Bologna, 29 April 2022
Press-Release
The EU Organic Processing and Trade Association (OPTA Europe) calls on EU and national authorities to pursue with determination the transition towards a sustainable food system.
At the occasion of the Conference „25% Organic by 2030“, the organic associations OPTA Europe called for an acceleration of the strategies to implement the Organic Action Plan as a way to tackle the climate and biodiversity challenges.
The organic sector is a fast growing one, as a direct result of increased consumer interest in organic products. Recognizing its essential role in the transition towards a sustainable food system, the Farm to Fork Strategy set up a target of ‘at least 25% of EU organic food and farming by 2030’. This is accompanied by an Action Plan to help the organic sector reach its full potential.
At the occasion of the Conference ‘25% Organic by 2030” held on 29th April in Bologna (Italy) organized in collaboration with Alce Nero Group, participants shared their deep concern on the alarming conclusions of the 2022 report issued by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). They called for an acceleration of the sustainable food and farming policies contained in the Farm to Fork Strategy as the only pathway to withstand the consequences of the climate and biodiversity crises over the coming years.
„Organic operators are the pioneers of the sustainable food system. For decades we have opened ways in practices that have proved effective to protect the environment“ said Stefan Hipp, president of OPTA Europe. “We have the know-how, now we just need the political will to scale it up through the expeditious and robust implementation of the tools and actions that have been identified in the EU Organic Action Plan”.
Participants also warned against those using the Ukraine’s crisis to roll back the Farm to Fork Strategy, ‘Scientist are clear ‘, said Aurora Abad, Managing Director of OPTA Europe. “We cannot yield to the siren songs of short-term food security to keep postposing environmental constraints. The roadmap towards a sustainable food system is well-defined, now it is the time to pursue it with determination.
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For any enquiry, please contact:
Aurora Abad
Managing Director OPTA Europe
aurora@opta-eu.org
Tel:+32 (0)495 28 18 72
Note to editors
- OPTA Europe (www.opta.bio) is the membership organization representing the interest of EU organic processing and trade companies. Its membership encompasses 9 EU Member States plus North America and Switzerland. Taken together, the companies represented by OPTA Europe account for a large share of total EU import & export and processing of organic products.
- The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) is the United Nations body for assessing the science related to climate change. The 2022 IPCC report can be found here.