News
DARWIN: Transition to safe & sustainable food systems through new & innovative detection methods & digital solutions for plant-based products derived from new genomic techniques, under a co-creation approach
1 January 2024 to 30 June 2027 This project title is quite a mouthful, so let’s break it down. The…
New members-only sessions: (mis)use of regenerative & positioning organic to various political audiences
We are thrilled to announce new sessions in our member-exclusive webinar series ‘Let’s Discuss Organic’. On 26 April we will…
05/04/2024
Food policy
How school canteens can support a healthy, just, and sustainable European food system
On 12 March, three inspiring speakers showed how school canteens can change and integrate sustainability criteria –in urban, rural and…
04/04/2024
Food policy
Only two more months to apply for EU funds to promote organic food & farming
Are you a trade or inter-trade organisation in an EU country? Are you working with or promoting organic products? You…
Nature restoration in jeopardy – Member States’ Environment Ministers endanger another EU law
After reaching a trilogue agreement on the Nature Restoration Law last November, adoption of a piece of European Union legislation…
Organics Europe's stance on Member State's efforts to delay anti-deforestation law (EUDR)
Some EU Member States, spearheaded by Austria and endorsed by Finland, Poland, Slovakia, Slovenia, and Sweden, are trying to weaken…
Parliament’s vote on Green Claims Directive: IFOAM Organics Europe welcomes efforts to curb greenwashing and the acknowledgement of specific environmental assessment needs for agri-food
BRUSSELS, 12 MARCH 2024 – IFOAM Organics Europe welcomes today’s plenary vote on the directive on green claims. This directive…
New faces and new projects in the Research & Innovation Unit
A new year means new research and innovation (R&I) projects! Several new Horizon Europe projects in which IFOAM Organics Europe…
Green claims: organic movement applauds renewed recognition of PEF's shortcomings for agrifood
BRUSSELS, 14 FEBRUARY 2024 – IFOAM Organics Europe welcomes today’s vote on green claims as it underscores the limitations of…
NGT vote a step backward for biosafety that nonetheless safeguards the possibility for traceability and national "coexistence" measures
BRUSSELS, 07 FEBRUARY 2024 – Today the European Parliament voted on the legislative proposal on so-called “New Genomic Techniques” (NGTs).…
February 2024 Newsletter - Multilingual Edition
Read this Special Newsletter in BG, CZ, DA , DE, ES, EN, FR, HU, IT, LT, NL, PL, PT, RO, UA Dear reader,Welcome to 2024! As we usher in the new year and an EU…
IFOAM Organics Europe calls on MEPs to postpone plenary vote on NGTs as ENVI Committee vote leaves many issues unsolved
BRUSSELS, 24 JANUARY 2024 – Today, the Committee on Environment, Public Health and Food Safety (ENVI Committee) voted on the…
Green Claims: Organics Europe highlights Product Environmental Footprint method's shortcomings for agri-food
BRUSSELS, 23 JANUARY 2024 – As compromise amendment negotiations on the Green Claims Directive proposal are taking place within the…
12/01/2024
GMOs
Myth busting: NGTs and organic
With an eye on this year’s elections, the EU institutions have geared up work on many important dossiers and advancing…
11/01/2024
GMOs
New GMOs – Key resources
This article is an overview of useful resources we have compiled for you. We will update this on a rolling…
Welcome note December 2021 newsletter
Dear readers, 2021 has been another turbulent year, again with great successes and challenges. Just like last year, I would…
14/12/2021
GMOs
Commission event: Can New Genetic Engineering Techniques (NGETs) be sustainable?
