EU imports of organic agri-food products – Key developments in 2023
Behavioural indicators of range use in four broiler strains
Free-range systems provide an outdoor range for broilers to give them the possibility to express a higher frequency and a wider range of behaviours, such as exploration, compared with those raised indoors. Greater variability in outdoor range use between individuals of the same flock is often reported. Individual variation in range use may result from […]
Agroforestry supports high bird diversity in European farmland
Publication in “Agronomy for sustainable management” – Intensification and homogenization of agricultural landscapes have led to a strong decline in European farmland birds. Agroforestry systems, which were widespread in the past, are regaining attention as they could return structural heterogeneity to agricultural landscapes. However, few studies focus on the effects of such systems on biodiversity […]
Plant health care in organic farming – The role of natural substances in a biodiversity-based system approach
One of organic agriculture’s defining traits is its approach towards plant health care, relying mainly on preventive and indirect measures within the agroecosystem. As a last resort, organic farmers can combine these with direct measures, if these are based on the use of natural substances. The principles of organic agriculture seek to prevent the introduction […]
Sustainability in organic breeding – Improving the entire system or adjusting some genes?
The briefing provides an overview of the organic food and farming movement’s understanding of sustainability in crop breeding. As IFOAM Organics Europe, the European organic umbrella organisation and voice of organic with the EU institutions, we wrote this document to assess and counter the European Commission’s narrow and problematic approach to sustainability traits in plant […]
Mating Disruption: Key element of a successful building block strategy against Cydia pomonella in organic apple production
The codling moth (Cydia pomonella) is the most important and most frequent pest in organic fruit growing. The larvae of the codling moth damage apples in particular and can cause considerable crop losses. The confusion technique can be considered as an elementary component of codling moth control. The most important condition for successful control is […]
Key figures on the european food chain-2023 edition
Organic research & innovation to deliver sustainable food and farming systems – Priorities for Horizon Europe Work Programme 2025-2027
Our food and farming systems need to respect the planetary boundaries, be climate neutral, circular, diverse, and fair. They need to be resilient and prepared for external shocks and crises like we recently experienced with the Covid-19 pandemic, the Russian war in Ukraine and the related energy, fertiliser and food prices crisis, as well as […]
Sustainability in organic breeding: Improving the entire system or adjusting some genes?
This briefing provides an overview of the organic food and farming movement’s understanding of sustainability in crop breeding. As IFOAM Organics Europe, the European organic umbrella organisation and voice of organic with the EU institutions, we wrote this document to assess and counter the European Commission’s narrow and problematic approach to sustainability traits in plant […]
Risk factors associated with the prevalence of Listeria monocytogenes in manured soils on certified organic farms in four regions of the United States
In “Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems” – Biological soil amendments, including raw or untreated manure, are currently used to improve soil fertility, especially in organic operations that prohibit use of synthetic fertilizers. However, addition of untreated manure may pose a risk of contamination of fresh produce by pathogens of public health significance, including Listeria monocytogenes. Organic […]
