The closing date to submit an application to the EU Organic Awards is 8 June, 2022. The venture acknowledges the role played by organic farmers and producers across the European Union through this new awards scheme.
There are eight awards divided into seven categories:
- Best organic farmer – one male and one female
- Best organic region
- Best organic city
- Best organic bio-district
- Best organic small and medium enterprise (SME)
- Best organic food retailer
- Best organic restaurant
Organic production plays a key role in the goals of the European Green Deal, the Farm to Fork strategy and biodiversity strategy. The EU Commission has set a target of 25% of agricultural land across the bloc being under organic farming by the year 2030.
To achieve this, the commission launched an action plan for the development of organic production in March last year – this included an annual awards scheme recognizing excellence in the organic value chain.
It aims to reward the best and most innovative organic producers who are contributing to the reduction of agriculture’s impact on the environment and climate.
The IFOAM Organics Europe’s president, Jan Plagge, comments that the awards are a good way to showcase the innovative potential in the EU organic sector. “The current crisis shows that the EU should seek to speed up its work towards an agroecological and social model which is more resilient, fairer, healthier, more knowledge-intensive and based on shorter supply chains.
“The EU Farm to Fork Strategy sets the right mid and long-term objectives to ensure food security in an uncertain and volatile world,” Plagge added.
The awards ceremony will be on EU organic day on 23 September. To apply for the EU Organic Awards see here.