The Action Plan for the Development of Organic Production has launched their annual awards recognising excellence in the organic value chain. The awards are part of an approach, adopted since 2021 to stimulate organic production and to consumer demand for organic products. This requires, amongst other things, increased public awareness of the characteristics and benefits of organic production.
The EU organic awards comprise 8 awards across 7 different categories. They acknowledge different actors along the organic value chain that have developed an excellent, innovative, sustainable, and inspiring project producing real added value for organic production and consumption.
Organic farming, aquaculture and food in the EU
Organic production is increasing in the EU. In 2019, 8.5% of EU agricultural land was under organic farming. This equalled 13.8 million hectares, up from 9.5 million hectares in 2012, a 45.8% increase. The countries accounting for most of the EU agricultural land under organic farming were Spain (2.4 billion hectares, 17.4% of the EU total), France (2.2 billion hectares, 16.2% of the EU total), Italy (2.0 billion hectares, 14.5% of the total) and Germany (1.3 billion hectares, 9.4% of the EU total) as per Eurostat organic farming statistics.
Organisers
The EU organic awards are jointly organised by the European Commission, the European Economic and Social Committee, the European Committee of the Region, COPA-COGECA and IFOAM Organics Europe.
Applications are open until 12 May 2024. These awards will be awarded for the third time on 23 September 2024, which is EU Organic Day.
Details
- Publication date
- 17 April 2024