28/06/2022

Preview of events

Got pesticides in your body? It’s your last chance to find out

Pesticides threaten our food and farming systems.They kill pollinators like bees, reduce the quality of soils, endanger the health of farmers and field workers and their toxic impact does not stop at the farm gate. Through the food we eat, they find their way into our bodies and environments.

People are aware of this: 1.2 million European citizens signed the European citizens’ initiative Save Bees and Farmers calling for a drastic reduction of pesticides.

As a member of the Good Food Good Farming (GFGF) coalition, we invite you to participate in this European citizens-science action before 30 June 2022.An independent laboratory will conduct the analysis for 30 different pesticides.

For more information on how to participate, you can check GFGF’s website and/or contact GFGF’s coordinator [email protected].

What is Good Food Good Farming (GFGF)?
Since 2018, the coalition #GoodFoodGoodFarming is campaigning to stir up EU food and farming policies and make them greener and fairer. GFGF gathers citizens, activists, farmers, beekeepers, chiefs and many more demanding a sustainable transition of food production and agriculture, with a substantial reduction of the use of pesticides.

In October 2022, GFGF will mobilise for the action days #GoodFoodGoodFarming which saw the participation of over 350 organisations and 181 events in many European countries during the last edition in 2021.

The work of IFOAM Organics Europe on this topic 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.

ClieNFarms public policy workshop on climate-neutrality and food security, 8 July, online

On 8 July 2022, IFOAM Organics Europe is organising the first online public policy workshop of ClieNFarms on climate-neutral farming while ensuring food security.

The war in Ukraine has put food security at the centre of the political debate. While availability and affordability of food are a top priority for all, increasing production at the expense of the environment is not the solution. We need to make our food production systems less reliant from external inputs (like fossil fuel, fertilisers, imported feed, etc.) and more resilient. In this workshop, we will shed light on this debate and discuss solutions for climate-neutral farming while ensuring food security.

There will be inspiring talks from Alexander Müller (TMG Think Tank for Sustainability) and Nathalie Bolduc (the think tank IDDRI). After this, a policy debate will take place with representatives of the EU Commission, COPA-COGECAthe European Environmental Bureau (EEB) and IFOAM Organics Europe.

Read agenda of the event and register.

The Horizon 2020 project ClieNFarms aims to make farms climate neutral. The project will set up 20 cases studies where systemic solutions will be tested and evaluated using up-to date modelling approaches and multicriteria assessment tools. IFOAM Organics Europe ensures that the results of the projects feed into EU policies.

You can follow ClieNFarms on FacebookTwitter and LinkedIn.

ClieNFarms has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under grant agreement No 101036822. This communication only reflects the author’s view. The Research Executive Agency is not responsible for any use that may be made of the information provided.

Join us at BIOFACH 2022, 26-29 July 2022, Nürnberg, Germany

The most important yearly appointment of the organic movement, BIOFACH,  takes place on 26-29 July 2022 in Nürnberg, Germany. This year, participants will be able to join both in person and digitally. Have you had a look at our BIOFACH 2022 programme yet? We contribute with a wide range of sessions on policy, regulation, and research.

On 26 July, we host EU policy day, themed “A new policy and regulatory framework for organics, opportunities and challenges.” The high-level speakers during this session include EU Commissioner for Agriculture, Janusz Wojciechowski, and Member of the European Parliament, Norbert Lins. They will discuss the CAP national Strategic Plans’ alignment with the Farm to Fork strategy and its potential for the development of organic. Of course, there will also be a special focus on the new EU Organic Regulation – how it fits the EU’s new political ambitions, as well as  its implementation in the EU and beyond  in view of renegotiation trade and organic equivalency agreements.

On 28 July, we organize a session addressing carbon farming, as well as an in-depth insight into the future of organic certification. These sessions will discuss organic in the context of topical subjects such as climate change, new technologies and the pandemic.

On 29 July, TP Organics hosts science day, during which experts in the field discuss tech-enabled innovations in the agri-food sector. Drawing on the latest market developments, this session will show how digital technologies can strengthen local and small-scale food businesses.

