The future of organic food: Ten take-aways of the Organic Food Conference 2021
Our Organic Food Conference 2021 was a success, and we are happy to share the ten key take-aways.
- The European Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development, Janusz Wojciechowski, recognised organic farming as part of the solution to the climate and biodiversity crises in his closing speech.
- Increasing both demand and supply of organic food is crucial to reach the EU’s 25% organic land target laid out in the Farm to Fork and Biodiversity strategies. How? Speakers identified campaigns on organic certification, awareness raising on the benefits of organic farming among retailers and consumers, training and education of farmers on organic production and smart EU policies.
- Organic production and retail have been growing steadily over the past decades. Yet, more knowledge and data need to be collected to gain deeper insights into the development of the organic sector, especially on organic retail, sales channels, and intra-EU trade.
- The PlanetScore, a life cycle analysis-based environmental label considering additional indicators, such as biodiversity, impact of pesticides and animal welfare, could be a comprehensive alternative as a basis for the “sustainable food labelling framework” rather than the NutriScore, already used in several Member States.
- Better structure of supply chains and increased cooperation among all organic operators in the production chain is crucial to address the lack of local infrastructures, adapt production types, innovate and develop organic breeding.
- Just remuneration and long-term agreements between producers, processors and retailers are essential to ensure fairness in the organic value chain.
- Less is more when it comes to packaging organic products. Organic producers need to consider the organic principles, especially that of ecology
- Organic operators, processors and traders need to prepare for modifications concerning the use of flavourings, cleaning and disinfection products, the management of residues, group certification and imports to ensure successful implementation of the new EU Organic Regulation, applying from 1 January 2022. IFOAM Organics Europe will facilitate this in a guide for organic operators, which we will publish in the coming weeks.
- Across the continent, farmers, food processors, retailers and traders are already transforming food and farming and ready to deliver to reach 25% organic land by 2030. Find inspiring initiatives on www.euorganic2030.bio.
- More than 150 participants active in the organic food chain attended the Organic Food Conference.
A heart-felt ‘Thank you’ to our members, speakers, participants, co-organisers, sponsors, funders, and media partners! You made this Conference possible, insightful, and inspiring!
Did you miss the chance to participate in all sessions or do you want to relive the Conference? Browse our Twitter Moments, revisit #OFC2021 and watch the Conference recordings. Recordings are now available for registered participants on the Organic Food Conference event platform for 30 days and will be be published on the Organic Food Conference website in November. Are you an IFOAM Organics Europe member? Stay tuned as recordings will be available very soon on our member extranet!
Feel free to contact [email protected] if you have any questions about the Conference.
