Ireland has missed out on gaining a place for this year’s EU Organic Awards, as the EU Commission has announced the winners today (Monday, September 23).
The winning projects – and the people behind them- highlights how organic agriculture and production “can create innovative value chains”, along with generating new job opportunities in rural areas.
Nearly 100 applications were received from across the EU for this year’s edition, with 24 candidates shortlisted from 11 countries.
Coolanowle Organic Meats, a small family-run organic farm and meat processing business based in Ballickmoyler, Co. Laois was shortlisted for the EU Organic Awards, under the category: ‘best organic food retailerb.
The EU Organic Awards feature seven categories and eight individual awards, recognising innovative, sustainable, and inspiring projects that add significant value to organic production and consumption
EU Organic Awards
The winners of the edition 2024 of the EU Organic Awards are as follows:
Best organic farmer (female): Reinhilde Frech-Emmelmann in Austria.
The winner founded a biodynamic Demeter farm in St. Leonhard am Hornerwald, Lower Austria.
The farm specialises in organic, GMO-free seeds, with over 800 seed-resistant varieties, promoting biodiversity and sustainable farming across Europe.
Best organic farmer (male): Benny Schöpf in Germany.
Schöpf is the chief vegetable grower at Kartoffelkombinat, the largest community-supported cooperative farm in Germany.
The vegetable growers supply 2,300 households with organic vegetables weekly, with the farm prioritising fair working conditions and sustainable practices.
Best organic region: South Savo in Finland.
South Savo has built a strong organic farming culture through 40 years of collaboration between farmers, researchers, and local authorities.
With 200 organic farms, the region promotes sustainable practices, preserving water quality and biodiversity, and is home to the Finnish Organic Research Institute.
Best organic city: BioStadt Bremen in Germany.
With over 30% of farms certified organic, the city promotes sustainable food systems through community projects and innovative farming initiatives, empowering citizens to drive local change.
BioStadt Bremen is working towards converting all municipal catering in schools, crèches, and hospitals to 100% organic by 2025.
Best organic bio-district: Sörmland Bio-district in Sweden.
Located south of Stockholm, Sörmland has been a pioneer in organic farming since the 1940s, bringing together farms, food processors, restaurants, and more.
With 20% of its farmland organic, the district promotes local organic products, sustainable tourism, and awareness of organic food’s health benefits.
Best organic food processing SME: Gino Girolomoni Cooperativa Agricol in Italy.
Located in the Marche region, this cooperative specialises in organic pasta production, continuing the mission of its founder, Gino Girolomoni.
With 80ha of organic farmland and renewable energy-powered facilities, it produces nine million tons of pasta annually, supporting over 300 farmers and 60 local workers.
Best organic food retailer: SAiFRESC in Spain.
Founded by three farmers in 2011, SAiFRESC transitioned to organic farming, revitalising agriculture in the Huerta de Valencia.
With 30 hectares of organic land, they produce 70 organic products, selling 90% of their harvest locally and reducing packaging.
Best organic restaurant or food service: Kalf & Hansen in Sweden.
Founded in 2014 by Rune and Fabian Kalf-Hansen, this restaurant chain offers 100% organic, seasonal Nordic cuisine.
With two restaurants, catering services, and organic meals on Swedish trains, Kalf & Hansen prioritise local sourcing, sustainability, and affordable organic meals, building strong relationships with local producers.
Organic farming
Meanwhile a report published today by the European Court of Auditors (ECA) sows seeds of doubt about the effectiveness of EU support for organic farming.
It is estimated that around €12 billion of EU funding has been provided to support organic farming since 2014.
According to the ECA report the current strategy has “significant shortcomings”, and there is neither a vision nor targets for the organic sector beyond 2030.
Although the financial support the EU provides annually have extended the area of land that is organically farmed, the report claims that too little attention is being paid to the requirements and needs of the sector.
The ECA has warned that a result, organic production remains a niche market and that the EU is likely to be wide of the mark for the sector.
Keit Pentus-Rosimannus, the ECA member responsible for the audit said: “European agriculture is becoming greener, and organic farming plays a key role in that. But for lasting success, it is not enough to focus on increasing just the area of land that is organically farmed. More needs to be done to support the sector as a whole – developing the market and boosting production.
“Otherwise, we risk creating a lopsided system that is entirely dependent on EU funds, rather than a thriving industry spurred on by informed consumers.”