploads/2022/09/comm_website_THUMBNAILS-1-420x540.png)
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](https://www.organicseurope.bio/content/uploads/2022/11/pressrelease-1-420x540.png)
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…
![IFOAM Organics Europe at carbon farming panel discussion](https://www.organicseurope.bio/content/uploads/2023/02/Carbon-farming-1-420x540.png)
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](https://www.organicseurope.bio/content/uploads/2023/02/Special-newsletter-420x540.png)
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](https://www.organicseurope.bio/content/uploads/2022/11/comm_website_THUMBNAILS_SUR-420x540.jpg)
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…
![European Court of Justice decision on ‘in vitro’ mutagenesis strengthens 2018 ruling subjecting gene editing to EU GMO Directive](https://www.organicseurope.bio/content/uploads/2022/09/comm_website_THUMBNAILS-1-420x540.png)
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…
![EU organic movement warns against greenwashing](https://www.organicseurope.bio/content/uploads/2022/11/pressrelease-420x540.png)
EU organic movement warns against greenwashing
BRUSSELS, 13 FEBRUARY 2023 – IFOAM Organics Europe warns against the misuse of claims, labels, or communication initiatives about food…
![Study on the environmental impacts of achieving 25% organic land by 2030 published](https://www.organicseurope.bio/content/uploads/2020/06/Report-2-420x540.png)
Study on the environmental impacts of achieving 25% organic land by 2030 published
The European Union’s ambitious Farm to Fork Strategy target of 25% organic farmland by 2030 is a clear statement of…
![Successful GMO petition handover to the Commission](https://www.organicseurope.bio/content/uploads/2020/06/GMOs-1-420x540.png)
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…
![New year, old narratives – Why genetic engineering is (still) not the solution to food security](https://www.organicseurope.bio/content/uploads/2020/06/GMOs-1-420x540.png)
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](https://www.organicseurope.bio/content/uploads/2023/02/BIOFRUITNET-420x540.png)
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)](https://www.organicseurope.bio/content/uploads/2022/11/comm_website_THUMBNAILS_SUR-420x540.jpg)
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](https://www.organicseurope.bio/content/uploads/2023/02/a23bdd2a-82e2-4cb4-917e-b4766f0ebcea-420x400.jpg)
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…
![Large share of EU funds available to promote sustainable agriculture in 2023](https://www.organicseurope.bio/content/uploads/2020/06/FoodPolicy-2-420x540.png)
23/12/2022
Food policy
Large share of EU funds available to promote sustainable agriculture in 2023
On 16 December 2022, the European Commission has adopted the 2023 Annual Work Programme on the promotion of agricultural products.…
![GMOs – An easy breakdown on common myths](https://www.organicseurope.bio/content/uploads/2022/09/comm_website_THUMBNAILS-1-420x540.png)
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](https://www.organicseurope.bio/content/uploads/2022/11/comm_website_THUMBNAILS_SUR-420x540.jpg)
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](https://www.organicseurope.bio/content/uploads/2022/11/comm_website_THUMBNAILS_SUR-420x540.jpg)
16/12/2022
Plant health care
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](https://www.organicseurope.bio/content/uploads/2022/12/81443228-cf93-4a32-8d04-226c28da6f7b-420x540.jpg)
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!](https://www.organicseurope.bio/content/uploads/2022/12/comm_website_THUMBNAILS-6-420x540.png)
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!…
![Bold pesticide reduction plan faces attack on Saturday](https://www.organicseurope.bio/content/uploads/2022/11/comm_website_THUMBNAILS_SUR-420x540.jpg)
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…
![Commission proposal on the certification of carbon removals leaves crucial questions unanswered](https://www.organicseurope.bio/content/uploads/2022/11/pressrelease-1-420x540.png)
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…
![Green claims: better methodologies to assess environmental performance of food & textiles products](https://www.organicseurope.bio/content/uploads/2022/11/pressrelease-1-420x540.png)
Green claims: better methodologies to assess environmental performance of food & textiles products
BRUSSELS, 29 NOVEMBER 2022 – IFOAM Organics Europe welcomes news about the Commission’s decision to postpone the publication of the…
![Press conference: EU pesticide reduction under fierce attack](https://www.organicseurope.bio/content/uploads/2022/11/comm_website_THUMBNAILS_SUR-420x540.jpg)
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](https://www.organicseurope.bio/content/uploads/2020/06/PoliticalHotspot-2-420x540.png)
24/11/2022
Plant health care
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](https://www.organicseurope.bio/content/uploads/2020/06/WelcomeNote-2-420x540.png)
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](https://www.organicseurope.bio/content/uploads/2021/09/Save-the-Bees-420x512.png)
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](https://www.organicseurope.bio/content/uploads/2022/11/comm_website_THUMBNAILS_PlantHealthCare-420x540.jpg)
‘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…
![This was COP 27 for agriculture](https://www.organicseurope.bio/content/uploads/2022/11/comm_website_THUMBNAILS-4-420x540.png)
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…
![GMO-free Europe Event held at the European Parliament to take a stand discuss the European Commission's new NGT legislative proposal](https://www.organicseurope.bio/content/uploads/2022/10/policy_GMOs_event_GMO-free-regions_202210-3-420x540.png)
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](https://www.organicseurope.bio/content/uploads/2022/11/comm_website_THUMBNAILS_PlantHealthCare-420x540.jpg)
09/11/2022
Plant health care
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](https://www.organicseurope.bio/content/uploads/2022/11/comm_website_THUMBNAILS_PlantHealthCare-420x540.jpg)
03/11/2022
Plant health care
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…
![Sustainability labels, ”sustainable or not? That’s the question!”](https://www.organicseurope.bio/content/uploads/2022/10/comm_website_THUMBNAILS_sustainability_labelling-420x540.jpg)
Sustainability labels, ”sustainable or not? That’s the question!”
