Organic already has proven tools and actions to deliver a sustainable food system across the EU. Now Europe needs to apply robust implementation of these tools to ensure that the bloc tackles urgent climate and biodiversity targets.
That was the key messages to emerge from last week’s 25% Organic By 2030 Conference, organised by the EU Organic Processing and Trade Association (OPTA Europe).
Participants at the event, held in Bologna on 29 April, shared their deep concern on the alarming conclusions of the 2022 report issued by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). They called for an acceleration of the sustainable food and farming policies contained in the Farm to Fork Strategy as the only pathway to withstand the consequences of the climate and biodiversity crises over the coming years.
“Organic operators are the pioneers of the sustainable food system. For decades we have opened ways in practices that have proved effective to protect the environment” said Stefan Hipp, president of OPTA Europe. “We have the know-how, now we just need the political will to scale it up through the expeditious and robust implementation of the tools and actions that have been identified in the EU Organic Action Plan”.
“The roadmap towards a sustainable food system is well-defined, now it is the time to pursue it with determination.
Participants also warned against those using the Ukraine’s crisis to roll back the Farm to Fork Strategy, ‘Scientist are clear ‘, said Aurora Abad, Managing Director of OPTA Europe. “We cannot yield to the siren songs of short-term food security to keep postposing environmental constraints. The roadmap towards a sustainable food system is well-defined, now it is the time to pursue it with determination.
Main image: Organic vineyard, Italy