On 19-20 October, EU-27 agriculture ministers met in Luxembourg to adopt their general approach on the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP). During the same week, Members of the European parliament (MEPs) voted the three pieces of legislation – strategic plans, horizontal and common market organization – during an online plenary. On both sides, results are particularly disappointing on the environmental aspects and will not lead to a system change that the organic movement is urging for.

The European Commission is consulting stakeholders to shape the future of rural development all over Europe. It wants to create a vision of future developments and identify key elements to foster prosperous rural areas. This public consultation will help the Commission to get a picture about all different kinds of matters from concerned stakeholders.

A regulation is only worth so much as it can be enforced. This is why on 7 September, an open source detection test was announced for the first gene-edited crop on the market, SU Canola, developed by US company Cibus. The test was published in the peer-reviewed scientific journal, Foods. The work was funded by a consortium of NGOs (including Greenpeace) and non-GM industry food companies.

As part of their ongoing campaign, the European Citizens’ Initiative (ECI) ‘Save bees and farmers!’ has released a set of animation videos in different languages. In these videos, you’ll learn why it is crucial to sign and share the petition calling on the European Commission to introduce the necessary legal framework and sufficient economic incentives for the transition to a sustainable agriculture model.

On 1 October, TP Organics participated in the Food Systems Partnership workshop, organized by the SCAR Food Systems Strategic Working Group. The development of this new European Partnership on Safe and Sustainable Food Systems for People, Planet and Climate, to be launched under Horizon Europe, is still early stage.

On 20-21 October 2020, TP Organics participated in EIP-AGRI’s workshop ‘Shaping the EU mission: Caring for soil is caring for life’, organised by the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Agriculture and Rural Development (DG AGRI) and the EIP-AGRI Service Point.

As IFOAM Organics Europe, we will take part in the IPMWorks project, which started on 1 October. The objective of this Horizon 2020 project, led by INRAE, is to promote the adoption of Integrated Pest Management (IPM) strategies.

On 13 October, the Agriculture Committee of the European Parliament voted for a fast, targeted and sustainable recovery package for EU farmers, food producers and rural areas. he European recovery instrument that gives the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD) an additional 8 billion EUR (current prices) was initially proposed by the European Commission to be made available only after the entry into force of the new CAP, in 2023.

To make the EU Green Deal a reality, we will need to transform food and farming. The organic movement has always been a frontrunner and source of innovation. Across Europe a number of organic and other initiatives are already transforming food and farming, on the path to our shared Vision 2030.

Taking over an organic farm or setting up your own new enterprise in the organic sector can be challenging. In Germany, Demeter Academy and its partners offer young farmers and entrepreneurs a support programme to build organic farm business and carry on the good work!

The contributions of sponsors allow IFOAM Organics Europe to focus on its most important work – representing organic stakeholders. This funding is a means to co-finance IFOAM Organics Europe events, projects and publications and is a highly valued contribution to our work.

Are you interested in getting visibility in IFOAM Organics Europe’s communication? Contact supportus@organicseurope.bio.