In the current food environment, labels are crucial to provide consumers with information to help them make the sustainable choice.…
![Changes in regulation on recognition of control authorities & bodies for the purpose of import of organic products into the EU](https://www.organicseurope.bio/content/uploads/2020/06/EURegulation-420x540.png)
28/10/2022
Organic regulations
Changes in regulation on recognition of control authorities & bodies for the purpose of import of organic products into the EU
While the EU Organic Regulation 2018/848 has been in force since the start of the year, implementing regulation that specify…
![Farmers at the centre of research, innovation & knowledge exchange in TP Organics new study](https://www.organicseurope.bio/content/uploads/2020/06/TPO-420x540.png)
Farmers at the centre of research, innovation & knowledge exchange in TP Organics new study
Organic living labs and lighthouse farms in Europe is a brand new study by TP Organics, the European technology platform…
![The scientists behind the GMO deregulation lobby – A story of vested interests](https://www.organicseurope.bio/content/uploads/2022/09/comm_website_THUMBNAILS-1-420x540.png)
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…
![Add your signature – Support these EU-wide petitions to stop attempts to deregulate new GMOs](https://www.organicseurope.bio/content/uploads/2022/09/comm_website_THUMBNAILS-1-420x540.png)
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…
![Save the Date: GMO-Free Europe Event 2022 - 17 November](https://www.organicseurope.bio/content/uploads/2022/09/comm_website_THUMBNAILS-1-420x540.png)
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…
![Political Hotspot - September 2022](https://www.organicseurope.bio/content/uploads/2020/06/PoliticalHotspot-2-420x540.png)
29/09/2022
Food policy
Political Hotspot - September 2022
September is the month of the first informal meeting of the Ministers of Agriculture in Prague, Czech Republic. The Czech…
![Worrying step to deregulating GMOs: EU Agriculture Commissioner says “no controversy about direction” among EU Agricultural Ministers](https://www.organicseurope.bio/content/uploads/2022/09/comm_website_THUMBNAILS-1-420x540.png)
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](https://www.organicseurope.bio/content/uploads/2022/11/comm_website_THUMBNAILS_SUR-420x540.jpg)
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…
![Watch the EU Organic Awards ceremony, tomorrow 23/9, 10:00](https://www.organicseurope.bio/content/uploads/2022/09/comm_website_THUMBNAILS-15-420x540.jpg)
Watch the EU Organic Awards ceremony, tomorrow 23/9, 10:00
Tomorrow, Friday 23 September, there will be the second edition of the EU Organic Day, established by the European Commission…
![June newsletter: measuring pesticides, new GMOs, and more!](https://www.organicseurope.bio/content/uploads/2022/06/comm_website_thumbnail_newsletter_june-420x540.jpg)
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…
![IFOAM Organics Europe launches a guideline on the use of Flavourings in Organic Food](https://www.organicseurope.bio/content/uploads/2020/06/EURegulation-420x540.png)
28/06/2022
Organic regulations
IFOAM Organics Europe launches a guideline on the use of Flavourings in Organic Food
One of the new EU Organic Regulation (EU) 2018/848’s novelties is the restriction of the use of natural flavourings in…
![Got pesticides in your body? It’s your last chance to find out](https://www.organicseurope.bio/content/uploads/2022/06/comm_website_THUMBNAILS-10-420x540.jpg)
28/06/2022
Plant health care
Got pesticides in your body? It’s your last chance to find out
Pesticides threaten our food and farming systems.They kill pollinators like bees, reduce the quality of soils, endanger the health of…