Description
Local and regional authorities play a key role in the development of organic production in their regions. There are several levers they can use upstream, such as land policy that promotes the creation of new farms and encourages farmers to switch to organic farming, and downstream, creating local markets and ensuring that those who practice organic farming have an outlet for their products. The Organic Prizes for the best organic region and town will encourage them to do even more for the development of this sector.
The European Committee of the Regions (CoR) contributes to the promotion of sustainable organic farming by adopting legislative recommendations in an opinion on the EU Action Plan for Organic Food and Farming and by joining forces with the European Commission to present and support best practices and innovative projects developed by local communities across the EU.
The call for applications for the EU Organic Awards is open until 12 May https://cor.europa.eu/it/news/Pages/organic-awards-2024-call-for-application.aspx. The awards, jointly organised by the 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 who have developed an excellent, innovative, sustainable and inspiring project that produces real added value for organic production and consumption.
The EU organic award scheme comprises seven categories and eight prizes, with three awards - for the best organic region, the best organic city and the best organic district - presented by the CoR. Submission of application forms for the CoR awards will be possible until 12 May 2024. The online application form is available from the organic award district, organic award region and organic award city.
The winners will be announced on 23 September 2024 on European Organic Day. In 2023, the Burgenland region 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.
Source and photo: European Committee of the Regions