LLast month, the biannual Organic Food Conference 2021 took place both online and live from Warsaw, Poland, organized by IFOAM Organics Europe with the support of the Polish Chamber of Organic Food.
This latest edition had the theme ‘The future of organic food’ and attracted more than 150 participants from the organic food sector. The following is a list of some of the key takeaways from the event, according to IFOAM Organics Europe:
– In his closing speech, the European Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development, Janusz Wojciechowski, recognized organic farming as part of the solution to the climate and biodiversity crises.
– Increasing both the demand for and the supply of organic food is crucial to reaching the EU’s 25% organic land target set out in the farm-to-fork and biodiversity strategies.
– The production and retail of organic products have grown steadily over the past decades. However, more knowledge and data needs to be collected to gain a deeper insight into the development of the organic sector, especially in organic retail, sales channels and intra-EU trade.
– PlanetScore, an environmental label based on life cycle analysis that considers additional indicators, such as biodiversity, the impact of pesticides and animal welfare, could be a comprehensive alternative as the basis for the “sustainable food labeling framework” instead of the NutriScore, already used in several Member States.
– A better structure of supply chains and greater cooperation between all organic operators in the production chain is crucial to address the lack of local infrastructure, adapt production types, innovate and develop organic farming.
– Fair remuneration and long-term agreements between producers, processors and retailers are essential to guarantee equity in the organic value chain.
– Less is more when it comes to packaging organic products. Organic producers should consider organic principles, especially that of ecology.
– Organic operators, processors and traders should prepare for modifications regarding the use of flavorings, cleaning and disinfection products, waste management, group certification and imports to ensure the successful implementation of the new EU Organic Regulation, which It will apply from January 1, 2022.
– Across Europe, farmers, food processors, retailers and traders are already transforming food and agriculture and are ready to meet the goal of reaching 25% of organic agriculture by 2030.