The European Commission has announced the launch of the first edition of the E.U. Organic Awards, which will recognize the most successful and innovative professionals and entities in Europe’s organic food sector.
Acknowledging the hard work of our organic farmers, supporting their innovative spirit and their dedication is imperative for boosting organic production in Europe.
The program is the result of an E.U.-wide joint initiative of the European Commission, the European Economic and Social Committee, the European Committee of the Regions, the E.U.’s farmers’ association Copa-Cogeca, and IFOAM Organics Europe, the umbrella organization for organic food and farming in the continent.
The awards aim to raise awareness and increase demand for organic products among European consumers.
The awards will comprise seven categories and eight awards, including best organic female farmer, best organic male farmer, best organic region, best organic city, best organic bio-district, best organic small-medium enterprise, best organic food retailer and best organic restaurant.
See Also:A Carbon Credit Market in Italy Provides New Revenue Streams for Olive Growers“I am proud to see the E.U. organic awards become a reality,” Agriculture Commissioner Janusz Wojciechowski said. “Organic production is and will play a key role in the transition to sustainable food systems, and we cannot achieve this without the various actors of the organic supply chain.”
“These awards are a great opportunity to celebrate them while promoting examples of best practices across the E.U.,” Wojciechowski added. “I look forward to hearing about these best practices and encourage all organic actors to apply.”
Christiane Lambert, president of Copa-Cogeca, noted that the organic awards would help recognize excellence in the sector. She added that “acknowledging the hard work of our organic farmers, supporting their innovative spirit and their dedication is imperative for boosting organic production in Europe.”
The application period for the first E.U. organic awards will run from March 25 until June 8 this year. Winners will be announced on September 23, established as the annual ‘E.U. organic day’ since last year.
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