“Green” cultural capital – Vienna awarded “Best Organic City” at EU Organic Awards 2023
*** Applications for the EU Organics Awards 2024 are open, visit our website for more info and apply by 12 May! ***
On 25 September 2023, the second edition of EU Organic Awards took place in Brussels, Belgium. 8 awards have been granted to inspiring individuals, regions and enterprises from all over Europe to celebrate their passion and dedication to organic farming. Vienna was awarded “Best Organic City” .
“Agriculture is very important in Vienna, because Vienna is a big organic farmer itself” says Jürgen Czernohorszky, Executive City Councilor for Climate and Environment and a city government member responsible for agriculture.
53% of the city’s surface is green, with a third of it being farmland. A cultural “green” capital plays a key role in the transformation of the food system and farming of the country. Sustainable food production has a very long tradition in Vienna. Organic production started here over 45 years ago. Ever since it has developed into a modern sustainable food system that promotes organic products and supports local farmers. The government puts high emphasis on the promotion of organic food, i.e. by securing organic food supply to communal institutions such as children’s homes, retirement homes, hospitals and schools.
“We really believe that it’s a political responsibility to supply all our citizens with healthy food produced around the corner”, stressed Jürgen Czernohorszky. To bring organic food closer to the consumers, the city government has established its own organic brand “Wiener Gusto”. Thanks to the regional value chain, Wiener Gusto offers fair prices for a wide choice of organic products.
Best Organic City Vienna leads by example, strengthening local economy and providing its citizens with quality products. The message from the cultural heart of Europe is clear: being green and organic goes along with economic growth.
Want to learn more about the other winners of the EU Organic Awards 2023? Read our dedicated article.
The annual European Organic Awards reward the most excellent and innovative actors in the organic value chain. Jointly organized by the European Commission, the European Economic and Social Committee, the European Committee of the Regions, COPA-COGECA and IFOAM Organics Europe, they aim to stimulate organic production by sharing the inspiring stories of actors who achieved excellence in this field. Organic production combines the best environmental and climate practices and enhances biodiversity and the health of soil and plants. Its fundamental role has also been recognized by the EU, which identified organic production as playing a key role in the achievement of the objectives of the European Green Deal, the Farm to Fork strategy and the Biodiversity strategy.
Want to be the next winner of the EU Organic Awards? Applications for the 2024 edition are open until 12 May! Read more on our website and apply today!