IFOAM Organics Europe

21/10/2026

Pesticide regulation is also a human rights issue.

In a letter dated 7 October, five independent UN human rights experts raised serious concerns about proposed changes to EU pesticide legislation under the Food and Feed Safety Omnibus.
Their warning highlights the potential consequences of weakening existing safeguards for human health, the environment and the rights of farmers, agricultural workers and rural communities.

⚠️ Their concerns include:
- Potentially unlimited pesticide approvals
- Longer periods for using withdrawn pesticides
- Broader exemptions for hazardous substances

Simplification must not come at the expense of human health, environmental protection or the precautionary principle.

At IFOAM Organics Europe, we believe the EU should focus on reducing dependence on synthetic pesticides by supporting preventive agronomic practices, diversified farming systems and better access to alternative plant protection solutions.

Protecting farmers and agricultural workers means helping them transition towards farming systems that are less dependent on hazardous inputs, not weakening the safeguards designed to protect them.

👉 Read the full communication from the UN experts: https://spcommreports.ohchr.org/TMResultsBase/DownLoadPublicCommunicationFile?gId=31441

20/10/2026

🌱 EU Organic Regulation: Progress made, work ahead

EU negotiators have reached a provisional agreement on the revision of the EU Organic Regulation, and IFOAM Organics Europe welcomes this important step forward.

✅ 10 more years for existing equivalence arrangements with 11 third countries
✅ Progress on rules concerning the EU organic logo and imported products
✅ Safeguards for key organic production principles

But some challenges remain, and the next steps will be crucial.

The priority? Clear and practical rules that support organic operators while protecting the integrity of organic standards.

👉 Swipe through to discover what the agreement means for the organic sector and what comes next.

🔗 Read our full reaction https://www.organicseurope.bio/news/ifoam-organics-europe-welcomes-trilogue-agreement-on-organic-regulation-revision/

19/10/2026

The European Commission recognises the potential of public procurement to transition towards more sustainable food systems across the EU.

Such an approach can create stable demand for sustainably produced food, support farmers and local supply chains, reduce dependence on external inputs, and ensure that public spending contributes to a more sustainable and resilient food system.

“This is a good sign for the future of public canteens in the EU, for farmers and for citizens. It is also worth noting that […] the lowest price criterion is not the default method anymore, but it is replaced by the Best-Price Quality Ratio (BPQR)" 🗣️Eduardo Cuoco, IFOAM Organics Europe's Director.

👉 Read the full article on Bio Eco Actual:

IFOAM Organics Europe welcomes the explicit mention in the Public Procurement Act (PPA) of food procurement, and in particular of the role of organic products in contributing to the EU’s environmental and social objectives. By recommending that public food procurement address key priorities such a...

16/10/2026

🌱 Food is more than nourishment:
It’s the people who grow it, the soil that sustains it, the biodiversity it can help protect, and the traditions and communities it brings together.

Organic is about more than what’s on our plates. It’s about how we grow food, care for our people and planet, and shape the future of our food systems.

💚 For a future worth growing. Happy world food day!

15/10/2026

🌿 Meet the 2026 EU Organic Awards winners! ⭐️

Who are the people shaping the future of organic in Europe?

Our series continues with Hans Erik Joergensen, awarded EU Best Organic Male Farmer 🇩🇰

Hans Erik co-owns Risbjerg Landbrug with his wife, Kirsten Rasmussen. The farm has been certified organic for 19 years, raising pigs, cattle and laying hens, while also growing a diverse range of crops using traditional crop rotation.

But sustainability goes beyond farming: Hans Erik and Kirsten support people with special needs, refugees and trainees, while engaging the wider public through open-farm initiatives and educational visits. The farm has also contributed to more than 50 research and development projects. 👩‍🌾🌍

Risbjerg is a future-proof farm, combining organic principles with a focus on climate adaptation and improved animal welfare.

👉 Swipe through the carousel to discover more about Risbjerg Landbrug farm!

Read more about this year's EU Organic Awards on our website: https://www.organicseurope.bio/news/eu-organic-awards-2026-celebrate-excellence-and-innovation-across-europes-organic-sector/

EU Food & Farming Copa-Cogeca EESC - European Economic and Social Committee European Committee of the Regions

14/10/2026

Organic farming, resilience and innovation in action – in Sicily!

Yesterday, European Commissioner for Agriculture and Food Christophe Hansen visited Azienda Agricola Solemi, an organic fruit farm in Misterbianco, Sicily, to meet local organic farmers and learn more about their experiences, challenges and opportunities.

Managed by brothers Carlo and Francesco Fichera, the farm has been fully organic since 2015 and produces avocados, oranges and mangoes, illustrating how organic farmers are exploring new crops and business opportunities while adapting to changing conditions.

The visit was also an opportunity for Commissioner Hansen to see first-hand the attention organic farmers pay to soil health and organic matter. So much so that you can even smell the difference!

Beyond the fields, the visit offered an opportunity to discuss some of the key challenges and opportunities for organic farming in Sicily such as 🌱 climate adaptation, including crop diversification and responses to increasingly challenging weather conditions, and 🔬 research and innovation, with experimental work carried out in cooperation with CREA to improve soil fertility and productivity.

The visit also brought to life a key message from Commissioner Hansens video address at last weeks European Organic Congress in Cork, where he highlighted the importance of supporting farmers who deliver environmental and social benefits, including through organic farming.

From European policy discussions to the realities on the ground, the message is clear: organic farmers need the right support to continue investing in resilience, innovation and sustainable rural development.

