Apply now for the EU Organic Awards 2024!

The call for applications for the 3^rd edition of the EU Organic Awards is opening today and will run until 12 May 2024. The EU Organic Awards recognise different stakeholders along the organic value chain who have created an innovative, sustainable, and inspiring projects that have produced a real added value for the organic food production and consumption. The Awards ceremony is scheduled for 23 September 2024, which is EU Organic Day.

The EU Organic Awards are jointly organised by the European Commission, the European Economic and Social Committee, the European Committee of the Region, COPA-COGECA and IFOAM Organics Europe, with the involvement of the European Parliament and of the Council in the jury for the awards. Eight awards will be given in seven categories:

• Best organic farmer (female and male)
• Best organic region
• Best organic city
• Best organic “bio district”
• Best organic food processing SME
• Best organic food retailer
• Best organic restaurant/food service

Any EU actor or institution along the organic value chain with a noteworthy project contributing to the greater affordability and/or accessibility of organic products in the EU can apply. This does not only include organic farmers, bio-districts or businesses in the organic food chain with a unique approach, but also cities or regions serving organic meals to patients or pupils or otherwise promoting organic production.

Applications in all EU official languages are welcome through an online form until 12 May 2024. Eligible applications will be reviewed by the EU Organic Awards jury against the criteria of excellence, innovation, sustainability and possibility to replicate the project elsewhere in the EU. The winners will contribute to the greater public awareness of organic production in the EU.

Organic farming protects our environment and our climate, our biodiversity and the welfare of our animals. By producing high quality food with low environmental impact, organic farming plays an essential role in developing sustainable food systems for the EU.

In 2021, the European Commission adopted an action plan in support of increasing the demand and supply for organic food products and enhancing the sustainability of organic production in accordance with the Farm to Fork strategy and the Biodiversity strategy. In that context, Member States were asked to set national target values for organic farming and to be generally ambitious on organic production in their CAP Strategic Plans and in their national organic action plans. Since January 2023, the Common Agricultural Policy has been providing increased financial support for the conversion to and maintenance of organic farming. In September 2023, the European Commission has published a report on the implementation of the action plan underlining the strong progress achieved so far by the sector.

EU Commissioner for agriculture, Janusz Wojciechowski said:

The EU Organic Awards provide a unique opportunity to unearth inspiring examples and showcase the full potential of organic farming: how it can be profitable for farmers and businesses, productive for society, and protective of our environment. I call on all involved in the EU organics sector to submit your application, share your story, and inspire the next generation of organic farming in the EU.

Mr Oliver Röpke, President of the European Economic and Social Committee, said:

The EU Organic Awards are an important recognition for people who inspire change. It is a recognition of their hard work and great passion in building successful organic businesses and contributing to more sustainable agriculture in EU. We need to continue to raise awareness about the benefits of organic products and to stimulate their purchase as production and consumption go hand-in-hand. I look forward to seeing which organic businesses will win this edition!

Mrs Kirstine Bille, Member of the European Committee of the Regions, said:

The solution to the current agricultural crisis does not lie in reneging on our commitments under the Farm to Fork strategy. On the contrary, we need to speed up the transition to more sustainable and resilient agriculture, such as organic farming.

Mr Mladen Jakopović, Copa Vice-President, said:

As European farmers, we are delighted to be part of the third edition of the EU Organic Awards, contributing to the acknowledgment and celebration of excellence in our sector. Copa-Cogeca is proud to keep supporting these awards, highlighting European agriculture's pivotal role in building a sustainable future. These awards provide a valuable platform to amplify their efforts and facilitate the dissemination of best practices throughout Europe.

Mr Jan Plagge, President of IFOAM Organics Europe, said:

It's an honour to launch the third edition of the EU Organic Awards. Over the past two years, this initiative has proven over and over to be a great platform to provide well-deserved visibility to innovative organic businesses all around Europe, serving as inspiration for practitioners and institutions within and beyond the organic sector. Through these best cases, we can show the many ways organic delivers and contributes to achieving the goals set by the EU Farm to Fork and Biodiversity strategies. These awards are a part of the virtuous circle we desperately need to transform the European food system into a more sustainable, resilient one, focused on safeguarding long-term food security in a context of changing climate and biodiversity loss, and re-establishing harmony and balance among environment, society, and economy.

Related links

Previous EU Organic Awards winners

EU Organic Action Plan factsheet: what has been achieved so far?