Organic food
French government scraps organic farming targets from agri law under discussion
Est. 4minThe first article of the national agricultural orientation law has been voted through French parliament, removing the targets of 15% of farmland for organic agriculture and 8% for legumes.
NGOs slam France’s plans to adopt EU method for measuring pesticides risk
Est. 5minFrance will put on hold the rollout of its national plant protection reduction plan and may adopt an EU measurement indicator to measure a molecule toxicity factor despite criticism from NGOs.
German government takes first step towards more organic farming
Est. 4minGermany's agriculture ministry is pushing for more organic food in canteens and restaurants in a first step towards achieving the coalition's 2030 goal of ensuring 30% of arable land is dedicated to organic farming.
Study: Organic farming saves billions but yields not up to par
Est. 5minOrganic farming could save countries billions in environmental and climate costs, a German long-term study found. However, the picture is soured by organic yields still trailing significantly behind those of conventional agriculture.
MEPs massively back organic farming but snub Farm to Fork target
Est. 4minThe European Parliament has green-lighted a new report on the EU’s organic action plan, which stresses a market-based approach but makes no mention of the bloc's ambitious target to see 25% of agricultural land farmed organically by 2030.
Albanian beekeepers cautious over draft law to align with EU acquis
Est. 5minAlbania’s beekeeping sector will be regulated as the government has proposed the final draft of a new law that would impact those with just one hive, in an effort to align with the EU acquis. But not all beekeepers are buzzing over the news.
EU pushes on organic ‘opportunity’ for African farmers but market access remains low
Est. 4minThe EU’s push on organic farming could have ripple effects across Africa, but only if African farmers have equal access to the EU Market as well as the skills and resources to capitalise on this, stakeholders have told EURACTIV.
EU institutions join forces to launch first annual organic day
Est. 4minThe European Parliament, the Council and the Commission came together on Thursday (23 September) to celebrate the launch of an annual ‘EU organic day', designed to promote organic agriculture in efforts to bolster its production and consumption in the EU.
EU agri ministers back serving up more organic food in schools, hospitals
Est. 5minEU agriculture ministers gave their green light for the EU organic action plan on Monday (19 July) but warned that measures must be taken to ensure that supply matches demand, including via public procurement schemes for schools and public canteens.
Organic food ‘healthier’ says agri Commissioner as EU launches new organic plan
Est. 4minOrganic food is "healthier" than its chemically produced counterparts, EU Agricultural Commissioner Janusz Wojciechowski told journalists at an event to mark the launch of the EU's organic action plan on Thursday (25 March).
African farmers say they must be trained for Farm to Fork
Est. 5minAfrican farmers fear being left alone in making sense of and applying environmental standards required by the European Union’s new food policy, said the voice of Kenya’s horticulture producers, who warned that without help, the new rules could jeopardise trade with Europe.
2021: The year of the CAP
Est. 6min2019 is likely to be the year in which the much awaited reform of the main EU's massive farming subsidies programme, the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP), will see the light.
Innovative agri project aims to create ‘digital tenants’ in Croatia
Est. 5minOn the back of an increased interest in reconnecting consumers with local food, Croatian citizens are being offered the chance to be involved in an innovative 'agri-digital' project, known as a "Gruntek". EURACTIV Croatia took a closer look.
EU farmers boss: Farm to Fork to be revised, if negative impact was proved
Est. 5minThe European Commission's new food policy should be reviewed if a future impact assessment shows that it will negatively affect farmers, the newly-elected chair of farmers association COPA, Christiane Lambert, told EURACTIV.com.
France unlocks €100 million to develop its plant-based protein production
Est. 6minThe French government intends to allocate €100 million to develop the country's plant-based protein production. The decision, however, is based more on commercial rather than environmental concerns. EURACTIV France reports.
Commission launches public consultation on EU organic plan, backs regulation postponement
Est. 4minThe European Commission launched a public consultation on its future action plan on organic farming on Friday (4 September), and also proposed to postpone by one year the entry into force of the new organic regulation.
Ecological farming can be more profitable than conventional, says new report
Est. 5minA recent report by the government think tank France Stratégie demonstrates the profitability of more environmentally friendly farms and proposes a review of the methods of allocating CAP subsidies to encourage a green transition in farming. EURACTIV France reports.
Agrifood agenda: CAP reform and organics uptake
Est. 5minWith the EU's new food policy launched this spring, policymakers will now turn their attention back to the long-delayed reform of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP), the staple of the bloc's farming industry and the biggest item in its budget.
Kyriakides: Investments will match EU’s ambition on sustainable food systems
Est. 6minThe EU's determination to become a global leader in sustainability will be matched by investments in solutions to deliver on the commitments set out in the EU's new food policy, Commissioner Stella Kyriakides told EURACTIV.com in an exclusive interview.
EU Agriculture Commissioner refutes concerns over 25% organic target
Est. 4minOn the back of growing concern over the target for 25% of EU farmland to be farmed organically by 2030, EU Commissioner for Agriculture Janusz Wojciechowski has lent the plan his support and stressed it is achievable. But farmers are still concerned that, as it stands, supply may well outstrip demand, which they say could "kill" the sector.
Farm to Fork Strategy: What role of nutrients?
Looking at the future of agriculture in general, and the fertiliser industry in particular, the challenges of sustainable food production are apparent. Growing food demand will force farmers to invest in innovative tools to increase production, ensuring maximum efficiency from …
Food security is no longer an issue in the EU, says Commissioner
Est. 4minEnvironment Commissioner Virginijus Sinkevičius has cast doubt on the long-standing primacy of food security over environmental aspects in the current EU food system, suggesting that traditional concerns might give way to issues like climate change, sustainability, or biodiversity.
New food policy to triple amount of agricultural land farmed organically by 2030
Est. 4minThe EU's Farm to Fork (F2F) strategy has targeted 25% of agricultural land in the EU being organically farming by 2030, a three fold increase.
Commission upholds highly ambitious targets to transform EU food system
Est. 4minAfter several delays, the EU's new flagship food policy was finally released on Wednesday (20 May), confirming the aspiration of the EU executive to transform the European way of producing, distributing and consuming food.