International and national organic farming experts met in Budapest for the 18th European Organic Congress. The event focused on the challenges and prospects of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP), improving farmers’ market position and the need for cooperation. The actors of the organic movement agreed on the need to increase the appreciation of farmers who provide high added value through organic services, to raise consumers’ awareness of organic food and to help the young generation of farmers to become key players in the future of agriculture.
Representatives of the organic movement, agribusiness professionals and policy makers from almost 30 countries gathered to discuss issues of key importance to the organic farming sector. Thanks to the Hungarian Presidency of the EU, IFOAM Organics Europe organised this year’s meeting in Budapest, in close cooperation with the Ministry of Agriculture and the Hungarian Research Institute of Organic Agriculture (ÖMKi).
The sector is facing a challenging period, as the European Union wants to increase the current average organic farming area share of 10% to 25% by 2030, thus strengthening the foundations for a sustainable agriculture.
Experts agreed that in a changing economic and climatic environment,organic farming has already proven its resilience and is a priority and should be promoted as an alternative to build a sustainable future and improve food security. In his opening speech, Dr. István Nagy, Minister of Agriculture, called organic farming the leading model and key to agricultural sustainability. The Minister thanked organic farmers who, while producing healthy food, farm in harmony with nature, passing on real values to future generations.
Sustainable should be the easier choice
People living in EU countries have all suffered from high inflation rates in recent times, but conscious organic shoppers in all member countries have noticed that inflation has been affecting organic products less. Trade in organic products has benefited from the narrowing of the price gap between conventional and organic products. At the same time, experts pointed out that producers at the front end of the market often did not receive a fair income in the economic crisis. Despite the general increase in food prices, the purchase price did not cover production costs. The market position of farmers, and in particular those committed to sustainability, must therefore be strengthened.
Jan Plagge, President of IFOAM Organics Europe, said: “Choosing more sustainable solutions should be the easy way out for both buyers and producers. In terms of administration, income and consumer food prices, we need to make it easier to get the more sustainable product.”
The KANTAR Institute’s 2023 sustainability behaviour survey shows that global climate change and water scarcity remain among the most pressing environmental challenges facing people, and that only a more resilient agricultural production system that does not exploit natural resources can provide answers.
Young farmers today are key players in the agriculture of the future
Organic farming is a particularly knowledge-intensive sector. Statistics show that organic farmers are better educated and have a higher proportion of young professionals, which together can provide an excellent basis for more sustainable farming in the future. However, at present there is an overall shortage of young professionals in agriculture. The organisers of the congress paid particular attention to the representation of the young generation among the speakers and emphasised the need to involve more young professionals in the decision-making mechanisms of the value chain and professional organisations, in addition to farming.
Strategic Dialogue for the development of the new CAP
Actors of the organic movement have repeatedly underlined that organic is a very inclusive approach that does not want to be exclusive but can play a leading role in a sustainable transition. Movement actors have stressed the need for “bridge-builders” in a polarised community: finding a consensus solution that is much more than cheap food production, because it maintains the landscape, preserves genetic potential, provides vital ecosystem services such as natural pollination and embraces diversity. Ecologically based solutions keep the countryside liveable and strengthen traditional rural lifestyles. At the same time, the agriculture of the future is capable of renewal and innovation, a form of farming that young people are keen to choose because it provides a livelihood while helping to tackle global environmental challenges.
The Congress speakers made several references to the Strategic Dialogue report, published in early September, which is the result of strategic discussions on the future of EU agriculture. The document provides a common framework for action to achieve the EU’s environmental objectives in agri-food processes. In a dialogue between farmers, professional organisations and value chain actors, stakeholders sought to define a common path for EU agriculture, providing a basis for the objectives of the next Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) cycle.
They stressed the need to reconcile environmental sustainability with a fair return for farmers, which implies a major reform of the CAP to ensure that it properly rewards farmers who adopt more sustainable practices and offers real financial value added for the environmental services they provide. Although the CAP cannot cover all areas, its system and operation must take into account the whole value chain and ensure the competitiveness of the agricultural sector.
The recommendations of the Strategic Dialogue recognise organic farming as the only regulated, sustainable production system that has already delivered environmental and climate protection. It is important to encourage those who are willing to transform their economies to be more sustainable and to set high environmental targets. In addition, the future CAP must reward farmers who continue to farm with nature and preserve ecosystem services for the benefit of us all. The incentive system should be based on an economy-wide approach.
Experts propose an approach that ensures proportionality between the environmental ambitions of farms and the funding they receive, based on the following key areas: soil protection, water impact, climate and biodiversity. This would allow for a high level of environmental ambition, a coherent approach at farm level, while facilitating administration for farmers and national authorities. The concept allows for two objectives: rewarding farmers who are already using sustainable production methods and supporting other farmers in their gradual transition to agroecology.
The CAP also has an important role to play in market regulation to strengthen the role of farmers in the agri-food supply chain, increase their resilience to economic crises and ensure a fair income for them. The European organic movement looks forward to seeing how the EU institutions will implement the recommendations.
Photos: Hungarian Presidency, #HU24EU
