Apply to be the next winner of an EU Organic award

Following the success of the first edition of the first EU Organic Awards, the call for applications for the 2^nd EU Organic Awards opens today until 14 May 2023.  The EU organic awards acknowledge different actors along the organic value chain that have developed an innovative, sustainable and inspiring project resulting in real added-value for organic food production and consumption. The awards ceremony will take place in Brussels on 25 September 2023.

The EU organic awards are jointly organised by the European Commission, the European Economic and Social Committee, the European Committee of the Region, COPA-COGECA and IFOAM Organics Europe, with the involvement of the European Parliament and of the Council in the jury for the awards. Eight awards will be given in seven categories:

·       Best organic farmer (female and male)

·       Best organic region

·       Best organic city

·       Best organic “bio district”

·       Best organic food processing SME

·       Best organic food retailer

·       Best organic restaurant/food service

Any EU actor or institution along the organic value chain with a noteworthy project contributing to the greater affordability and/or accessibility of organic products in the EU can apply. Applications in all EU official languages are welcome. They will be reviewed against the criteria of excellence, innovation, sustainability and possibility to replicate the project elsewhere in the EU, thus contributing to greater accessibility and affordability of organic products in the EU. The winners will contribute to the greater public awareness of organic production in the EU.

According to the latest Eurobarometer, recognition of the EU organic farming logo is increasing with 61% of Europeans acknowledging that they are aware of it. The share of EU agricultural land under organic farming has also increased by more than 50% over the period 2012-2020, with an annual increase of 5.7%, according to the latest market brief published by the European Commission.

By producing high quality food with low environmental impact, organic farming plays an essential role in developing a sustainable food system for the EU. In 2021, the European Commission adopted an action plan in support of the target of at least 25% of the EU’s agricultural land under organic farming and a significant increase in organic aquaculture by 2030 set out in the Farm to Fork strategy and the Biodiversity strategy. In that context, Member States were asked to set national target values for organic farming and to be generally ambitious on organic production in their CAP Strategic Plans and in their national organic action plans.