From the best farmer to the best company, the European organic awards

Who are the winners of the European Commission organic awards and what they told us about their work.

• On Organic Day 2024, the European Commission's organic awards were presented.
• Environmental sustainability, social equity and community relations are the aspects that the winners have in common, including an Italian cooperative.
• The European Union encourages the transition to organic agriculture, which has grown over the last decade in terms of cultivated area.

On the occasion of European Organic Day of September 23, the European Commission announced i winners of the third edition of EU organic awards, the prizes for organic production. “Organic represents everything I think is important in the sector,” he said Janusz Wojciechowski, Commissioner for Agriculture — progressing towards a more sustainable agriculture and food system, increasing resilience to climate change and supply chain disruptions, providing opportunities for small farmers, young farmers and women farmers, and connecting communities local through short supply chains and biodistricts".

The best organic companies in the categories were awarded farmer And farmer, region, city, district, small-medium processing industries, organic food retail, catering service.Among them almost one hundred nominations received from all over the European Union, here are the winners.

The best organic grower:“Sustainability and equity are non-negotiable”

The prize for the best organic grower was assigned to Benny Schöpf, the leading horticulturist of Kartoffelkombinat, the largest cooperative company supported by the community in Germany. The farm supplies every week organic vegetables to 2,300 families and promotes an alternative agricultural economic system, giving priority to fair working conditions And sustainable practices.

“One of the key aspects that contributed to us winning this award is our cooperative structure.Our work isn't just about growing organic vegetables;it's about the creation of a community that actively participates in the definition of the food system", they explained to us from the cooperative.“Our commitment to transparency, regional manufacturing and fair working conditions has been a pillar of our business since day one.We believe that organic farming is not just about what we produce, but also how we produce it, putting people and the environment at the heart of everything we do."

And again:“For us, organic goes far beyond certification standards.Organic means taking responsibility, for the soil, the water and the people who grow and consume our products.It's about creating a system where sustainability and equity are non-negotiable.And, of course, organic farming is reflected in our gardening practices on a daily basis.For example, we use beneficial insects and carefully care for our flowers, treating them with the same care as our vegetables, recognizing their crucial role in our ecosystem."

Like all farmers, those of the German cooperative are also facing the climate changes: “The frequency of extreme weather events, particularly heavy rainfall, is increasing.We have experienced extended periods of rain and unusually cold springs, which pose significant challenges to our crops.We are constantly adapting our farming practices to adapt to these changes.Fortunately, our cooperative members are incredibly supportive, even when the weather affects the quality of our products.For example, they happily accept produce such as much smaller-than-usual lettuce that has struggled against adverse conditions.This flexibility is invaluable to us as we face the challenges of climate change.”

There cooperative hope for agriculture is for it to become more localized, regenerative and community-driven: “We imagine a future where organic and fair agricultural practices are the norm, not the exception.We also hope to see greater cooperation between small-scale producers and consumers, creating food systems that prioritize health, sustainability and equity.Above all, we want to see a shift towards an agricultural model that benefits both the planet and the people who inhabit it."

The best organic processing SME is Italian

Was an Italian company, la Gino Girolomoni agricultural cooperative, to win the award for best organic processing SME. Located in Marche, where it was born in 1971 from the intuition of Gino Girolomoni, specializes in production of organic pasta:cOn 80 hectares of organic farmland and renewable energy facilities, it produces 9 million tonnes of pasta a year, supporting over 300 farmers and 60 local workers.

It is the only organic cooperative in Europe to manage the entire pasta and pasta production process.the only 100 percent Italian food supply chain guaranteed to be fair and equitable from WFTO.The organic wheat, grown largely in the Marche region, is ground into semolina in the mill and then transformed in the nearby pasta factory, both owned and located on the Montebello hill, in Piano Island.The complete and local supply chain allows for efficiencies that benefit both farmers who receive a fair price for their own harvest, both consumers who can have a high-quality, organic, agricultural pasta at a affordable price.

“This award is a source of pride for us,” he declared Giovanni Battista Girolomoni, president of the cooperative.“It is the fruit of years and years of work, training, innovation, research and important investments made in the organic field with the aim of producing good, quality and sustainable pasta.It is proof of the success of this agricultural and production model, made up of farmers united in a cooperative to enhance their crops in a fair and sustainable way for everyone.Today all this is recognized by the European Union which certifies us as excellence in our sector.I thank my parents who more than 50 years ago believed in and gave life to this reality, and all those who for decades and every day contribute to the improvement of our organization, founded on the principles of respect for the land, valorization of work and promotion of 'organic agriculture'.

Looking to the future, the Girolomoni agricultural cooperative carries out projects together with other partners such as research for selection of new varieties of durum wheat suitable for the organic method and resistant to climate change and the digitalisation of the organic cereal supply chain.

The other winners

Reinhilde Frech-Emmelmann was awarded as the best organic grower:he founded it in 1988 ReinSaat GmbH, an agricultural company biodynamic Demeter certified in St.Leonhard am Hornerwald, Lower Austria.Specialized in GMO-free organic seeds, has over 800 varieties of seeds, 50 employees and promotes biodiversity and sustainable agriculture throughout Europe.

There best organic region è Southern Savonia, in Finland, which has built a strong culture of organic farming, the result of 40 years of collaboration between farmers, researchers and local authorities.With 200 organic farms, the region promotes sustainable practices, preserving water quality and biodiversity, and hosts theFinnish Biological Research Institute.

BioStadt Bremen in Germany it is, instead, the best organic city:with over the 30 percent of farms certified organic, the city promotes sustainable food systems through community projects and innovative agricultural initiatives, empowering citizens to lead local change.BioStadt Bremen is working to ensure that all municipal catering services in schools, nurseries and hospitals they are needed 100 percent organic meals by 2025.

The best organic biodistrict it is that of Sörmland in Sweden.Located south of Stockholm, Sörmland has been a pioneer in organic farming since the 1940s, bringing together farms, processors, restaurants.With the 20 percent of organic farmland, the district promotes local organic products and sustainable tourism, as well as raising awareness of the health benefits of organic foods.

Founded by three farmers in 2011 Spain, Saifresc is the best organic retailer.With 30 hectares of organic land, it produces 70 organic products, selling 90 percent of the harvest locally and reducing packaging.The initiative promotes thecircular economy and offers educational workshops on organic farming.

In the end, Kalf & Hansen, in Sweden is the best organic catering service.Founded in 2014 by Rune and Fabian Kalf-Hansen, this restaurant chain delivers 100 percent organic and seasonal Nordic cuisine.With two restaurants, catering services and organic meals on Swedish trains, it prioritizes local sourcing, sustainability and affordable organic meals, building strong relationships with local producers.

The growth of organic agriculture in the European Union

In 2021 the European Union adopted the organic development action plan and, for the first time ever, almost all Member States of the European Union have global organic production strategies.THE strategic plans of the common agricultural policy provide increased financial support, amounting to €14.7 billion from 2023 to 2027, to EU farmers who switch toorganic farming and they remain there.

Between 2012 and 2022 the percentage of area intended for organic farming compared to the total agricultural area used in the EU it went from 5.9 percent to 10.5 percent about.This is an estimated increase of 7.4 million hectares.In recent years, the organic product market has demonstrated remarkable resilience despite some challenges, in particular high food price inflation and rising energy costs.The total retail sales of organic products in the EU they increased from 38.6 billion euros in 2019 to 45.0 billion euros in 2022, with a peak of 46.3 billion euros in 2021.The European Union is the second largest market for organic products after the United States.