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 welcomes this new Organic Action Plan 2021-2027 as it includes important push and pull actions that will contribute to the development of supply of and demand for organic products. It will therefore be an important instrument for reaching the Farm to Fork strategy’s target of 25% organic land by 2030.
Jan Plagge, President of IFOAM Organics Europe welcomed that “the EU Farm to Fork and Biodiversity strategies put organic farming at the heart of a transition to sustainable food systems, with a target to reach 25% organic land on average by 2030 and with the publication of a new EU organic action plan, which will mark a new era for the transformation of our food systems towards organic and agroecology”.
He elaborated on the details adding that “the Commission has put forward concrete steps to boost organic demand such as the €49 million budget for organic within the promotion policies framework as well as the integration of organic products into the minimum mandatory criteria for sustainable public procurement. Given the importance of knowledge in organic food systems and the role that organic practices play in the internalisation of external costs, allocating at least 30% of the Horizon Europe funding for agriculture, forestry and rural areas to topics relevant for the organic sector, as well as carrying out a study on the real price of food and the role of taxation are timely steps forward”.
Our President continued that he already looks forward to the annual EU ‘Organic Day’ which will be an ideal opportunity to take stalk of how the organic action plan is performing.
Eduardo Cuoco, Director of IFOAM Organics Europe, elaborated on the Organic Action Plan in a video.
Key take-aways from his message are that “we must not forget the importance involving national, regional and even local actors for this action plan to be as successful as possible in reaching the 25% organic target and transitioning towards more sustainable food systems. This action plan provides tools for Member States to fully tap into the potential of organic farming to regenerate European agriculture and to reconcile farming and nature. Specifically, involvement beyond the EU level is vital for actions related to public procurement, promotion, the implementation of bio-districts, to name but a few”.
Of course, the implementation of the Organic Action Plan will heavily depend on the CAP. On this, our Director added that “this action plan now needs to be implemented by Member States through their national CAP strategic plans. Therefore, the organic movement welcomes that the Commission will ensure Member States make the best use of the possibilities offered by the new CAP to support their national organic sector and that farm advisory services will be strengthened. It is time to properly reward organic farmers as well as conventional farmers transitioning to organic for the benefits they deliver to nature and society, and to properly fund farm advisory systems geared towards organic and other agroecological practices”.
Have a look at our our Director’s reaction video and our infographic on the EU Organic Action Plan.
The Commission’s press conference and Q&A are available on the Commission’s website.
IFOAM Organics Europe looks forward to collaborating with relevant institutions and interested stakeholders to make this new organic action plan a success, through concrete and workable actions on the ground.