IFOAM Organics Europe, Eat Europe and Coldiretti Bio call for robust EU rules to protect trust and stop greenwashing

With the European Commission expected to publish its targeted revision of the Organic Regulation on 16 December, new socio-economic evidence presented in the European Parliament confirms that organic agriculture is already delivering concrete benefits for Europe’s competitiveness, economic security and rural development.

The findings were discussed yesterday during the high-level event “The Socio-Economic Value of Organic Agriculture: Strengthening the Competitiveness of the Value Chain and the Resilience of Rural Areas”, organised by IFOAM Organics Europe, Eat Europe and Coldiretti Bio, and hosted by MEP Herbert Dorfmann (EPP).

New data presented by Prof. Raffaele Zanoli, President of the International Society for Organic Agriculture Research (ISOFAR), shows that organic agriculture:

  • generates 150,000–200,000 additional full-time equivalent jobs on farms, and 2.5–3.5 million jobs across the European organic value chain;
  • relies 30–40% less on external inputs, reducing farmers’ vulnerability to global fertiliser and pesticide markets;
  • keeps more processing and value-added activities in rural areas;
  • attracts younger and more diverse operators;
  • lowers public costs linked to water protection and soil degradation.

 

Reacting to these findings, Eduardo Cuoco, Director of IFOAM Organics Europe, said: “The evidence is clear: organic farming is already delivering what Europe says it wants – more competitiveness, more resilience, more quality jobs in rural areas. The upcoming revision of the Organic Regulation and the new Action Plan must build on this reality, with strong, clear and coherent rules that protect trust and help organic farmers and SMEs compete on a fair playing field.”

The organisers stressed that the revision of the Organic Regulation is a crucial test for EU credibility, especially as unregulated sustainability claims and “green” narratives multiply across food markets.

Luigi Scordamaglia, President of Eat Europe, underlined that the current moment requires firmness: “Clear information and reliable certification systems are no longer optional—they are essential. They are essential not only for consumer confidence, but also to ensure a level playing field where responsible businesses can grow without being harmed by unfair or fraudulent practices. For the continued growth of the sector, it will also be essential to address critically the risks of greenwashing— including corporate-driven “regenerative” initiatives and narratives—examining how such approaches may undermine consumer trust, improperly influence policymakers, and divert resources from authentically sustainable pathways like organic farming”.

Speakers highlighted that only clear EU standards as organic can safeguard consumer trust and ensure that operators investing in genuine sustainability are not undermined by speculative “regenerative” and cellular agriculture narratives.

Discussions also emphasised the importance of investment territorial cohesion, including Biodistricts, where farmers, municipalities, SMEs, schools and tourism actors work together to retain value locally, coordinate investments and reduce dependency on volatile global input and energy markets.

Panelists showcased examples of Biodistricts that created renewable-energy communities, reorganised local procurement for schools, or co-invested in local processing infrastructure – generating more stable jobs, diversified income streams and stronger territorial identities.

In line with these messages, Maria Letizia Gardoni, President of Coldiretti Bio, stated: “Organic agriculture is already creating concrete opportunities for farmers, SMEs and rural communities: more local processing, stronger territorial identities and stable, skilled jobs. Europe must now choose whether to reinforce this virtuous model with clear rules and targeted investments or allow greenwashing to undermine farmers and territories. We need to work together to improve to proposals on the future CAP. Besides reducing the overall CAP budget at a difficult time for farmers, the proposal to only secure funds based on land area penalises organic farmers. Without a strong sustainability focus, the CAP risks creating competition between Member States at the lowest standards, damaging food sovereignty and weakening environmental policies.”

The event also discussed the new EU Organic Action Plan, announced by the Commission on 23 September. Speakers called for an Action Plan that strengthens market development, increases organic consumption (including through public procurement and school schemes), supports innovation and skills, and embeds organic farming into broader EU competitiveness and resilience strategies.