Europe

India-produced organic shrimp will cater for EU market

Europe Europe

During the India International Seafood Show held in Goa in January 2018, the Marine Products Export Development Authority (MPEDA) signed a Memorandum of Cooperation (MoC) with M/s Coop Cooperative, Switzerland, for the development of organic aquaculture in India with an objective to tap the growing EU market for organic marine products.

Fairtrade: German GEPA looks back to a positive year 2017

Europe Europe

The German fair trade pioneer GEPA continued its stable development in 2017 with wholesale sales of 72.4 million euros (minus 1.9 %). Consumers bought the company's products for around 114 million euros (sales at retail prices).

Monsanto met with contempt by media

Europe Europe

First results of Ramazzini Institute´s Global Glyphosate Study were presented officially in a press conference at the European Parliament. Sustainable Pulse commented Monsanto has committed an epic fail.

EU: new organic farming rules adopted

Europe Europe

In a press release the Council of the European Union informed that on 22 May the Council adopted new EU rules on organic production and the labelling of organic products.

Germany: more and more organic eggs from factory farming

Europe Europe

The size of poultry houses for organic laying hens has once again become an issue in the German media: there is an increasing trend to big poultry houses. It's not possible to see where this will lead because the new EU Organic Regulation approves the current practice in Germany and a number of other EU countries of keeping 30,000 and more organic hens in one poultry house. When consumers buy their eggs they have no information regarding the size of a particular poultry house.

Italy: Ramazzini Institute´s glyphosate research project

Europe Europe

One of the leading cancer research organisations in the world is launching the most comprehensive independent study on glyphosate & glyphosate-based herbicides ever. Funding for the complete budget is needed.

Pilot study shows adverse health effects from glyphosate doses considered safe

Europe Europe

Natural & Organic Awards Europe: winners announced

Europe Europe

The awards, which celebrate the standout brands, products and retailers of the year, were hosted by Natural Products News in association with the Soil Association.

Natural & Organic Products Europe 2018 ended very successfully

Europe Europe

More than 10,000 attendees from 91 countries came to the Natural & Organic Products Europe trade show at London ExCeL venue last week, on 22-23 April.

Swedish Midsona acquires the German company Davert

Europe Europe

Midsona has own  strong brands within healthfoods, personal care and hygiene holds a leading position in the Nordic organic market. The acquisition strengthens Midsona’s presence in the attractive organic foodsegment. Davert’s premium brand and product portfolio are highly complementary to Midsona’s existing organic brands.

EU bans three bee-harming neonics

Europe Europe

Following a proposal of the European Commission, the EU member states have banned three bee poisonous pesticides for outdoor use. Germany also supported the ban. However, for environmental associations, the new regulation does not go far enough.

Acrylamide: New requirements for minimization

Europe Europe

The new EU Acrylamide Regulation came into force in April. The new regulation aims at a further reduction of the harmful substance, which is mainly found in fried, roasted and baked products and is considered carcinogenic in animal experiments.

IFOAM and FiBL study: Socio-economic impacts of GMOs on European agriculture

Europe Europe

IFOAM EU Group recently released a new study on the impacts of GMOs on European agriculture, in partnership with FiBL (Research Institute of Organic Agriculture). Because of the high risk of adventitious presence of GMOs at different steps of the production chain and the consequences, there is a huge effort and high expense for measures to avoid contamination. The study aims at identifying coexistence strategies of non-GM and organic supply chain actors to ensure GMO-free products and estimate the coexistence costs.

Nature & More: ‘Faces of the Sustainable Development Goals’ campaign

Europe Europe

Nature & More, the "trace & tell" consumer trademark and online transparency system of the Dutch organic food distributor Eosta, has recently launched its ‘Faces of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)’ campaign. The initiative aims at raising awareness of the UN’s SDGs across the whole fresh produce sector.

Ecovia: Blockchain to build a sustainable food industry?

Europe Europe

Blockchain is taking off, with a growing number of food companies and retailers experimenting with this new technology. Ecovia Intelligence (formerly Organic Monitor) sees blockchain bringing many sustainability benefits to the food industry. This will be one of the topics at the Sustainable Food Summit in Amsterdam in June.

European Parliament’s plenary adopts the new EU organic regulation

Europe Europe

Today, the European Parliament adopted the text for a new organic regulation, as preliminarily agreed by the Council and the Parliamentary Committee on Agriculture in November 2017. The voting was very clear: 466 MEPs voted in favour of the new regulation and only 124 against.

UK: Natural and Organic Products Expo next weekend

Europe Europe

Nearly 400 exhibiting companies from 42 countries will be showcasing their latest food and drink innovations to expected more than 10,000 trade buyers and retailers. The Natural & Organic Products Europe wll take place in London ExCeL on 22-23 April.

New documentary about "Monsanto's Toxic Tricks"

Europe Europe

The Greens in the European Parliament released a documentary on the glyphosate scandal. The video shows in interviews and statements how Monsanto attacks organisations and scientists. Watch the film "Monsanto's Toxic Tricks".

Ecovia Intelligence launches Sustainable Food Awards

Europe Europe

Ecocia Intelligence has launched the first awards in the international food industry that are dedicated to sustainability.

IFOAM EU: General Assembly and final SOLMACC Conference in May

Europe Europe

Next month, IFOAM EU will host its 9^th General Assembly as well as an anniversary reception for its members on 15th May. Following these two members-only events, IFOAM EU also invites interested parties to attend the final conference of the SOLMACC project on 16th May. Both events will take place in Brussels, Belgium.

Belgium: Brussels government takes Commission to EU Court over glyphosate

Europe Europe

The government of the Brussels region has decided to file a complaint against the European Commission with the European Court of Justice (ECJ) over its decision to re-authorise the pesticide glyphosate in Europe. Belgium was among the nine member states that voted against the renewal of the controversial chemical substance.

EU CAP reform: IFOAM EU calls for a clear framework

Europe Europe

There was no agreement on the Common Agriculture Policy (CAP) reform for 2020 at the last meeting of the Agriculture Ministers on Monday 19 March. They were unable to agree on common conclusions on the Commission communication on "The future of food and farming", an important milestone in the discussion. 

Natexpo Lyon: 600 exhibitors and special spaces

Europe Europe

The next edition of the French organic trade fair Natexpo will be held on 23 and 24 September 2018 in Lyon. The show for organic professionals now takes place annually, to provide the keys to success in a booming economic sector.

EU: No decision on neonicotinoids

Europe Europe

Although it is high time to impose an immediate ban on the three insecticides clothianidine, imidacloprid and thiamethoxam, the Member States are pushing for a decision. And Germany plays an inglorious role in this.

EU Commission clears Bayer-Monsanto merger

Europe Europe

The European Commission has approved under the EU Merger Regulation the acquisition of Monsanto by Bayer. The merger is conditional on the divestiture of an extensive remedy package, which addresses the parties' overlaps in seeds, pesticides and digital agriculture, announced the EU authorities.