EU organic awards

President Vasco Alves Cordeiro

The evolving 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 contribute 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 equally the development of both organic production and demand. In this context similar promotional actions are essential to reward excellence in the organic food chain and stimulate both production and consumption of organic products

Presentation

The awards are the first example of EU-wide organic awards and are conceived as a follow-up to the Action Plan for the development of organic production, adopted by the Commission on 25 March 2021. This Action Plan takes the approach that, in order to stimulate organic production, consumer demand for organic products should grow. This requires, amongst others, increased public awareness of the characteristics and benefits of organic production. For this purpose, the Action Plan includes the launching of annual awards recognising excellence in the organic value chain. These awards will be awarded for the first time in 2022.

The CoR adopted an opinion on the EU organic action plan in December 2021 which support the action plan.

The CoR was invited to participate in the official celebration of the first EU Organic Day, attended by Commissioner Janusz Wojciechowski on 23 September 2021, and is a co-organiser of the EU organic awards, with the responsibility of three awards.

The EU organic awards scheme comprises 7 categories and 8 awards. They acknowledge different actors along the organic value chain, that developed an excellent, innovative, sustainable and inspiring project producing real added value for organic production and consumption.

More information is to be found on the webpage EU organic awards and on social media using #EUOrganic.

Edition 2023

On 25 September 2023 the COR will reward actors from the downstream organic production and distribution value chain:

Best organic region
Best organic city
Best biodistrict

The submission of the application forms for the CoR awards will only be possible from 25 March 2023 till 14 May 2023, through the online application form available at Organic awards district, Organic awards region and Organic awards city.

No other application than the online one will be taken into account.

Edition 2022

The EU organic awards was awarded for the first time on 23 September 2023 !

The COR is proud to announce the finalists, by category, for the first ever EU Organic Awards, co-organised with the European Commission and other partners to reward excellence along the European organic value chain. The winners of each category were announced on 23 September, EU Organic Day, during a special ceremony with EU commissioner for Agriculture, Janusz Wojciechowski:

Best biodistrict: Biodistretto Cilento
Best Organic Region: Occitanie
Best Organic City: Seeham