Applications are due to open next week (Tuesday, February 11) for the fourth edition of the EU Organic Awards which aim to recognise innovation and sustainability.

The awards acknowledge different actors along the organic value chain that have developed inspiring projects that add value to organic production and consumption.

Farmers, agri-food business, organisations, and other actors active in the organic farming sector can now preview the questions in the application forms online.

This year, there will be seven awards across six different categories, including the following:

Best organic farmer (female) and best organic farmer (male);
Best organic region;
Best organic city;
Best organic food processing SME (small and medium-sized enterprise);
Best organic food retailer;
Best organic restaurant/food service.

The awards are non-financial and will be handed over on September 23 2025, which marks EU Organic Day, and celebrates the sectors progress towards achieving its goal of 25% organic land by 2030.

The awards are jointly organised by the European Commission, the European Economic and Social Committee, the European Committee of the Regions, Copa-Cogeca, and IFOAM Organics Europe.

Organic production is increasing in the EU, according to the EU Commission, with 8.5% of EU agricultural land under organic farming in 2019. This is the equivalent to 13.8 million hectares, up from 9.5 million hectares in 2012.

The countries accounting for most of the EU agricultural land under organic farming were Spain (2.4 billion hectares, 17.4% of the EU total), France (2.2 billion hectares, 16.2% of the EU total), Italy (2.0 billion hectares, 14.5% of the total), and Germany (1.3 billion hectares, 9.4% of the EU total).

In Ireland, there are now 5,700 farmers participating in the Organic Farming Scheme (OFS) and the country has surpassed 5% of agricultural land being farmed organically, according to latest figures highlighted by Bord Bia.

Out of the total number of farmers participating in the OFS, 52% are cattle farmers and 40% are sheep farmers.