Annual organic farmers meeting: New steering committee & CAP post-2027

For this year’s annual meeting, our interest group of organic farmers (IGOF) gathered in Switzerland on 2- 3 May. Bio Suisse graciously hosted this annual meeting attended by organic farmers’ organisations from all over Europe. On the agenda: electing a new steering committee, discussing the future of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) and, of course visiting local organic farms.

Day 1: Electing a new steering committee & discussing the CAP

The first day took place in Frick, at the facilities of the Research Institute of Organic Agriculture (FiBL). The IGOF learned more about Bio Suisse and their strategy to develop organic in Switzerland. It was particularly insightful to see how they operate, influenced by the EU but anchored in the Suisse national context. In Switzerland the “bud”, Bio Suisse’s label is a symbol going beyond the organic regulation. The group also learned about FiBL, its research, concrete outputs and processes related to the projects – including ongoing work on improving plants’ natural resistance through innovative breeding techniques and new varieties.

A new steering committee

After, the IGOF elected the following five (dual) applications to be the interest group’s steering committee:

• Michael Kjerkegaard: An organic cattle farmer and new chair of Organic Denmark;
• Aina Calafat Rogers & Isabel González:
  – Aina works for Sociedad Española de Agricultura Ecológica y Agroecología (SEAE) and is part-time farmer and seed producer in Mallorca;
  – Isabel González is an organic cattle farmer from the North of Spain;
• Hans Bartelme and Lea Ilgeroth-Hiadzi:
  – Hans is an organic farmer, producing eggs and pig meat and cultivating soy, wheat, spelt, triticale and rye;
  – Lea is policy consultant at Naturland;
• Katerina Urbankova: Manager of PRO-BIO Association of Organic Farmers in the Czech Republic;
• Fiona Marty and Hugues Loury:
  – Hugues Loury is an organic dairy farmer in Northwest of France;
  – Fiona is European affairs officer at the French organic farmers’ association (FNAB).

The CAP post-2027

Following the elections, the group had long talks about the European organic movement’s position and next vision of the CAP post-2027. This process kicked off during the IGOF’s 2023 annual meeting after which they continued discussions in two online plenaries. In Switzerland the subgroup of farmers who prioritised the topic could present their work and discuss it with all members of the interest group.

What does the organic movement want for the next CAP? In June 2024, IFOAM Organics Europe’s internal democratic decision-making process is reviewing the concrete proposal, but these are the principles for the CAP post-2027:

• The CAP needs to build upon existing sustainable farming systems, organic on top. The CAP reform should enable a wide transition towards agroecological systems, building up on existing systems;
• Organic farming is the only legally regulated systemic agricultural approach and the most advanced sustainable farming system to benefit of legal protection. So, the CAP’s new structure should favour organic farming as the only legally regulated agroecological system in the EU;
• Introduce a whole-farm approach as CAP pillar. The future CAP should end the distribution of untargeted payments that are only conditioned by single practices measures. It does not make sense to compare a systemic approach like organic farming with single practices like the current CAP does. A whole-farm approach is the incentive for farmers to engage in a systemic transition and reward those already engaged;
• A new approach to basic income to ensure a better redistribution of the CAP funding  Because the current market and power imbalances in the agrifood supply chain, farmers cannot make a living from their work. Because of the current market and imbalances of power in the agri-food supply chain, farmers cannot make a living from their work. The new CAP should address this, notable by strengthening the Common Organisation of Markets Regulation and an ambitious revision of the Unfair Trading Practices Directive. However, while these measures are established and implemented, it is crucial to provide farmers with a safe, stable income so they can project and invest in the future. Therefore, IFOAM Organics Europe recognize the need for a basic income but proposes a change of metric in the calculation, since the hectare metric showed its shortcomings and does not favour an ambitions redistribution, whether in terms of the fund distribution for the farms but also for the repartition of funds between basic income and environmental measures.

Day 2: Farm visits

The next day, the group had the chance to meet and visit the farm of Urs Brändill, President of Bio Suisse, a dairy farm in the north of Zurich. Urs presented its farm, now operated and modernized by his son while his daughter in law was hosting a group of children in the farm as part of a project. Every Friday morning, children can come to the farm rather than childcare centre, to reconnect kids to the farms and the food they eat.

Urs discussed Bio Suisse’s relationship with Coop, one of the main retailers of Switzerland and emphasised the benefits of this cooperation for both sides. Bio Suisse is also engaged in protecting its farmers since it provides support and help when it comes to business negotiations, technical support on market prices, etc. He then received an award from Ecovalia for the work Bio Suisse does. Ecovalia organised a ceremony in Spain to reward organic actors for their outstanding work in the organic sector. Bio Suisse was rewarded for their work on setting and ensuring social standards in organic production.

Finally, the group finished this meeting by visiting the vineyard Weingut Besson-Strasser, a biodynamic vineyard producing one of the best quality wines of Switzerland. Here, the group saw the work realized on choosing the right varieties, especially local varieties of wine offering a better resilience in case of climatic events. The challenges experienced by the vineyard were also mentioned, whether in terms of the use of copper to protect the plants, or other traditional techniques used that are showing great results against the frost. The vineyard is exporting a significant share of its wine, while it can also be bought directly on the farm, also during some events (tasting, dinners organized). This farm shows a great example of diversification of the farm activities since it’s managing everything from the production, processing and selling of its products.

We would like to thank all farmers who took the time off at their farms to make this into a successful meeting engaged in making Europe more organic!

About our IGOF

IFOAM Organics Europe’s Interest Group of Organic Farmers (IGOF) is one of IFOAM Organics Europe’s four interest groups. Our interest groups provide direct input from the different sectors in IFOAM Organics Europe’s organisation. They formulate policies and positions relevant to their sector.

IFOAM Organics Europe’s members can access a list of its current members and the terms of reference on the member extranet. 

Are you an IFOAM Organics Europe member who is: 

• An organic farmer interested to become part of the IGOF? Contact [email protected]; 
• Having issues accessing the member extranet? Contact [email protected]. 

Are you interested in becoming part of the IGOF? You have to be a member of IFOAM Organics Europe to do so. Contact [email protected] for details.