Shaping EU agrifood’s future: Organic’s vision for the future CAP

Transforming to sustainable agrifood systems requires a Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) fit for the future with solutions that work for farmers, nature and society.  

After more than a year of in-depth discussions, starting with interest group of farmers or IGOF), the European organic movement published its  on the future CAP. In brief,  

• Supports all farmers who want to transform their farms sustainably using a whole-farm approach;  

• Adequately rewards farmers engaged in sustainability systems, such as organic farmers, for the benefits they already deliver to the environment and society.  

The agrifood sector is facing multiple challenges, so the CAP must undergo an ambitious reform to stay relevant and deliver environmental and socioeconomic sustainability. The CAP post-2027 should support both farmers who want to be and those who already are more environmentally ambitious. It is important to encourage those ready to re-designs their farms to be more sustainable and set high environmental ambitions. Moreover, the future CAP should also adequately reward farmers already working with nature and provide benefits for ecosystems functions – this needs to be based on a whole-farm approach.  

More specifically, IFOAM Organics Europe’s vision proposes a three-stage approach to ensure proportionality between a farm’s level of environmental ambition and the funding it receives, based on four key areas: soil protection, impact on water, climate, and biodiversity. This would allow for high environmental ambitions, a coherent approach at farm level, while easing administration for farmers and national authorities. 

Furthermore, the CAP should also play an important role in market regulation to strengthen farmers’ role in the agrifood supply chain, increase their resilience to economic crises and ensure a decent income. Targeted measures should support farmers based on socio-economic criteria. Possibilities for adequate measures that are suitable for the organic sector are currently explored within our organic farmers’ group.  

This vision was launched and discussed during the 2024 European Organic Congress in Budapest. High-level panellists exchanged on it, Catherine Geslain Lanéelle Director Strategy & Policy Analysis, DG AGRI, European Commission, Peter Meedendorp President, European Council of Young Farmers (CEJA), Jan Plagge President, IFOAM Organics Europe / President, Bioland, Christiane Lambert President, Copa-Cogeca, Eric Gall Deputy Director, IFOAM Organics Europe).  

IFOAM Organics Europe is continuing the work of presenting its vision and representing the needs and demands of organic farmers to the different agrifood stakeholders in Brussels and the EU institutions.  

Read our position paper to find out more about the vision of the organic movement for the future of the CAP.