About: organic agriculture
German agricultural reform plans ‘jeopardise’ organic farming target
For organic farmers, Germany's plans for implementing the EU's agricultural reform run counter to achieving the 30 percent target for organic farming set by the new coalition government. EURACTIV Germany reports.
EU agri ministers back serving up more organic food in schools, hospitals
EU agriculture ministers gave their green light for the EU organic action plan on Monday (19 July) but warned that measures must be taken to ensure that supply matches demand, including via public procurement schemes for schools and public canteens.
Agrifood Brief: Feel the love (re)generation
Welcome to EURACTIV’s AgriFood Brief, your weekly update on all things Agriculture & Food in the EU. You can subscribe here if you haven’t done so yet. This week: The EURACTIV agrifood podcast is buzzing about insects, starting with an interview with Maria...
Croatian organisations fight to preserve seed as a basic human right
Bolstered by its own commercial production of seeds, Croatia has become one of the top EU countries for organic agricultural production. But organic farmers now fear that the introduction of a new Seed Act may jeopardise this. EURACTIV Croatia reports.
Organic food ‘healthier’ says agri Commissioner as EU launches new organic plan
Organic food is "healthier" than its chemically produced counterparts, EU Agricultural Commissioner Janusz Wojciechowski told journalists at an event to mark the launch of the EU's organic action plan on Thursday (25 March).
Agrifood brief: Don’t forget agriculture, Valdis
Welcome to EURACTIV’s AgriFood Brief, your weekly update on all things Agriculture & Food in the EU. You can subscribe here if you haven’t done so yet. After the shock of Phil Hogan’s sudden resignation as the EU trade...
Commission launches public consultation on EU organic plan, backs regulation postponement
The European Commission launched a public consultation on its future action plan on organic farming on Friday (4 September), and also proposed to postpone by one year the entry into force of the new organic regulation.
Rural vs. city: how do consumer preferences differ when it comes to food?
Consumers play a key role in the EU’s new flagship food policy, the Farm to Fork strategy, which works to encourage consumer uptake of healthy and sustainable food options as part of the strategy’s overall goal to improve the viability...
EU Agriculture Commissioner refutes concerns over 25% organic target
On the back of growing concern over the target for 25% of EU farmland to be farmed organically by 2030, EU Commissioner for Agriculture Janusz Wojciechowski has lent the plan his support and stressed it is achievable. But farmers are still concerned that, as it stands, supply may well outstrip demand, which they say could "kill" the sector.
New food policy to triple amount of agricultural land farmed organically by 2030
The EU's Farm to Fork (F2F) strategy has targeted 25% of agricultural land in the EU being organically farming by 2030, a three fold increase.
Insect-based feedstuffs hold ‘enormous potential’ for EU sustainability goals
With the presentation of the long-awaited Farm to Fork strategy due in the coming days, EURACTIV took a look at the potential that insects hold for contributing to the goals of the strategy and creating a more self-reliant, sustainable food system in the EU.
LEAK: EU’s Farm to Fork strategy will be based on five key targets
In addition to longstanding objectives like the reduction of chemical fertilisers and pesticides, the European Commission envisages setting three more targets in its new flagship food policy, EURACTIV can reveal.
Integrated pest management should be linked to CAP payments, say auditors
The European Commission has been unable to adequately measure and reduce either the effects or the risks from pesticides due to a lack of rigorous and suitable data, according to a new report from the European Court of Auditors, released on Wednesday (5 January).
Fighting fire with fire: pest control by playing nature at its own game
Biological pesticides are rapidly gaining attention as a sustainable and viable environmentally friendly alternative to chemical pesticides. However, they are currently hampered by maladapted regulation.
EU to ban the insecticide thiacloprid
The European Commission decided on Monday (13 January) not to renew the approval of the neonicotinoid pesticide thiacloprid, following scientific advice by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) that the substance presents health and environmental concerns.
EU Commission set to vote on ban of controversial organophosate pesticides
The European Commission is set to vote on Friday (6 December) on not renewing the approval of two pesticides, chlorpyrifos and chlorpyrifos-methyl, which the EU's food safety agency says may have serious effects on foetuses and children - a claim industry strongly rejects.