September 2022 Newsletter

Dear readers,

23 September was a day of celebrations! Besides the autumn equinox, it was the second edition of EU Organic Day. On this joyful day, we celebrated across Europe and in Brussels where eight excellent organic practices received the first ever European Organic Awards.

In Brussels, representatives of a pan-European collaboration handed out the first EU Organic Awards, hosted by the European Commission. I would like to congratulate the eight winners within seven categories.

The EU Organic Day and the Awards are great to help us remember the importance of involving national, regional, and local actors. We need the involvement and engagement of the entire value chain and actors at all levels to make the Organic Action Plan as successful as possible. Only by increasing both supply and demand for organic can we reach the Farm to Fork Strategy’s 25% organic target and transition to more sustainable food systems.
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Political hotspot
 

September is the month of the first informal meeting of the Ministers of Agriculture in Prague, Czech Republic. The Czech Presidency of the EU Council started in July and will last until the end of the year. Time to have a look at their priorities in food and agriculture.
Another key topic this year, also mentioned by the Czech Presidency in its agri-food priorities, is the Sustainable Use of Pesticides Regulation (SUR), for which the European Commission published a proposal on 22 June.
 
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News
Policy
Plant Healthcare
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 be a key instrument to reduce the impact of pesticides on human health and the environment, fulfilling the ambition of the Farm to Fork strategy, and especially to reach its targets on pesticide reduction.
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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 Modified Organisms (GMOs). Under the pretext of climate change adaptation, increasing yield and international economic competitiveness, many ministers encourage the relaxation of rules on new genomic techniques.
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Common Agricultural Policy (CAP)
CAP updates: Nine Strategic Plans approved, new derogations, feedback performance framework and future CAP network

Before the European Parliament’s summer break, the political process reviewing seed marketing rules kickstarted with an event on 22 June. Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) Martin Häusling (Greens/EFA), Eric Andrieu (S&D), Norbert Lins (EPP), Dacian Ciolos (RENWEW) and Anja Hazekamp (The Left) hosted the event.
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Organic Regulations
 
Seeds
European Parliamentarians, NGOs and organic sector discuss seed marketing rules

Before the European Parliament’s summer break, the political process reviewing seed marketing rules kickstarted with an event on 22 June. Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) Martin Häusling (Greens/EFA), Eric Andrieu (S&D), Norbert Lins (EPP), Dacian Ciolos (RENWEW) and Anja Hazekamp (The Left) hosted the event.
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Biodiversity, soil, and water
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 September, the position was adopted by the Members of the European Parliament (MEPs). In a next step, the Parliament will start negotiations with the Council to reach a compromise on the regulation.
 
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Public consultation on Soil Health Law is open
 

The European Commission has opened a public consultation on the Soil Health Law to which everyone can submit feedback until 24 October. As announced in the EU Soil Strategy, the European Commission will prepare a legislative proposal on soil health by 2023.
 
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Food policy
Early feedback 2023 promotion policies reveal potential decrease in funding for organic products
 

The Commission’s decision to ringfence budget for organic products within the promotion policies was welcomed by the organic sector as an important step in the right direction towards further promoting the development of the demand of organic. In the 2022 promotion policies work programme, organic and sustainable agrifood played a major role.
 
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New position paper on nutrition labelling

IFOAM Organics Europe published its new position paper on “Nutrition labelling & Nutri-Score”. This publication comes at a time of political change for labelling as the European Commission is expected to propose harmonised mandatory front-of-pack (FOP) nutrition label by the end of 2022.
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New position paper on sustainability labelling & the Planet-score

This position paper comes at a time of political change for sustainability labelling. The European Commission is expected to reveal the proposal for a “Regulation on Substantiating Green Claims based on the Product Environmental Footprint (PEF)” under the lead of the Commission’s Directorate-General for Environment (DG ENV), on 30 November.
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Call for healthy school meals – Sign the petition
 

The Buy Better Food Campaign has initiated an EU-wide petition for ‘A healthy meal for every child in every EU School’. It invites cities and citizens to urge policymakers to put sustainable school meals on the menu and help realise the EU Farm to Fork strategy.
 
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Textiles
New position paper on organic textiles in a context of strong political momentum
 

The publication of this paper comes at a time of significant political momentum. The European Commission is implementing the Circular Economy Action Plan and published the EU strategy for sustainable and circular textiles in March 2022. While the latter does not foresee specific actions on the issue of organic textiles, it does foresee reopening the 2011 Regulation on textile fibre names and related labelling and marking of the fibre composition of textile products.
 
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Knowledge for organic
Transformation scenarios for boosting organic farming & organic – OrganicTargets4EU project starts

The Horizon Europe project OrganicTargets4EU officially started on 1 September 2022. Coordinated by IFOAM Organics Europe, the project aims to support the achievement of the organic Farm-to-Fork targets of 25% organic farmland in the EU by 2030 and a significant increase in organic aquaculture. 
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Presence of pesticides in the environment – Scientific article out now

After months of work, IFOAM Organics Europe is happy to announce the article Presence of pesticides in the environment, transition into organic food, and implications for quality assurance along the European organic food chain – A review has been published in the Journal of Environmental Pollution.
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Recognising the benefits of organic farming
 

Organic farming has countless benefits for the natural environment and society, but they are often overlooked. Maria Ladinig and Bram Moeskops from IFOAM Organics Europe wrote an article for Organic Farm Knowledge outlining some of the benefits of organic farming, exploring the role of science, consumers and research and innovation. Read the full article on organic-farmknowledge.org: Recognising the benefits of organic farming – Organic Farm Knowledge.
 