For the full programme and speaker line-up, visit BIOFACH’s website. We hope to see you there! And, of course, feel free to come say hi at Hall 3A, booth 517 (yes, our booth has moved).

Are you under 40 and interested in organic? Join the first European Organic Youth Event 31/8-1/9, Frick, Switzerland

Are you under 40 and active in the organic supply chain? Or have an interest in organic? Get ready as the first edition of Organics Europe’s Youth Event is coming up soon!

Together with our partners, FiBL Switzerland and Bio Suisse, we created an exciting programme. FiBL will host the youth event in its recently opened new office in Frick, Switzerland, from 31 August to 1 September 2022.

What’s in it for you?
You can expand your professional network, gain innovative ideas from field experts, be part of the next generation’s organic youth network and explore the practical side of Swiss ecological production as part of the excursion on 2 September.

We are thrilled to announce the confirmed list of speakers is now published on our webpage. A preview! For the inspirational hour, we will welcome:

  • Krassimir Benjamin – CEO and Chief Chocolatier, Bio Benjamin 
  • Alice Fauconnet & Freddy Hunziker – Co-founders, New Roots 
  • Arthur Petrie – International Director, LemonAid & ChariTea 
  • Jan Trávníček – Founder, Czech Organics

Interested and/or inspired?
Check out the Organics Europe Youth Event page. Are you convinced? Book your spot for Organics Europe’s Youth Event now! Until 30 June you still enjoy an ‘early bird’ discount. 

It’s the first time that we are organising this event, so we can use your help! Please consider:

  • Sharing the event among your networks (on LinkedInInstagramFacebook and Twitter);
  • Reach out to us at [email protected] if you have ideas about further promoting it and/or networks to share it with;
  • Share it on social using #OEYE2022 and #OrganicYouth, feel free to tag @OrganicsEurope, @FiBLorg & #BioSuisse
EU Organic Day approaches: Share your initiative, we will give it visibility – 23 September 2022

EU Organic Day is just around the corner, and we are looking forward to celebrating its first fully fledged edition with the entire organic value chain! Launched in 2021, this day represents the ideal occasion to raise awareness of organic and its benefits, evaluate Europe’s progress towards achieving its goal of 25% organic land by 2030, trends in consumer demand, and the implementation of the EU Organic Action Plan.

As European organic movement, we are calling on our members to share their initiatives with us! We will promote your local inspirational, actions, events and possibly much more! Are you planning an activity and want to share with us? Write us at [email protected]. We are looking forward to collaborating with our entire network to make this annual EU Organic Day a success and spotlight the European organic movement!

For more information, visit our dedicated webpage. Our members can also find more information and inspiration by other members in recordings of the ‘Let’s discuss organic’ session on our member extranet.

For information about what you can gain from being a member, read our membership page and contact [email protected].

Final Event of SmartAgriHubs, 26-28 September 2022, Lisbon, Portugal

26-28 September, the SmartAgriHubs projects will have its final event in Lisbon, Portugal. On Monday 26 September, members of the SmartAgriHubs project will gather and celebrate the closure of the project.

On Tuesday 27 and Wednesday 28 September, the SmartAgriHubs ecosystem will open its door to the European agricultural and digital innovation community. There will be several workshops and lectures on the challenges  and opportunities of the digitisation and digitalisation of agriculture. Various Horizon 2020 projects will be present, and there will be an exhibition open to representatives of the industry and agricultural organisations.

Register for the event on the SmartAgriHubs website.

Follow @SmartAgriHubs on FacebookTwitterLinkedIn and Instagram to stay tuned about the latest updates or visit the project’s website www.smartagrihubs.eu.

SmartAgriHubs will realise the digitisation of European agriculture by fostering an agricultural innovation ecosystem dedicated to excellence, sustainability and success. It is a €20 million EUR project under the Horizon 2020 instrument and brings together a consortium of over 164 partners in the European agri-food sector. The project aims to realise the digitisation of European agriculture by fostering an agricultural innovation ecosystem dedicated to excellence, sustainability, and success.  IFOAM Organics Europe’s role is to connect the dots between SmartAgriHubs and the organic sector, disseminate project outputs and communicate key messages during the project run.

