IFOAM Organics Europe welcomes the positive recognition of organic farming during the vote on the own-initiative report of the European Parliament on the future of agriculture and the post-2027 common agricultural policy. Indeed, the report voted in the Committee for Agriculture highlights that organic farming is an innovative farming technique, which should be supported in the future CAP, as organic systems significantly reduce the use of inputs and external dependencies in agriculture, in addition to strengthening autonomy and food security.
According to Eric Gall, deputy director of IFOAM Organics Europe: “This recognition of the positive contribution of organic agriculture is an encouraging message sent by MEPs to organic farmers all over Europe. Because of its multiple benefits for the environment, but also the many socio-economic advantages it delivers, organic farming is an important policy tool within the CAP, and it should play an even more strategic role in a framework focusing on incentives. ”
Indeed, the Parliament’s AGRI committee report also calls for the next CAP to provide incentives for farmers and new entrants to engage in organic farming. This is an important aspect, since many young farmers and newcomers in agriculture are interested in establishing their farms in organic, showing the potential of the organic sector to steer generational renewal.
Gall continued: “The recognition of organic as contributing to the resilience and the innovative capacity of the agricultural sector is an important signal sent to organic farmers. It is also positive that the report links the production to the need of developing organic consumption, notably through public procurement.”
IFOAM Organics Europe calls on the European Parliament to maintain the clear recognition of organic farming as an innovative production method which should be supported in the next CAP. The report of the European Parliament should maintain a clear direction for the transition to sustainable agri-food systems in the EU, a level-playing field, and uphold the environmental performance of the Common Agricultural Policy as a priority to be achieved by better incentivizing and supporting farmers to engage in an ambitious environmental re-design of their farms, that will make them resilient to future social and environmental crises.
Source: Press Office IFOAM
