Brussels, 23 September 2024
Honourable Guests,
Ladies and gentlemen,
And – last but not least – our distinguished award winners!
It is my great pleasure to welcome you all to the EU Organic Awards, and to share in the celebration of EU Organic Day.
Today is the third time we hand out these awards, the fourth time that we celebrate EU Organic Day, and my final time to participate in this ceremony as European Commissioner.
A lot has happened in the organic sector over the past five years – it is difficult to sum everything up in a few words.
However, there are three specific words that come to mind when I think of the EU organic sector – and I would like to share them with you today.
Cooperation
The first word is cooperation. Cooperation is very much in the spirit of organics: from the shared work to sow fields and reap harvests; to the shared principles between farmers and processors, retailers and consumers. And over the past five years, the development of the organic sector has been driven by the cooperation of a pan-European partnership.
We have had cooperation between the Commission, the Parliament and the Council, along with the European Committee of the Regions, and the European Economic and Social Committee.
We have had cooperation between national, regional, and local authorities; between stakeholders across the supply chain, led by organisations like IFOAM Organics Europe and COPA-COGECA. This cooperation was key in establishing the EU Action Plan for the Development of Organic Production.
It was instrumental in creating EU Organic Day, which we celebrate today. And it was essential during the many challenges we faced over the past years – including the COVID pandemic, the fallout from Russia’s illegal aggression, and growing inflationary pressures. It is true that these challenges had difficult impacts. But by working together, we have been able to keep organics progressing in the right direction.
Progression
And this is second word that comes to my mind: progress. By driving forward our EU Organic Action Plan, we have been able to maintain the positive long-term trends. We are making progress in stimulating demand, with initiatives to strengthen promotion, public procurement, and public awareness.
- From 2012 to 2022, consumer recognition of the EU organic logo has grown from 24% to 61%.
- This is reflected in retail sales for organic products, which have increased by 150% from 2009 to 2022, from €18 billion to €45 billion.
We are making progress in strengthening the supply of organic products, by increasing the area of agricultural land under organic farming:
- Between 2012 and 2022, the total organic area has increased in almost every EU country – in Croatia, for example, it has quadrupled.
- Overall, the share of EU agricultural land under organic farming accounts for 17 million hectares.
- The CAP is key in this regard: from 2023 to 2027, €14.7 billion from the CAP budget will support organic farmers, and those who convert to organics.
Finally, we are making progress in improving the sustainability of organic production:
- Between 2021‑2027, 30% of the Horizon Europe funds for agriculture, forestry and rural areas are in some way linked to organic development.
- And by the end of 2022, we had 72 Operational Groups under EIP-AGRI carrying out projects and research with a focus on organic farming.
I have no doubt that these projects will continue to push even more progress in organic production, by creating new ideas and inspiration.
Inspiration
And this is the final word that comes to mind when I think of organics: inspiration. In my time as Commissioner, I have been lucky to visit organic farmers across Europe: from the Kiernan family, who grew organic oats and beans in Ireland, to organic dairy farmers in Bavaria, who grazed their cattle in the foothills of the Alps.
Each of these visits has been inspirational. They have inspired me with their passion: to produce high quality food; to protect their local ecosystems; to provide a future for their families.
But more importantly, I believe, they have inspired other farmers.
- They show that organic farms are profitable farms;
- that organic techniques are productive techniques;
- and that organic supply-chains can be fair and rewarding supply chains.
These inspirational qualities are demonstrated by the award winners in this room today.
I would like to congratulate you all on your achievements.
The standard of this year’s entries was once again very high, which paints a very encouraging picture of the health of the sector across Europe.
Some will sow ‘seeds of doubt’ about the EU Organic sector, but our winners today sow the seeds of inspiration:
- You inspire our food system to be more sustainable: by taking the lead in tackling climate change and environmental degradation, and in improving biodiversity, and animal welfare.
- You inspire our food system to be more resilient, by reducing our dependence on external inputs.
- And you inspire our food system to open more opportunities – for small farmers, young farmers, and female farmers – and also to open more connections between local communities, through short supply chains and bio-districts.
At the beginning of my mandate, I was often asked if organic farming could truly fit within our food system.
At the end of my mandate, I say that our food system cannot be truly fit without organic farming.
Conclusion
Ladies and gentlemen,
The development of organic farming has been a key theme of my mandate, a central objective of my mission, and a cause that remains very close to my heart.
I would like to thank all of you in this room who have contributed to the good work over the past five years: my colleagues in DG AGRI, co-legislators, and partners.
And most of all I thank the farmers and workers: for the efforts you make every day.
This will be my final time to participate in this ceremony as a European Commissioner; but I look forward to celebrating EU Organic Day as a European citizen for many years in the future.
This future is now in your hands.
I am certain that, if you continue to cooperate; to progress; and to inspire, it will be a very bright future indeed.
Thank you.
Source – EU Commission