BEST ECONOMY forum develops sustainability manifesto

200 participants, three days, one manifesto – that’s the outcome of the first BEST ECONOMY forum organised by Bioland, Bio Hotels and Gemeinwohlkönomie. The manifesto proposes actions for developing a new sustainable economy. Read here what it is all about.

Biofach China: 18.000 visitors expected

Biofach China will open its doors in may. Around 18,000 visitors and more than 350 exhibitors are expected.

UK organic market: seventh year of growth

Soil Association Certification’s Organic Market Report reveals the UK’s organic market is now worth £2.33 billion. Continue reading for more details.

New exotic ingredients for natural cosmetics

The Rambutan tree is a relative of the lychee tree, carrying red, prickly-haired fruits with interesting active ingredients for cosmetics. These are now available organically certified and certified for natural cosmetics – by BASF.

Ecovia Intelligence: 11th Sustainable Foods Summit in Amsterdam

The eleventh European Sustainable Foods Summit will be hosted in Amsterdam, Netherlands, from 13^th-14^th June 2019. The summit comprises four dedicated sessions.

Warsaw BIOEXPO: Poland’s first International Organic Trade Fair

In October 2019, Warsaw Ptak will host Poland’s first trade fair dedicated to organic products only. Registrations are now open for interested parties.

IFOAM EU: Registration open for 13th European Organic Congress

The registration is now open for participation in the European Organic Congress by IFOAM EU in June 2019. The Congress will comprise two program days including plenaries, discussions, talks, interactive sessions as well as workshops.

EU commission withdraws licence of international organic certifier

The EU commissions has withdrawn the organic certification licence for five countries from the international certification body Control Union, as its bad performance facilitated organic fraud.

Study: Organic farming protects the climate

Organic soils emit significantly less greenhouse gases than conventional soils. This has been proven by a one-off long-term experiment.

Organic chicks: German producer association takes legal action against EU Commission

The EU Commission continues to allow conventional chicks in organic laying hen husbandry. The producers' association Fürstenhof is taking legal action against this.

Roundup and cancer: Jury sentences Bayer to compensation of 80 million Dollar

The Bayer subsidiary Monsanto has to pay USD 80.3 mn in damages to Edwin Hardeman, who is suffering from cancer. This was decided by the jury of a U.S. federal court in San Francisco.

EU Parliament votes for ban of disposable plastic from 2021

Yesterday, the European Parliament voted in favour of a ban on disposable plastics. In addition to plastic cutlery, other products are affected. Before the implementation of the ban, however, the Member States must also adopt the ban.

Austria: Organic share of food at almost nine percent

The Austrians have the fourth highest proportion of organic food in the whole of Europe. This was announced by Agrarmarkt Austria (AMA) - which provided further organic figures.

EU: Still shortcomings in eco-control system

The EU Court of Auditors has examined the eco-control system. Some things are going well, but many things are going badly. Read about where the greatest problem is.

What is decisive for a purchase? Seal or price?

Agricultural economists at the University of Göttingen have examined purchasing intentions and decisions. Read what the study says is more important: seal or price?

USA allow cultivation of genome-edited plants without risk assessment

According to research carried out by Testbiotech, the US agricultural authority APHIS has already granted more than 20 approvals for plants whose genetic material has been modified using new genetic engineering methods.

US judgement confirmed: Roundup causes cancer

The jury in the Hardemann vs. Monsanto case has decided: The herbicide Roundup from Bayer subsidiary Monsanto is primarily responsible for Edwin Hardeman's cancer. The case is regarded as precedent-setting.

France: Garden centre chain Botanic integrates organic markets

60 large garden centres, trading under the name "Botanic", have expanded their range to include organic food. The markets are mainly located in the east and southeast of France.

Measurements show: Pesticides pollute the air in South Tyrol

In the Vinschgau region of South Tyrol, the wind blows pesticides from conventional orchards even to remote places. This is the result of a study by the Munich Environmental Institute.

Pesticides in organic imports

An EU statistic shows: Pesticides are particularly often reported in organic imports from China, India and Turkey.