European Parliament report on the organic action plan published

On 3 May, the European Parliament’s Plenary voted on its own initiative report on the Commission’s organic action plan (OAP). Rapporteur MEP Schmiedtbauer (Austria, EPP) who sits in the AGRI committee of the European Parliament led this work.

The Parliament’s report on the OAP recognises organic farming as one of the main components on the EU’s path towards more sustainable food systems, as well as its contribution to ecosystem services by delivering many positive externalities and benefits for climate change mitigation, biodiversity and soil protection. Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) highlighted that organic farming will contribute to achieving the objectives of the Farm to Fork and Biodiversity strategies. They also stressed that organic’s environmental benefits must be supported by a Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) rewarding organic farmers for the public goods they deliver, through the protection of the environment and of natural resources, the reduction of inputs and higher animal welfare standards.

The organic food and farming movement looks forward to further collaborating with MEPs, relevant institutions and interested stakeholders to make this EU Organic Action Plan a success in the years to come.

For more information on the European Organic Action Plan and IFOAM Organics Europe’s work on this issue, please contact Silvia Schmidt.