Healthy and safe organic food plays a crucial role in environmental protection and biodiversity conservation. Organic agriculture is an approach to cultivating healthy and safe food and other agricultural products that rely on natural methods and processes, avoiding the use of synthetic fertilizers, pesticides, genetically modified organisms (GMOs), and other synthetic substances.

CONTEXT: Sustainability transitions in agri-food systems are expected to reduce their negative environmental and social impacts. On the other hand, Europe demands an increase in the agricultural land under organic farming by 2030. Innovations in agri-food systems, especially in the organic sector, could close the gap in sustainability transitions and the foreseen conversion to organic farming.

Ensuring everyone in the EU and the world has access to a nutritious diet in a sustainable way is one of the greatest challenges we face, and one of the most ambitious targets of the Sustainable Development Goals framework. The need for a transformation of food systems towards sustainability is increasingly being recognised, as demonstrated by the growing number of initiatives implemented worldwide. This report presents an overview of existing initiatives that aim to address the sustainability of food systems in the EU and globally.

The current challenges affecting the EU food system call for an urgent shift towards more sustainability. As set out by the Commission Farm to Fork Strategy, the path to achieve such an ambitious goal should promote policy coherence at EU and national level, mainstream sustainability in food-related policies and strengthen the resilience of food systems. In this report, we focus on provisions setting requirements to improve the sustainability of food products.

The book, 'Sustainable Food Systems. Change of Route in the Mediterranean', explores food system sustainability through a transdisciplinary approach, highlighting the intricate challenges which face food systems - from production to consumption - emphasising the vital role of the Mediterranean diet across different sectors, and recognising ecosystem-dependent relationships and interdependencies.

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 breeding.

Agroecology and organic agriculture present promising alternatives to the current food system, supported by a growing body of evidence. Despite the potential of AE/O, their full benefits cannot be realised in most countries due to political and institutional barriers and lock-ins, including incentives and funding that favour “business as usual” food systems. Overcoming present and future challenges will require educated and empowered stakeholders to support AE/O agriculture in their fields.

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 breeding.

The concept of a ‘sustainability standard’ has evolved from a mere buzzword into a crucial pillar of global trade. Sustainability standards are important in international trade due to their role in promoting ethical business conduct, preparing businesses for upcoming mandatory regulations, fostering harmonization in global trade and driving innovation. As the world continues to prioritize sustainability, these standards serve as a potential framework upon which a more environmentally conscious and socially responsible global economy can be built.