Guest article by Gerald A. Herrmann: The ups and downs of international organic trade: how is this possible?

The organic sector has been shattered by various scandals on national and international levels. The bigger the scandals, the more dramatic the consequences for the countries of origin, which brings about huge shifts in international commodity flows, as import and export figures indicate.

Agribusiness Drives Severe Decline of Essential Insects

No new CAP until 2023

The EU has now postponed its common agricultural policy reform by two years. EU states like Germany had recently tried to water down the few reform initiatives there were.

Bio-Suisse launches online shop for Bud-products

The Swiss can now order products online in their region from Bio-Suisse farms nationwide. Since last weekend, the umbrella organisation of Swiss bud farms has given its customers the opportunity to purchase directly from local producers and growers.

Slow Food mourns the passing of Ursula Hudson

Ursula Hudson, President of Slow Food Germany and member of the Slow Food International Executive Committee passed away last Friday after a long and serious illness. The organization honored her in an obituary.

EOC: Organic food and farming is part of the solution

High-level speakers from the European Commission, European Parliament and the German Presidency of the EU Council all sent the same message at the European Organic Congress 2020 (EOC): Our system is experiencing a biodiversity and climate crisis, and organic food and farming is part of the solution and way forward.

Jan Plagge re-elected President of IFOAM Organics Europe

At its 10th General Assembly, IFOAM Organics Europe’s members elected a new Board. They re-elected Jan Plagge as President. He is the President of Bioland e.V. (Germany and North Italy) and has many years of experience developing the organic sector. He has a background as an organic farmer and organic farm advisor.

Bundled commitment for sustainable cocoa in Europe

The German Initiative on Sustainable Cocoa, the Swiss Platform for Sustainable Cocoa and the Belgian platform Beyond Chocolate have committed to joining forces for a more sustainable cocoa value chain. They did this by signing a Memorandum of Understanding. 

The impact of Corona on Trust Organic Small Farmers

Heuschrecke Naturkost GmbH asked its partners in India, Sri Lanka and South Africa how it was for them during the Corona crisis and the lockdowns, what their everyday life was like and whether they could harvest and process the harvests.

EU: Most organic goods come from China

In terms of volume, the number one country for organic imports into the EU in 2019 was China, followed by Ukraine and three countries exporting bananas. There are also further surprises in the latest import figures.

Update: BioTropic offices report in Corona times

The fruit and vegetable importer Biotropic, has asked employees across its branches from France to Costa Rica and the Ivory Coast to report on Corona and the situation locally. In Europe the situation has calmed down somewhat, but in other parts of the world the situation is quite different.

OTA: COVID-19 will shape organic industry in 2020

The unprecedented COVID-19 pandemic this year – and its enormous impact on our everyday lives – has already had dramatic consequences for the organic sector in 2020. As shoppers search for healthy, clean food to feed their at-home families, organic food is proving to be the food of choice for home, reports the Organic Trade Association (OTA).

Agriculture: worldwide shortage of seasonal workers

It is not only the lack of seasonal workers for harvesting that is making life difficult for organic farms, here and everywhere. Some markets are changing and the poorest have been hit the hardest by the corona crisis.

EU to promote vegan alternatives to meat

The Green Deal adopted by the European Commission forces initial activities and implementation of wide-ranging measures and grants in the area of nutrition, which should result in health benefits for citizens.

U.S. reaches bilateral organic equivalence arrangement with Taiwan

The fast-growing organic market of Taiwan is poised to grow even faster. On Thursday, the United States and Taiwan reached an organic equivalence arrangement to enable increased trade between the two regions. Taiwan is already the fifth largest export market for U.S. organic products.

OTA: Consumers value organic more then ever

As the initial pantry-loading phase of the COVID-19 pandemic subsides, households of all sizes have begun to settle into longer-term routines and shopping patterns. For those shoppers who prioritize organic, their commitment to the label remains strong, even as so much has changed within their daily lives.

Indoor farms near Aldi South

Mint, basil, coriander and other fresh herbs now thrive in Aldi Süd markets in Germany. Customers can buy the plants freshly harvested from so-called indoor farms.

Natexpo to go ahead as planned

The 2020 edition of Natexpo, the international trade show for organic professionals, is still going ahead. As scheduled, it will be held in Lyon on 21 and 22 September this year. 

EU-Strategy: Sustainability with some genetic engineering

Europe's agriculture and food industry should become significantly more ecological by 2030. According to the strategy ‘From Farm to Fork’ which was presented by the EU Commission, the share of organic farming in the EU should increase to 25 percent by 2030 and the use of pesticides and antibiotics halved. It also includes some genetic engineering.

Free From Functional & Health Ingredients postponed to november

The organisers of the Free From Functional & Health Ingredients (FFFHI) and Free From Packaging (FFP) have confirmed that the events, which were planned to take place at the RAI Amsterdam from 24-25 June, will be postponed to 24-25 November 2020, following the global escalation of COVID-19.