This year 2022, the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) will jointly organise the first EU organic awards with the European Commission, the European Committee of the Regions (CoR), COPA-COGECA and IFOAM Organics Europe,  with the aim of recognising excellence and rewarding the best and most innovative actors in the EU organic value chain.

The #EUOrganic awards comprises 7 categories and 8 awards for best organic:

1. farmer (female and male)
2. region
3. city
4. bio-district
5. small-medium enterprise
6. food retailer
7. restaurant.

The EESC advocating for years for a more sustainable and comprehensive food policy in the EU, will be responsible for three awards: best organic SME, best organic food retailer, and best organic restaurant. Online applications will be open from 25 March to 8 June 2022, and will be available here.

A ceremony will be organised on EU Organic Day on 23 September 2022, where winners will present their innovative projects and be awarded a non-financial recognition.

The Commission has defined a target of 25% of EU agricultural land under organic farming by 2030. In support of that target, the Commission adopted the action plan for the development of organic production in March 2021. This action plan takes the approach that in order to stimulate organic production and consumption, increased public awareness of its characteristics and benefits is critical. The action plan therefore includes annual awards as one of the strategies to reach this goal. (mr)