IOA welcomes the EU Commission Farm to Fork and Biodiversity Strategies placing organic farming at the heart of EU food policy

“The Irish Organic Association welcomes both the Farm to Fork (F2F) and EU Biodiversity strategies as these two documents working together in a coherent manner will improve our farming systems and bring nature back into our lives” said Gillian Westbrook, CEO of the Irish Organic Association. “As part of the F2F strategy the EU Commission has proposed a target to convert 25% of EU land to organic farming by 2030. This indicates that organic is about to move centre stage in Europe, the market continues to grow and we need more organic farmers. Organic farming has a positive impact on biodiversity and this is the type of agriculture that consumers want” she continued.

Additional measures to increase demand for organic products through promotion and green public procurement are also included in the strategy. A revised European Action Plan for organic farming is due for publication soon, encompassing the ambition for adapting farming systems to become more resilient in the face of growing climate and biodiversity crises. Gillian Westbrook warns that “meaningful targets must be set to future proof our agriculture systems here in Ireland. The implementation of the F2F and Biodiversity targets must set the ambition for the CAP Strategic Plan which will require change if we are to deliver on consumers expectations of health and the environment”.