The EU Organic Awards call for applications is open

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​On EU Organic Day, the European Committee of the Regions will present awards to the best bio-district, best organic city, and best organic region.

The call for applications for the 2024EU Organic Awards is open until 12 May. The awards, jointly organised by the European Committee of the Regions (CoR), the European Commission, the European Economic and Social Committee, COPA-COGECA and IFOAM Organics Europe, aim to reward different actors along the organic value chain that have developed an excellent, innovative, sustainable and inspiring project producing real added value for organic production and consumption.

The EU organic awards scheme comprises 7 categories and 8 awards, with three prizes- for the best organic region, the best organic city and the best bio-district - being presented by the CoR. Submission of the application forms for the CoR awards will be possible until 12 May 2024. The winners will be announced on EU Organic Day, 23 September 2024.

The CoR is contributing to the promotion of sustainable organic farming by adopting legislative recommendations in an opinion on the EU action plan for organic farming, and by joining forces with the European Commission to showcase and support best practices and innovative projects developed by EU local communities.

Quotes:

Kirstine Helene Bille (DA/Greens),representative of the European Committee of the Regions in the Organic Awards jury, said: "The solution to the current agricultural crisis does not lie in reneging on our commitments under the F2F [Farm to Fork] strategy. On the contrary, we need to speed up the transition to more sustainable and resilient agriculture, such as organic farming."

Isilda Gomes (PT/PES), chair of the commission for natural resources (NAT) of the CoR, said: "The EU Organic Awards are not just a prize; they pave the way towards an alternative agriculture which allows combining decent revenue for farmers and protection of biodiversity and adaptation to climate change. They also prove that local and regional authorities are at the forefront of this sustainable transition and that their role, in the management of the new common agricultural policy, should be reinforced."

Background:

Local and regional authorities play a key role in developing organic production in their regions. There are several levers that they can use upstream, such as land policy promoting the setting up of new farms and encouraging farmers to switch to organic farming, and downstream, by creating local markets and ensuring that those who take up organic farming have an outlet for their products. The Organic Awards for best organic region and city will encourage them to do even more for the development of this sector.

The online application form is available at Organic awards district, Organic awards region and Organic awards city.

In 2023, the region of Burgenland in Austria, the city of Vienna in Austria, and the district of Idanha-a-Nova in Portugal were the winners of the EU Organic Awards presented by the CoR. Press release

For questions related to applications, please contact [email protected]