A warm thank you to Agrinova Bio 2000, Azienda Agricola Solemi, the Fichera brothers and agronomist Francesco Ancona for making this visit possible and sharing their experiences and insights!

EU Food & Farming

13/10/2026

“My capital is my soil.”

A powerful message from Belgian organic farmer Diederik Steyaert, who joined today's discussion at the European Parliament on how the future Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) can help farmers build long-term resilience rather than simply respond to crises.

Diederik shared his experience of putting soil health and the farm's ecosystem services at the centre of his farming approach.

His story has recently attracted attention well beyond the farming community: he says he hasn't needed to irrigate his crops in 26 years, thanks to practices that help his soil retain water even during dry periods.

But his message goes beyond drought resilience.

By investing in healthy soils and working with natural processes, farmers can also reduce their dependence on external inputs and become less vulnerable to geopolitical and market shocks beyond their control.

Otherwise, as Diederik warned, we risk remaining trapped in a vicious cycle of dependency and crisis response.

💬 The takeaway for the future CAP?

Resilience cannot be built through crisis management alone. We need agricultural policies that support farmers in investing in healthy soils, functioning ecosystems and resilient farming systems for the long term. Organic farming participates to this approach and is therefore an asset for the resilience of the EU agri-food system.

Thank you to the European Environmental Bureau - EEB, Renew Europe, the Greens/EFA in the European Parliament, and MEPs Barry Cowen and Thomas Waitz for bringing this important discussion to the European Parliament, and to Diederik for sharing his experience!

Learn more about him and his agricultural practices in this article https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/international/global-trends/belgian-farmer-hasnt-irrigated-his-crops-in-26-years-how-diederik-steyaerts-soil-holds-water-even-during-dry-weather/articleshow/133612533.cms

Belgian farmer Diederik Steyaert says he has not irrigated his crops in 26 years. His unusual soil-management methods, including avoiding ploughing, adding decomposed grass and allowing natural vegetation to grow, are drawing attention online. An Instagram video appeared to show moisture just 5–10...

12/10/2026

Quale ruolo può svolgere l'agricoltura biologica nel rafforzare la resilienza dei territori e l'autonomia strategica europea?

Il 23 ottobre saremo a San Giustino (PG) per discuterne insieme a rappresentanti delle istituzioni europee e nazionali, del settore biologico e del mondo agricolo.

In un momento cruciale per il futuro bilancio dell'UE e della Politica Agricola Comune (PAC), l'evento sarà un'occasione per confrontarsi su come le politiche e gli investimenti europei possano sostenere lo sviluppo del biologico, la competitività del settore e la resilienza dei territori.

Il nostro Direttore Eduardo Cuoco parteciperà a due tavole rotonde:

🔹 Politiche agricole e investimenti per la resilienza dei territori, insieme all'eurodeputato Dario Nardella, al Sottosegretario all'Agricoltura Luigi D'Eramo e alla Presidente di FederBio Maria Grazia Mammuccini. Modererà Jacopo Gabriele Orlando, Direttore Agricoltura di Aboca.

🔹 Biologico, competitività e sviluppo dei mercati, moderata da Eduardo, con l'eurodeputata Camilla Laureti, il Presidente di EAT Europe Luigi Scordamaglia e la Presidente di Assobio Nicoletta Maffini.

📅 23 ottobre 2026 | dalle 9:30 alle 13:30
📍 Villa Graziani, San Giustino (PG)

L'evento è organizzato da Fondazione Progetto Valtiberina, in collaborazione con IFOAM Organics Europe e FederBio.

👉 L'ingresso è libero e aperto a tutti, senza necessità di registrazione! Vi aspettiamo per confrontarci sul futuro del biologico in Europa.

Tutti i dettagli del programma nella locandina 👇

10/10/2026

🍂 October Organic Book Club picks 🍂

This month's book club is about stories: we're suggesting two inspiring books about people who fight for what they care, stories of social and ecological activism and communities coming together to solve their problems. Plus, a bonus at the end.

🌿"Street farm" — a troubled suburban community joins together to create an urban farm, as a way to address their chronic problems.

🌳 "My head for a tree" — the story of an Indian indigenous community that is ready to go all the way to protect the natural environment they live in.

🍄 "Fall. Plant-based recipes" — a collection of cozy and approachable vegan recipes to celebrate the beginning of Autumn.

These reads remind us the importance of community activism and the power of connection – between people and with the natural world.🌏

Which book inspired you the most this month? Drop your thoughts in the comments — knowledge grows when shared 💚

09/10/2026

🌱 From Cork to 2040: Shaping organic’s future together

How can organic strengthen Europe’s resilience and help shape a sustainable future?

At the European Organic Congress 2026 in Cork, over 260 participants came together to explore this question, connecting policy, research and real-life experiences from across the organic sector.

From dependable policy and resilient farming systems to stronger markets, consumer trust and workable organic rules, here are 10 key take-aways from the discussions. Swipe to find them all out!

A huge thank you to our co-organisers, partners, speakers, participants and supporters for making this Congress a success! 💚

📖 Discover more takeaways in our full Congress wrap-up on our website: https://www.organicseurope.bio/news/shaping-organics-future-towards-2040-ten-takeaways-from-the-european-organic-congress-2026/

And let us know your own takeaways in the comments!

Irish Organic Association Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine Naturland Valoritalia AGRIWELL BIOFACH Girolomoni Suolo e Salute Bio Eco Actual