Can you introduce yourself in a few words: who are you, where are you from, what do you do?
I am Thierry Stoedzel, Managing Director ofEcocert France, a leading organic certification company. The company is based in the Gers region, in the heart of a rural department. I have always been driven by the belief that we can breathe life into our regions while improving our environmental impact and offering quality products to consumers. And organic farming, through regulations, pursues these objectives. And our mission is to ensure that the products we certify comply with organic regulations.
Organic has been hit hard in recent months; times are tough. How are you handling it?
Indeed, the organic sector has experienced turbulence in recent years. For my part, I prefer to see the situation positively and tell myself that this crisis has revealed the importance of resilience and adaptability for our businesses. We still have many collective challenges to overcome, but I am confident in our future because we are on the right track with history. Some signals are starting to turn green, such as the better-than-expected number of producer commitments during this 2024 season.
What advice can you give to organic companies?
I recommend that companies remain agile and continually innovate to stay close to their customers and better understand their needs. Transparency and communication also seem essential to maintain consumer trust and better shed light on all aspects of organic farming. Finally, partnership and collaboration within the sector can strengthen our collective position in the face of the challenges ahead. This culture has existed for decades within the organic ecosystem, but we must nurture it. It is a strong marker of our collective identity and a unique asset for emerging from the crisis.
What are Ecocert France's future plans to support the growth of the organic sector?
Over 10 years ago, we launched a label promoting canteens that source organic and local products. Since then, we've been actively campaigning for this label to become widely available across the country, providing access to organic and local food for as many people as possible. Especially since a law exists, the EGALIM law. This requires managers of public establishments to include at least 20% organic ingredients in their menus. But this law is unfortunately not fully respected. I'm convinced that if it were, the French organic sector would regain its strength. We're also working internally to transform Ecocert France. Our goal is to continue innovating and offering certification services that meet the highest expectations, while contributing to a sustainable world.
More information on Ecocert.com