SmartAgriHubs has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under grant agreement No 818182. This communication only reflects the author’s view. The Research Executive Agency is not responsible for any use that may be made of the information provided.

Conference: Is it possible to have a more sustainable Mediterranean diet? 28-30 September, Bari, Italy

There is a need for a change of course to Sustainable Food Systems (SFS), in which the Mediterranean diet represents the leverage for the application of the One Health approach. This is why CIHEAM Bari, the Mediterranean Agronomic Institute of Bari, is organizing the third World Conference on the Mediterranean Diet in Bari.

“Change of Route Towards More Sustainable and Resilient Food Systems in Mediterranean Countries: the Mediterranean Diet as a Strategic Resource to Accelerate the 2030 Agenda in the Region”, is an occasion to discuss how to improve the sustainability and resilience of food systems in the Mediterranean and celebrate the 60th Anniversary of the CIHEAM.

The event is affiliated with the SFS-MED Platform, a tool for international and multistakeholder collaboration capable of addressing themany challenges faced by countries bordering the Mediterranean and beyond, and furthering the achievement of the 2030 Agenda Goals.

For more information, visit CIHEAM’s website.

Organic Innovation Days 2022: Living labs & lighthouse farms in organic, 11-12 October 2022, Rumbeke-Beitem & Brussels, Belgium

After two virtual editions of the Organic Innovation Days, this year’s edition will once again take place as a physical event on 11-12 October! As the only EU event on organic and agroecological research and innovation organised by TP Organics, the European Technology Platform for organic food and farming hosted by IFOAM Organics Europe, the Organic Innovation Days provide a unique opportunity to meet and network with stakeholders and EU decision-makers.

What to expect
This year’s Organic Innovation Days are dedicated to living labs and lighthouse farms in the organic sector and will feature the launch of TP Organics’ study on this theme.

Day 1, 11 October will be hosted by agri- and horticultural research and knowledge centre Inagro (Flanders, Belgium – a bus will be organised from Brussels). Exemplary cases from different parts of Europe analysed in the study will be presented such as ÖMKi On-Farm Living Lab etc., followed by an innovation workshop on how to implement the study recommendations. In the afternoon, we will visit the Inagro trial farm (14 ha sandy loam mixed vegetable and arable cropping farm, certified organic since 2003), celebrating its 20-year anniversary this year. The different trials conducted on the farm are always demand-driven by the organic farmers in Flanders.

Day 2, 12 October will take place at BluePoint Brussels, with keynote speeches from the European Commission and Thünen Institute of Farm Economics which will make the link to EU research & innovation policy (Horizon Europe) and to conversion to organic agriculture. The highlight will be the high-level policy debate with the European Commission and experts from the organic sector on the new Horizon Europe instruments EU Mission ‘A Soil Deal for Europe’ and the European R&I Partnership candidate on agroecology living labs and research infrastructures.

In the afternoon, the Stakeholder Forum for TP Organics Members will take place as a space for organic and agroecological stakeholders to exchange about and discuss recent developments and the past and future activities of TP Organics.

Download the draft agenda and stay tuned – always find upcoming updates on the dedicated event webpage! Do not miss this opportunity to get the latest insights into organic research and innovation at European level – register by 8 September!

Are you a member of TP Organics? Please fill in the dedicated registration form for the Stakeholder Forum by 13 September.

TP Organics are looking forward to welcoming you in person!

TP Organics is the European Technology Platform for Organic Food and Farming. IFOAM Organics Europe is a founding member and hosts its secretariat. Visit www.tporganics.eu for more information and follow its Twitter @TPorganics.

This event is co-financed by the European Union, under the Climate, Infrastructure and Environment Executive Agency (CINEA). The sole responsibility for this communication lies with IFOAM Organics Europe. CINEA is not responsible for any use that may be made of the information provided.

 
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