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FarmDemo Training Kit helps you organise successful farm demonstration – Available in all EU languages

Do you want to organize a successful farm demonstration? FarmDemo’s Training Kit collects tools, guidelines, and videos that will help organizing a successful farm demonstration. The toolkit will inspire both farmers and other organizers of farm demonstration events to uplift their events, whether on-farm or online.
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Supporting knowledge exchange between AKIS-actors: EU-FarmBook project launched

This August, the EU-FarmBook project started. Its goal is to support knowledge exchange between all actors active in the national Agricultural Knowledge and Innovation Systems (AKIS) of the European Union. The project will further develop and expand an easily accessible and user-friendly EU-wide digital knowledge platform.
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IFOAM Organics Europe developments
IFOAM Organics Europe members, do you wonder how we spend your membership fee?
 

As part of a membership organisation, it is normal to pay a fee. As this can sometimes get a bit abstract, we have visualised this for you. Please have a look on our member extranet and learn what we have achieved with:

  • Your membership fee
  • Sponsorship & foundations’ donations
  • The LIFE-grant
 
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20-years of IFOAM Organics Europe in Brussels – Re-live the celebration

On Wednesday 11 May 2022, more than 100 people representing the European organic supply chain, consisting of farmers, processors, retailers, certifiers, including researchers and more, gathered in Brussels to celebrate the 20 years anniversary of IFOAM Organics Europe.
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Help us show that organic is a front-runner in transforming food & farming

To make our shared Vision for organic in 2030 a reality, we collect European initiatives that are transforming EU food and farming and could inspire others.
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Welcoming our new colleagues
Helene Schmutzler

After her undergraduate studies in International Relations and Organizations, Helene Schmutzler (she/her) proceeded with a M.Sc. in Sustainable Development, where she acquired both ecological and social insights into complex problems.
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Ilsa Phillips

Ilsa Phillips joined IFOAM Organics Europe as a Research and Innovation Coordinator this September. She obtained both her bachelor’s and master’s degree from Wageningen University, specializing in Sustainable Land Management. 
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Title

Following her ESC at IFOAM Organics Europe, Laura Sauques joined IFOAM Organics Europe as a Policy Assistant on Sustainable Food Systems. After a bachelor’s in law, she obtained a master’s in International Trade Relations.
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Marie Filippovits

Marie describes herself as a 22 year old Austrian with a big passion for climate related politics. She studied Sociology in her Bachelor and has been active with many different political youth groups. Her interest for the field of agriculture has grown in the last years, frequently discussing with friends on the importance of radical change in the global agricultural system to tackle the climate crisis.
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Elena Fazio

Elena has a background in international relations and foreign languages. In the past, she worked in the both the private and public sector, with a focus on communications and public policy. Elena was also part of different associations. She is very passionate about the environment and how it is communicated to the public. 
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Kalle Köster

Kalle has a genuine interest in food and its associated cultural aspects. With roots in environmental psychology, he decided to dedicate his time and energy to issues surrounding food systems. This has led him to study Agroecology at the Swedish University of Agricultural Science. Simultaneously he has led and contributed to a multitude of projects concerning the cultivation and consumption of grain legumes in the Swedish context.
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Hannah Gläser

With background in environmental sciences and sustainability studies, Hannah will join the Projects & Partnerships Unit as a short-term trainee. Her interests lie in the functioning of alternative food networks, public perception on agriculture and the sociology of food. One day she would like to start an organic farm. At IFOAM Organics Europe she is looking forward to getting to know the different partners that support the organisation and learn more about agricultural policy.
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Saying goodbye to our colleagues
Antoine Pauti

IFOAM Organics Europe policy unit says goodbye to Antoine, who joined the team as Policy Assistant for agriculture, environment, and food. He mainly worked on organic textiles and sustainable public procurement. On organic textiles, his work contributed to IFOAM Organics Europe’s revised position on the matter, asking for the same legal protection for organic textiles that organic foods already enjoy. 
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Arianna Bellemo

Arianna joined IFOAM Organic Europe in September 2021 as ESC volunteer. Until June 2022, has been a precious help for the communications team.
Hard working, creative and calm, Arianna was always ready to support her colleagues through stressful situations.
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Laura van Heeswijk

IFOAM Organics Europe’s membership and events team is saying goodbye to Laura, who became a wonderful team member in one year of volunteering. Laura’s creativity and organisational skills contributed to numerous events, among other Organics Europe Youth Event and the European Organic Congress.

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Rico Heller

IFOAM Organics Europe’s projects and partnerships (P&P) team says goodbye to Rico, a dedicated team member. Rico joined as an ESC volunteer in September 2021 for 11 months. He was a great addition to the team, bringing new ideas and support on many occasions.

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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 check our FAQ or contact membership@organicseurope.bio.
Events
Preview of events


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Review of past events


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Calendar

11-12 October 2022
Organic Innovation Days
Flanders&Brussels, Belgium

30th November 2022
IFOAM Organics Europe Meets Business 2022
Brussels, Belgium

2022 

10-year anniversary of IFOAM Asia 

20-year anniversary of IFOAM Organics Europe   

50-year anniversary of IFOAM Organics International
Making Europe more organic
IFOAM ORGANICS EUROPE KEY SUPPORTER 2022
YEAR OF ORGANIC SPONSORS
ORGANIC REGULATION GUIDE 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 2022

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

For further information contact your national board member or the office in Brussels.

Editors IFOAM Organics Europe newsletter: Eva Berckmans, Silvia Schmidt & Eric Gall. With the contribution of Elena Fazio.

This newsletter is co-financed by the LIFE programme of the European Union, under the under the Climate, Infrastructure and Environment Executive Agency (CINEA). This publication only reflects the views of the authors and its sole responsibility lies with IFOAM Organics Europe. CINEA is not responsible for any use that may be made of the information provided.

IFOAM Organics Europe

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