Organic looks into its future to develop a new political agenda

[S.Annadana]

Organic looks into its future to develop a new political agenda

The European organic sector comes together today at the European Organic Congress in Brussels to discuss its future challenges and work out a new political agenda. Organised by the IFOAM EU Group, the congress is the major political event of the organic movement in the EU in 2007. It was opened by Agricultural Commissioner Mariann Fischer Boel.

“Whilst the organic market continues to develop dynamically,” said IFOAM EU President Francis Blake, “policy makers are still reluctant to utilise fully the many advantages organic production delivers. Consequently, what is trumpeted as political support often results in half-hearted and inconsistent policies. For example, during the Commission’s work on the CAP Health Check, they did not even consult their own organic unit.”

“The Commission’s organic action plan in 2004 was a good start but major policy areas are insufficiently implemented or are left out”, he continued. “In particular, the question of how to safeguard GM-free farming is not addressed, and EU policies on research and on rural development are barely supportive of organic farming.

“We now need a new European organic action plan which provides a consistent policy throughout all agri-policy fields and properly promotes this important production system”, added Marco Schlüter, Director of the IFOAM EU Group.

“The problems we are facing in Europe are too serious not to profit from the benefits organic food and farming delivers. Organic production offers tools to tackle major future challenges such as halting the loss of biodiversity, economic and social development of rural areas and climate change.

“It is now time that the EU and member states take serious action. The congress will provide the means to work out concrete recommendations for policy makers.”

For more information about the congress, please see:
Organic Congress The IFOAM EU Group - Home


Publication date: 12/5/2007