Can you tell us a few words about IFOAM Organics Europe?
IFOAM Organics Europe is the European Federation for Organic Food and Farming, fighting for the adoption of ecologically, socially and economically sound systems, based on the principles of organic farming - health, ecology, fairness and care. We represent nearly 200 members among the European Union (EU) 27, EU candidate countries, and the European Free Trade Association. Our members cover the entire organic food chain: farmers, processors and traders, retailers, certifying agents, consultants, and researchers to environmental and consumer organizations.
What role does IFOAM Organics Europe play in implementing the new organic farming regulations?
Organic production, labeling, and controls have been regulated at EU level since 1991. Today, organic production requirements are set out in Regulation (EC) No 834/2007, which defines the objectives, goals, and principles of organic farming. Two implementing regulations (No 889/2008 and No 1235/2008) detail the rules for organic production, labeling, controls, and imports. All products labeled organic and sold in the EU must be produced in accordance with these regulations.
This set of rules will soon change. After a long revision process, the new European Regulation 848/2018 on organic farming was published in June 2018 and will be applied from 1er January 2022.
The new EU Organic Farming Regulation includes 23 delegated and implementing acts, some of which have yet to be finalized. To help stakeholders in the organic movement read and understand the new regulation, IFOAM Organics Europe is developing an interpretation to guide our members and stakeholders in the organic movement.
The guide will simplify the reading of the regulation by grouping the content areas, highlighting the main changes compared to the current regulations as well as providing recommendations for the application of unclear criteria and/or criteria subject to interpretation.
The objectives are as follows:
- Simplify the reading of the regulation for organic operators and other stakeholders so that they do not have to navigate with difficulty through the numerous legal acts and cross-references.
- Possible harmonization of the new rules in the different Member States and third countries, through recommendations for the implementation of certain criteria which could be subject to different interpretations.
More information about the guide will follow in the coming weeks. I can already tell you that it will be free for IFOAM Organics Europe members!
What is your position on the Strategic Plans of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP)?
In June, we published our new study “ Perspectives & Developments for Organic in the CAP National Strategic Plans "This study visualizes the efforts each country needs to make to achieve its potential national organic land targets, which would contribute fairly to the EU's average target of 25%.
According to the study, the European Union should dedicate 3 to 5 times the current CAP budget to converting to and maintaining organic farming, starting in 2023. Depending on their potential national target, their reference level and their payment rates, in some cases, Member States should dedicate 10 times more of their national budget to support measures for organic farming.
To achieve the 25% organic land target and further develop the organic sector, Member States must support organic farming in their CAP Strategic Plans. As IFOAM Organics Europe, we call on Member States to include in their Strategic Plans:
- An analysis of the production needs of the organic sector as well as a national objective to increase the share of agricultural land under organic management.
- Appropriate remuneration for the provision of public goods by organic farmers through adequate conversion and maintenance payments, either through existing rural development measures, ecological programs, or a combination of both.
Countries have different baselines and should have different targets. Member states that already have 25% or more of organic farmland should also continue to further develop organic farming. This is in line with the EU's European Organic Action Plan's call for all member states to establish a national target and strategic plan for the development of their organic sector.
France currently has 8,1% of organic farmland, in line with the current EU average, and should set a target of 25%. Our study shows that it would take between 3,5 and 7,5 times current spending on organic farming to reach the target of 25% organic farmland. Unfortunately, the current draft of the French Strategic Plan is not ambitious enough and the budget allocated to environmental measures is expected to decrease by 11% according to Pour une autre PAC[1]The French government's previous decision to stop maintenance payments is not offset by the low payment level planned under the current draft ecological programs. Moreover, the government plans to grant the same level of payment to other labels, such as High Environmental Value (HVE), which offer fewer environmental benefits. If conversion to organic farming does not offer a comparative advantage over less ambitious programs, farmers will not receive the appropriate incentives to convert to organic farming. Organic farmers need long-term public support that is not limited to the conversion period. Payments under ecological programs should be proportional to the public goods delivered by farmers. IFOAM Organics Europe calls on the French government to increase its ambition and support for the development of the entire organic production chain. We will also ask the European Commission to pay particular attention to this when evaluating the CAP Strategic Plans of the Member States.
What is your vision for future consumer trends? Do you think the effects of the health crisis are already being felt?
Covid-19 has had a significant impact on the consumption of organic products. Supermarkets, discount stores, and self-service stores have seen increased sales in several countries, such as Italy, Spain, Germany, and Finland. Demand for organic products has increased, particularly for non-perishable items such as pasta, rice, cereals, canned foods, and beans. This increase in sales has also benefited organic retailers. This is partly due to European citizens spending more time at home, allowing them to think about their food choices and cook at home, and partly because many people have started to “panic buy.”
This increase in organic product consumption during the health crisis reflects a broader societal phenomenon. European citizens are increasingly aware of the benefits of organic production. Consumers' reasons for buying organic products range from environmental protection, animal welfare, quality standards, and health concerns. Overall, the European organic market reached €45 million in 2019, an 8% increase compared to 2018. In Europe, consumers spent €56 per person per year in 2019, and per capita consumer spending on organic food has doubled over the past decade.
THEspecial eurobarometer 436 assesses Europeans' attitudes towards biodiversity. According to the results, at least 80% of Europeans consider the various effects of biodiversity loss to be serious. Pollution and human-caused disasters are perceived as the main threats to biodiversity. Almost one in two European citizens consider intensive agriculture, intensive forestry, and overfishing to be a threat to biodiversity. This demonstrates that consumers are aware of the link between food production systems and biodiversity. The growing demand for organic products demonstrates consumers' interest in supporting a more sustainable production system, which is expected to continue in the coming years. At the same time, the "push-pull" approach of the Commission's Organic Action Plan can stimulate organic production and consumption if successfully implemented.
How can European organic stakeholders join the movement and support your work?
There are several ways to join our movement and support our work. If you'd like to expand your network, access member-only information, have influence, and make a difference, join us and become a member.
To become a member of IFOAM Organics Europe, an organization must:
- Support our mission and goals, as well as the principles of organic farming
- Be an organization or a department of an institution, a subsidiary; and
- Have at least 3 people employed or active within the organization
Our membership is open to all organizations from EU countries as members, and to organizations from other European countries as observers. For more information, take a look at our brochure summarizing all the Benefits of becoming a member of IFOAM Organics Europe and check out the last part of our membership form to learn more about membership types and criteria.
To learn more about how to support and fund our work and/or events, Visit our “Get Involved” website.
You can also help us make our Vision 2030 a reality by sharing our initiative that makes Europe more organic. We capture the strategic actions of various food and agriculture stakeholders and policymakers on our website “Making it Happen " Take a look at the variety of inspiring and practical examples, and present your initiative.
We'll see you at Natexpo 2021 from October 24th to 26th. What are your expectations for this new edition?
Once again, France experienced the strongest growth in organic retail sales among European countries between 2018 and 2019 according to The World of Organic Agriculture 2021Its organic food market reached €11,3 billion, ranking second only to Germany. This confirms that France, once again, is a key player in the organic sector.
Natexpo offers this growing market and the companies operating within it a platform for exchange and development. As IFOAM Organics Europe, we aim to understand the structure, needs, and trends of the French organic market and the companies operating within it. We are happy and eager to engage with companies on political and regulatory developments that affect their activities. A member of our team will be visiting Natexpo this year and is already looking forward to connecting with exhibitors, attendees, members, and event partners.
[1] Agroecological Transition – BASTA (pouruneautrepac.fr)
