The EU Organic Awards are jointly organized by the European Commission, the European Economic and Social Committee, the European Committee of the Regions, COPACOGECA and IFOAM Organics Europe.

The finalists for the first EU Organic Awards have already been announced. There are 24 shortlisted for 8 awards in 7 categories, such as Best Organic Farmer, Best Organic SME, Retailer, Restaurant, Eco-district, Region and City, coming from 11 different Member States. The finalists have been chosen from more than 200 applications from 26 Member States.

The potential of the European ecological movement

Jan Plagge, President of IFOAM Organics Europe, notes: “The EU Organic Awards finalists show the innovative potential of the European organic movement and show inspiring and replicable examples of how the sector contributes to the objectives of EU strategies” From Farm to Table» and Biodiversity. The current climate crisis that we are experiencing with more heat and extreme precipitation across Europe shows that the EU should try to speed up its work towards a more resilient, fairer, healthier, knowledge-intensive and knowledge-based model of agroecological and social agriculture. shorter supply chains. In any case, the combined crises we are facing expose the fragilities of the agro-industrial model, highly dependent on global imports and exports, fossil fuels and non-circular inputs. The EU’s Farm to Fork strategy sets the right medium- and long-term goals to ensure food security in an uncertain and volatile world.”

Eric Gall, Deputy Director of IFOAM Organics Europe, adds: “These awards are a source of inspiration for all those who make our food and agricultural system more sustainable, using the potential and example of organic. The award criteria are based on the holistic principles of the ecological: care, health, ecology and equity. The systemic approach to organic farming should lead to a rethinking of our food system, making it more independent of external inputs, less input intensive and more resilient. The inspiring achievements of the finalists can serve as an example for many professionals to go green and be part of the solution.”

The winners of the eight prizes will be announced at the official prize-giving ceremony in Brussels on September 23, as part of a series of events and activities to celebrate the new annual EU Organic Farming Day.

The finalists, by category

Best Organic Farmer (Female)

• Katharina Lichtmannsperger (VLG Obervetterbachgut) – Thalgau, Salzburg, Austria
• Nazaret Mateos Álvarez (Entresetas) – Paredes de Nava, Palencia, España
• Sara Vezza (Azienda Agricola Sara Vezza) – Localitá Castelleto, Monforte d’Alba, Piemonte, Italia

Best Organic Farmer (Male)

• Gianpaolo Mancini (Il Sentiero del Riccio) – Sicignano degli Alburni, Salerno, Campania, Italia
• David Pejic (Zrno eko imanje) – Dubrava, Zagreb County, Croacia
• Tom Kass (Kass-Haff S.àrl) – Rollingen, Luxemburgo

Best ecological region

• Occitania, Francia
• Centre-Val de Loire, Francia
• Valencia, España

Best eco city

• Gemeinde Seeham am Obertrumer See, Salzburg, Austria
• Municipality of Troyan, Bulgaria
• Stadt Wien, Austria

Best ecological bio-district

• Associazione Bio-Distretto Cilento – Campania, Italia
• Association Biovallée – Eurre, Francia
• Centro Municipal Cultura e Desenvolvimento de Ihanha-a-Nova – Centro region, Portugal

Best ecological PYME

• Gino Girolomoni Cooperativa Agricola – Isola del Piano, Pesaro and Urbino province, Italia
• Goodvenience.bio GmbH – Magdala, Thuringia, Alemania
• Labonca Biohof GmbH – Burgau, Styria, Austria

Best ecological distributor

• Ecoveritas SA – Barcelona, España
• La ferme à l’arbre de Liège – Lantin, Liège, Bélgica
• Bio MERCATO, seiVital GmbH – Kempten, Bavaria, Alemania

Best organic restaurant

• Trattino – Lyon, Francia
• Lilla Bjers HB – Visby, Gotland Island, Suecia
• Kolariks Freizeitsbetriebe GesmbH Restaurant Luftburg – Prater – Wien, Austria

You can find more information about the candidates, the selection criteria and the awards in general in the EU Organic Awards web page

Source: Bio Eco Actual