The European Committee of the Regions will award prizes for the best organic region, best organic city and best bio-district on EU Organic Day
The call for applications for the 2023 EU Organic Awards is now open. The awards, jointly organised by the European Committee of the Regions, the European Commission, the European Economic and Social Committee, COPA-COGECA and IFOAM Organics Europe, aim to reward different actors throughout the organic value chain who have developed innovative, sustainable and inspiring projects, producing real added value for organic production and consumption. There are eight awards in seven different categories, with three prizes - the best organic region, the best organic city and the best bio-district – presented by the CoR. The winners will be announced on EU Organic Day, 25 September 2023.
Isilda Gomes, president of the CoR commission on Natural Resources (NAT), said: "The growing consumer demand for better quality, more sustainable, more local and healthy food including organic products can generate new opportunities for the rural economy. Organic farming has become an important source of employment and income which contributes to the objectives of the long-term vision for rural areas. That is why the CoR strongly supports the EU target set out in the Farm to Fork Strategy of 25% of agricultural land under organic farming by 2030. This ambition can be reached only through policy tools supporting the development of the organic sector, including awards such as these that reward excellence in the organic food chain and stimulate both production and consumption of organic products.In my home town of Portimão we strongly support the Farm to Fork strategy objective and we are working with local producers to reach it, helping them to improve sales of their products at the city market and giving local residents access to better quality food at the same time as protecting our rural communities."
Applications can be sent until 14 May via the following links:
Bio-districts
Regions
Cities
For questions related to applications, please contact EuorganicawardsCoR@cor.europa.eu
Further information:
EU Organic Awards 2023
CoR opinion on the EU action plan for organic farming
Press contact:
Wioletta Wojewodska
Email: wioletta.wojewodska@cor.europa.eu
Mobile +32 473 84 39 86