The European Commission invited stakeholders, public officials, and politicians for a high-level event to discuss their plans to launch new…
14/12/2021
Food policy
Organic in sustainable food public procurement: numerous benefits for a low-hanging fruit
Recent European initiatives related to food policies, among which the Farm to Fork Strategy, Organic Action Plan, and new legislative…
IFOAM Organics Europe Meets Business: Bridging business and EU policies, 7 December, online
On 7 December 2021, players from the whole (organic) supply chain – including processors, traders, retailers, and certifiers – joined the…
Welcome note October 2021 newsletter
Dear readers, Autumn has reached Europe, and unlike nature at this time of year, our work is not slowing down.…
Political hotspot October 2021 newsletter
26 October marked the final day for final contributions to the Commission’s inception impact assessment (roadmap) on the Sustainable Food…
12/10/2021
GMOs
Participate in Commission Public Consultation to keep (new) GMOs regulated and to protect organic
As covered in the last edition of the newsletter, the Commission is considering a new legal proposal for so-called “New…
28/09/2021
GMOs
Public consultation for new legal proposal upcoming
On 29 April 2021, the European Commission published a study on the status of New Genomic Techniques under Union law…
16/09/2021
Food policy
Read the leading initiatives for more sustainable foods in FAO's handbook
Sustainable food systems are critical to ensure that future generations have access to food and consume healthy meals. Many food…
Vote on European Parliament’s Farm to Fork Strategy report: mostly positive on organic
The Farm to Fork (F2F) strategy, published in May 2020 with a view of holistically transitioning towards more sustainable food…
08/09/2021
GMOs
The debate about new GMOs in Europe: Our Policy Coordinator in conversation with Slow Food Europe
In their podcast series on European food and farming policies, Slow Food Europe brings together experts to discuss hot matters…
How are cities engaging with food system transformation? FoodSHIFT webinar, 13 September, 15:00-16:00
City councils – either led by the city government itself or by citizens – are key to involve citizens and…
Have your say! IFOAM Organics Europe provided feedback to the Commission’s EU School Scheme roadmap
As announced in the Farm to Fork (F2F) strategy, the Commission will “review the EU school scheme to enhance its…
Demand better food & farming – Good Food Good Farming European Action Days - 1-31 October 2021
This year, Good Food Good Farming is again organising its European Action Days 1-31 October 2021. Raise your voice, add…
21/06/2021
Biodiversity
CAP
Climate change
EU Green Deal
Events
Farm to Fork
Food policy
Organic regulations
Ten take-aways of the European Organic Congress 2021 - 16-18 June, online, live from Lisbon
Following a successful edition of the hybrid European Organic Congress 2021, we are happy to share the ten key take-aways…
21/06/2021
Biodiversity
CAP
Climate change
EU Green Deal
Events
Farm to Fork
Food policy
Organic regulations
More than 660 discussed transitioning to more sustainable food & farming systems at European Organic Congress - 16-18 June, online, live from Lisbon
This year’s edition of our European Organic Congress took place online and live from Lisbon on 16-18 June 2021. More…
Getting food on the climate agenda - FoodSHIFT2030 webinar - 15 June 2021, online
Climate change policy debates fail to consider the interconnected nature of food systems and involve a wide range of actors.…
Sustainable food systems innovators, read FAO’s handbook!
The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the National Research Institute for Agriculture, Food and the…
09/06/2021
GMOs
European retailers take a strong stand against deregulating new GMOs
On 26 May 2021, European retailers took a strong stand against deregulating new GMOs in a joint resolution. One of…
For a just transition to align the EU food system with the Green Deal - 26 May 2021, online
French and European food systems need to be transformed to address health, environmental and social challenges. However, the current policy…
19/05/2021
GMOs
New GMOs in Europe? Slow Food Europe podcast with our Policy Coordinator
Slow Food Europe just launched a podcast series dedicated to European food and farming policies, gathering experts to discuss hot…
Welcome note May 2021 newsletter
Dear readers, It is spring, a period I associate with birth and budding blossoms, the energetic execution of gardening plans…
05/05/2021
GMOs
Political hotspot May 2021 newsletter
On Thursday, 29 April, the Commission released their long-awaited in-house study on the ‘status of new genomic techniques under Union…
Organic movement raises red flag on assumed benefits deregulating new genomic techniques
BRUSSELS, 29 APRIL 2021 – The organic food and farming movement criticises the Commission’s plan to work on a new…
19/04/2021
Food policy
Take part in the public consultation on promotion policy and contribute to support sustainable consumption
This year the European Commission earmarked an unprecedented share of €49 million to promote organic production and consumption in the…
New Organic Action Plan: Focus on research & innovation
The new Organic Action Plan (OAP) published at the end of March 2021 recognises that research will be key for…
Civil society, farmers and business organizations: Vice-President Timmermans, don't deregulate GM crops & animals
BRUSSELS, 30 MARCH 2021 – Today, a large coalition of 162 civil society, farmers and business organisations calls on Vice…
Welcome note March 2021 newsletter
Dear readers, On behalf of the European organic movement, I would like to welcome the new European Organic Action Plan…
Political hotspot March 2021 newsletter
The new action plan for the development of the organic sector was published on 25 March 2021. IFOAM Organics Europe…
IFOAM Organics Europe welcomes new Organic Action Plan
BRUSSELS, 25 MARCH 2021 – The organic food and farming movement welcomes today’s publication of the European Organic Action Plan…
[Exclusive for members] Let's discuss organic hot topics
As a follow-up of the thematic sessions hosted during BIOFACH, we are bringing our members live sessions during which they…
24/03/2021
Food policy
"Develop a sustainability claim, they said; it will be fun they said" - IFOAM Organics Europe position paper on substantiating claims & Product Environmental Footprint (PEF)
The Farm to Fork strategy reveals that the Commission will set up an EU sustainable food labelling framework, likely as…
[Exclusive for members] GMOs and gene editing in agriculture: Event recordings available until 15 March
On 10 February 2021, more than 160 participants and 7 speakers joined the online event GMOs and gene editing in…
IFOAM Organics Europe’s expert session on promotion policies during BIOFACH 2021
During BIOFACH 2021, IFOAM Organics Europe’s Food Policy Officer Silvia Schmidt organized an “Ask the Expert” Session on the Commission’s…
Organic and Conventional sectors discuss genome editing at IFOAM Organics Europe event - 10 February 2021, online
IFOAM Organics Europe invited food & farming stakeholders and policymakers to discuss GMOs and gene editing in agriculture. With the…