Organic food production plays a key role in the implementation of the European Green Deal, the Farm-to-Fork strategy and the biodiversity strategy. The Commission wants 25% of the EU’s agricultural land to be organic by 2030 and the organic aquaculture sector to grow strongly. To support this growth, the European Commission is launching the EU Organic Awards. The award is being presented this year for the first time.
The EU Organic Awards honours eight people or projects in seven categories. The criteria the jury looks at include the excellence and real added value of the project, its innovative character and its potential transferability to other regions in Europe. The sustainability pillars (environmental, social and economic) of the project are also taken into account.
The categories are:
- Category 1: The objective of the award for ‘Best organic farmer’ is to reward a farmer (one female
and one male) who developed an excellent, innovative, sustainable and inspiring project
producing real added value for organic production and consumption. - Category 2: The objective of the award for ‘Best organic region’ is to reward a region that
developed an excellent, innovative, sustainable and inspiring project producing real added value
for organic production and consumption. - Category 3: The objective of the award for ‘Best organic city’ is to reward a city that developed
an excellent, innovative, sustainable and inspiring project producing real added value for organic
production and consumption. - Category 4: The objective of the award for ‘Best organic ‘bio district’’ is to reward a ‘bio district’
that developed an excellent, innovative, sustainable and inspiring project producing real added
value for organic production and consumption. - Category 5: The objective of the award for ‘Best organic SME’ is to reward a Small and
Mediumsized Enterprise (SME) processing organic products that developed an excellent, innovative,
sustainable and inspiring project producing real added value for organic production and
consumption. - Category 6: The objective of the award for ‘Best organic food retailer’ is to reward a food retailer
selling organic products that developed an excellent, innovative, sustainable and inspiring project
producing real added value for organic production and consumption. - Category 7: The objective of the award for ‘Best organic restaurant’ is to reward a restaurant
either standalone or as part of the hotel or catering sector proposing organic certified references
in its menu that developed an excellent, innovative, sustainable and inspiring project producing
real added value for organic production and consumption.
To be eligible, applicants must be a legal or natural person, established or resident in one of the 27 EU Member States. The project itself must be carried out somewhere in the EU. The project must have already been completed or, if it is still in progress, it must have reached a stage of maturity at which it can be assessed by the jury. In addition, there are a number of specific conditions for participation in each category.
Entries for the EU Organic Awards can be made from 25 March 2022, with the deadline for submission of entries being 8 June. The prize will be presented at a ceremony on 23 September 2022.
Wow this is inviting can it be extended to zambia African farmers