European umbrella organisation for organic food and farming publishes EC Vision for Agriculture and Food recommendations
IFOAM Organics Europe has published its recommendations for the European Commission’s forthcoming Vision for Agriculture and Food.
The recommendations aim to align EU policies with the strategic dialogue’s conclusions to accelerate progress toward a sustainable, resilient, and competitive European agri-food system, the organisation explained.
IFOAM Organics Europe said it fully supported the strategic dialogue conclusions and particularly welcomed the recognition of organic farming as the only legally regulated sustainability system.
“The strategic dialogue makes important recommendations on the CAP and the need to move away from the hectare-based system, on the need to strengthen farmers’ position in the supply chain, as well as on the potential of sustainable public procurement,” said Jan Plagge, president of IFOAM Organics Europe.
”By incorporating the strategic dialogue’s recommendations, we can move towards an agri-food system that benefits everyone.
“This Vision is a unique chance for the EU to strengthen its leadership in driving environmental, social, and economic progress in the agriculture sector,” he added.
IFOAM Organics Europe’s recommendations, in line with the strategic dialogue, call for targeted support for organic and other sustainable practices, fair remuneration for farmers providing ecosystem services, and developing a holistic benchmarking system based on a whole-farm approach.
The organisation noted that organic innovations and practices, leading for instance to independence from synthetic inputs, were not for the organic sector only – they could also be used by conventional farmers, to increase the number of instruments in their toolbox.
”IFOAM Organics Europe looks forward to continued collaboration with EU institutions to advance a shared vision for a sustainable, resilient and competitive European agri-food system,” it added.
