Recognizing different excellent actors along the organic value chain who have developed an innovative, sustainable and inspiring project results in real added value for the production and consumption of organic food. The EU Organic Awards , the EU Organic Awards, were born under this premise in 2022. After the success of its first edition, the nominations for this year are now open.
Organized jointly by the European Commission, the European Economic and Social Committee, the European Committee of the Regions, COPA-COGECA and IFOAM Organics Europe, with the support of the European Parliament and the Council, the awards seek to recognize excellence throughout the value chain of the organic sector, rewarding the best and most innovative actors and projects in the European Union.
Eight awards in seven categories
The award criteria are based on the fundamental principles of organic farming , including care, health, ecology and equity. Any EU actor or institution along the value chain with a noteworthy project that contributes to greater affordability and/or accessibility of organic products in the EU can apply.
Eight prizes will be awarded in seven categories , including: Best Organic Farmer, Best Organic Region, Best Organic City, Best Organic “Biodistrict”, Best Organic Food Processing SME, Best Organic Food Retailer, and Best Restaurant/ organic food service
They will be evaluated based on criteria of excellence, innovation, sustainability and the possibility of replicating the project in other parts of the EU. Thus, the awards will be granted to initiatives that contribute to a greater public awareness of organic production.
open applications
Those interested can submit their applications until May 14, 2023 through the website of the European Commission. As a requirement, projects must be based in the EU, project promoters must be established or resident in the EU and applications must be submitted in one of the official languages of the EU.
The jury will evaluate the proposals and close its decision between the months of June and July. The award ceremony will take place in Brussels on September 25, 2023 , coinciding with the EU Organic Farming Day celebrations on September 23, 2023.
Raise awareness about organic production
The EU Organic Awards are the first example of organic awards at EU level and are conceived as a follow-up to the Action Plan for the development of organic production , adopted by the Commission on March 25, 2021. This Action Plan adopts the view that, in order to stimulate organic production, consumer demand for organic products must grow. This requires, among other things, a greater public awareness of the characteristics and benefits of organic production.
The Action Plan includes the launch of annual prizes that reward the best and most innovative ecological actors, contributing to the reduction of the impact of agriculture on the environment and climate, and to the achievement of the objectives of the European Green Pact .
In the words of IFOAM Organics Europe President Jan Plagge : The awards “are a great way to showcase the innovative potential in the EU organic sector and how the sector contributes to the objectives of the EU’s Farm to Farm strategies. the Table» and ‘Biodiversity’”.
The increase in organic production contributes significantly to reducing the use of chemical fertilisers, pesticides and antimicrobials and has positive effects on the climate, the environment, biodiversity and animal welfare. An ecological approach to food and agriculture provides an excellent foundation for transforming food systems towards self-sufficiency, resilience and less dependence on external inputs.
In this sense, raising awareness and stimulating the production and consumption of organic food can be part of the solution to the crises of food security, loss of biodiversity and climate change.
This 2023, IFOAM Organics Europe , the European organization for organic food and agriculture, and Diversified Communications , a global events and communication company, have renewed their collaboration agreement to promote sustainable growth and innovation in the organic sector. Diversified Communications co-organizes Organic Food & Eco Living Iberia with IFEMA MADRID , which will be held on June 7 and 8, 2023 at the IFEMA MADRID Fairgrounds.
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