The European Commission has announced the finalists of the first ever EU Organic Awards, launched on 18 February 2022. A jury composed of representatives from the organising instances as well as representatives from the European Parliament and Council of the EU will select winners for the eight categories out of a total of 24 entries from 11 Member States. The Award Ceremony will take place at the annual EU Organic Day on 23 September in Brussels.
The EU Organic Awards were launched last February as part of the commitment made in the Action Plan for the Development of Organic Production and are jointly organised by the European Commission, the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC), the European Committee of the Regions (CoR), COPA-COGECA and IFOAM Organics Europe. The objectives of these awards are to recognise excellence along the organic value chain, from food producers to restaurants and to rewards the best and most innovative organic farmers in the EU who contribute to reducing the impact of agriculture on climate and environment, and whose actions help realise the Farm to Fork and Biodiversity strategies.
Chosen from a pool of over 200 submissions from 26 Member States entered over recent months, a shortlist of 24 entries from 11 Member States was drawn. The winners will be announced during the official award ceremony, which will be part of the activities on EU Organic Day on 23 September in Brussels. Eight awards will be granted in the categories of “Best Organic Farmer (female)”, “Best Organic Farmer (male)”, “Best Organic Region”, “Best Organic City”, “Best Organic Bio-district”, “Best Organic SME”, “Best Organic Retailer” and “Best Organic Restaurant”. Three entries were shortlisted per category.
The nominees in the category “Best Organic Farmer (female)” are Katharina Lichtmannsperger from VLG Obervetterbachgut in Thalgau, Salzburg, Austria; Nazaret Mateos Álvarez who runs Entresetas in Paredes de Nava, Palencia, Spain and Sara Vezza from Azienda Agricola Sara Vezza in Localitá Castelletto, Monforte d’Alba, Piemonte,Italy.
More information about the candidates, the criteria and the awards can be found here.
Source: EC press release
Picture: DG Agri, European Commission
