Organic Farming In Europe: European Commission launches new promotional campaign for organic food and farming
The European Commission recently launched the European Union's new Organic Farming Campaign at the Foire de Libramont
agricultural fair in Belgium.
Under the campaign slogan: "Organic farming. Good for nature, good for you", the promotional campaign aims to inform
consumers about the meaning and benefits of organic farming and food production.
The campaign will focus on increasing consumer awareness and recognition of organic products, and especially on young
people and children to carry the organic idea into the future.
"Consumer demand for organic products is growing, offering increased business opportunities for all sectors of the food
supply chain. In launching this campaign, I call on all stakeholders involved in organic farming to promote the organic
idea with the help of the new campaign slogan 'Organic Farming. Good for nature, good for you," said Mariann Fischer
Boel, European Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development.
In the last few years, the number of organic operators - farmers, producers, processors and importers - has grown
strongly. In 2005, there was a total of 182,305 of these operators in the EU-25, a 13.4 percent increase from 2004. In
recent years, the European organic retail market has experienced strong growth of between 5 and 30 percent, depending on
the country. Increasing consumer demand is strengthening the organic market and giving farmers and processors new
opportunities.
The Commission will launch the campaign and announce a competition to develop a new organic farming logo at a press
conference today hosted by the European Commission and the Foire de Libramont, a major agricultural fair that showcases
the many aspects of the rural world.
The press conference will also be attended by Sabine Laruelle, the Belgian Minister for SMEs, the Self-Employed,
Agriculture and Scientific Policy; Benoit Lutgen, Minister for Agriculture, Rural Affairs, the Environment and Tourism
for the Walloon Region; and Mr Kris Peeters, Minister-President of the Flemish Government. The Commission will unveil
the centrepiece of the EC campaign - the new multilingual website for organic farming www.organic-farming.europa.eu,
containing an electronic "toolbox" that provides marketing materials in 22 languages free of charge to professionals
throughout the entire food and farming sector in order to promote organic production and farming.
The Organic Farming Campaign was developed with an umbrella–style approach that serves the interests of organic
operators within the EU and empowers them to actively promote organic farming. The Commission created the campaign in
cooperation with the Experts group for the promotion of organic agriculture.
The national experts include representatives from national ministries for agriculture as well as national and
international associations working with organic farming and production.
The campaign is launched within the framework of the European Action Plan for Organic Food and Farming. This action plan
sets out 21 initiatives for developing the organic food market and improving standards by increasing efficiency and
transparency and thereby increasing consumer confidence.
For more information on the Organic Farming Campaign: "Organic farming. Good for nature, good for you." and
print-quality visual materials and images please visit www.organic-farming.europa.eu.
ENDS