November 2020 Newsletter

Dear readers,  
 
I would like to use this opportunity to look back on a turbulent year, marked with great successes and unprecedented challenges, and look ahead. 
 
This spring’s first wave of Covid-19 caught all of us by surprise. On behalf of my team and the European organic movement, I would like to thank everyone involved in fighting the virus: doctors, nurses, specialists, those wearing masks and following official guidelines, and everyone else making sure the most vulnerable people are protected.  

As Director of the European organic movement, I would also like to express our gratitude to all organic stakeholders who continued working during these challenging times. It was you who provided us with healthy, high-quality food, protected the environment and enabled further growth of the organic market. 
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Political hotspot

The European Commission is set to publish the next European organic action plan (OAP) at the beginning of next year. It has launched a public consultation for stakeholders and the public to give their input, which was open from 4-27 November. Replies to this public consultation are available on the Commission's website.

A comprehensive and well-designed organic action plan could greatly contribute to the development of the organic sector, so it was crucial for the organic movement to reply to this public consultation. 
 
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News
Policy
Common Agricultural Policy (CAP)
Start of CAP trilogues and recommendations to Member States
 

Only a few weeks after the votes on the CAP files in the European Parliament and the Council, the three EU institutions are already negotiating  the final version of the reform. In parallel, the European Commission is preparing recommendations for Member States’ CAP Strategic Plans. 
 
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Organic Regulations
New organic regulations published

Originally, the new EU Organic Regulation (EU) 2018/848 was set to apply from 1 January 2021. However, the development of the secondary legislation is still ongoing and many Delegated Acts and Implementing Measures still have to be adopted.
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Rewatch the webinar on the regulatory changes of the new EU Organic Regulation relevant to the Global South

Did you miss the web meeting organized by the International Trade Centre on the new Organic Regulation (EU) 2018/848? Would you like to refresh your memory? Watch it again to learn more on the main changes and effects the implementation of the new EU Organic Regulation will have on the Global South.
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Climate change
1 million citizens are calling on the Commission: Our forests are in danger, act now!
 

More than a million people have so far called for a strong, new EU law to stop EU-driven deforestation, sending a powerful signal to the European Commission and national governments.
 
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Biodiversity, soil and water
Sign the petition to call on Europe to save the bees and farmers!
 

More than 400.000 participants have already signed the European Citizens’ Initiative to ‘Save bees and farmers’ and you can add your signature. Spread the word by sharing the initiative widely within your networks. Every signature counts!
 
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Research and innovation 
Knowledge for organic
Interested to learn how public procurement can be a driver for a more regional, sustainable and healthy food system?

FoodShift’s Regional Lunch for All Lab is based in Avignon, France, and aims at shifting public procurement towards a sustainable food transition.
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Curious about SmartAgriHubs’ Innovation Portal? Participate in shaping the webinar!

Since September 2019, SmartAgriHubs launched and developed its Innovation Portal with a goal to expand and better connect the network of key AgriTech stakeholders across Europe.
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A guide to thematic networks - EURAKNOS publication

The EU Horizon 2020 project EURAKNOS has published an ‘Explorer's Guide to Thematic Networks', a handy, illustrated booklet on how to design and implement Thematic Networks to maximise user engagement and impact.
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Improving worm control in organic sheep farming by using faecal egg counts

RELACS project partners Soil Association and Scotland Rural University College developed practical guidelines for farmers and farm advisors on using faecal egg counts to improve worm control in organic sheep farming.
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Promoting gender equality in the workplace with IoF2020 & SmartAgriHubs’ Gender Equality Toolbox

Would you like to promote gender equality in the agricultural sector? Do you work in events and communications? Check out the  Gender Equality Toolbox, to be as inclusive as possible!

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Organic breeders, share your pictures – Use #BreedingABrightFuture on Twitter

#BreedingABrightFuture is LIVESEED’s social media campaign, aiming at raising awareness about the beauty and benefits of organic plant breeding to the wider public.
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Conference “Improving sustainability and welfare in organic poultry and pig production”- Register now! 

The online event will take place on 26 January 2021 and bring together four research projects: OK-Net EcoFeed, PPILOW, Freebirds and POWER. Discussions are expected to deepen and consolidate the importance of organics within the feed sustainability and animal welfare concept
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IFOAM Organics Europe developments
Active months for the organic representatives in the Commission’s Civil Dialogue Groups

IFOAM Organics Europe advises and discusses policy options with the Commission and other stakeholders at meetings of the Directorate General for Agriculture and Rural Development (DG AGRI)’s Civil Dialogue Groups (CDGs).
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Lead by example! Check out inspiring initiatives from the organic sector and submit your own
 

Are you contributing to the transformation of European food and farming systems? Showcase your initiative at EUorganic2030.bio!
 
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They make it happen! Get inspired by Biopartner and help improve, inspire and deliver organic across Europe
 

Transforming European food and farming systems by 2030, the shared vision of the organic movement, means improving how we grow and process food as well as promoting sustainable diets and the consumption of healthy food.

 
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Welcoming our new colleague
Mathilde Calmels
 

We are happy to welcome our new colleague, Mathilde Calmels. On 9 November, she joined the Policy Unit as Policy Coordinator in charge of pesticides, natural inputs and fertiliser.
 
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Did you know that, as IFOAM Organics Europe member, you can receive push notifications when we upload member-only news on the extranet? Follow these simple steps:

  • Download the SharePoint app to your mobile device (in the App store and Google Play) and allow notifications
  • Visit our member extranet on the same device
  • Click the ‘star’ next to ‘Member home’

Are you an IFOAM Organics Europe member and you do not have access to the member extranet yet? Or do the steps above not work? Please contact communication@organicseurope.bio.

Events

Members of IFOAM Organics Europe find an overview of all upcoming internal and external policy events on the landing page of the member extranet. Scroll down to ‘Network: next meetings and events’ to consult it.
Preview of events


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Review of past events


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Calendar of events

3 December 2020
BIOFRUITNET seminar “Innovating European organic fruit production”
Online




17-20 February 2021
BIOFACH
Online





April 2021
IoF2020 final event
To be determined

8-9 December 2020
IFOAM Organics Europe Meets Business 2020
Online



8-10 March 2021
EUCARPIA-LIVESEED Conference - Breeding and seed sector innovations for organic food systems
Cēsis, Latvia


April 2021
XF-Actors final event
To be determined

25-26 January 2021
Improving sustainability and welfare in organic poultry and pig production - Joint conference OK-NET EcoFeed, PPILOW, POWER, FreeBirds
Online

23 March 2021
ReMIX final conference
Brussels, Belgium




6-10 September 2021
Organic World Congress
Rennes, France
Making Europe more organic -
Support IFOAM Organics Europe
IFOAM ORGANICS EUROPE KEY SUPPORTER 2020
DEVELOPING ORGANIC - GOLDEN SPONSORS
 
Help us to make Europe more organic
 

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.
 

© IFOAM Organics Europe 2004 to 2020

Please send any comments or contributions to the newsletter to communication@organicseurope.bio.

For further information contact your national Council member or the office in Brussels.
Editors: Eva Berckmans, Eric Gall. With the contribution of Gaëlle Cau, Verena Mitschke.

This newsletter is co-financed by the European Union under the Executive Agency for Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (EASME). The sole responsibility for this communication lies with IFOAM Organics Europe. The EASME is not responsible for any use that may be made of the information provided.

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