Bio Austria welcomes will to strengthen organic farming

Simplifications should apply to organic farmers in the future, since they already work certified according to the only EU-wide defined sustainability standard for agriculture. The European Commission proposes this in a simplification package for the joint agricultural policy (GAP). Bio Austria welcomes the intention of the European Commission to strengthen organic farming by recognizing its environmental services and simplifications, but they come very late for the ongoing period in order to ensure significant relief on the organic farms. At the same time, Bio Austria appeals to the environmental impacts in European agricultural policy. The reform of agricultural policy for the period from 2028 must be geared towards ecological, economic and social sustainability.

In the simplification package presented, the EU Commission suggests that the services of organic farms automatically to certain minimum requirements regarding good agricultural and ecological condition (So-called “Glöz” regulations) that were designed for conventional companies. The reason for this is that the organic farms based on the EU Bio Regulation and provide extensive sustainability performance. The European Commission thus follows a recommendation of the “strategic dialogue”, a advisory committee installed by Leyen: This recommends that a “tailor -made approach” to reduce bureaucracy for agricultural businesses that are already actively contributing to reducing negative external effects and are certified by a system recognized by the EU. In addition, there are a variety of other suggestions for changes to the GAP, including simplifications for small businesses, but also simplifications in the management of the funding programs.

„To recognize the biological economy as a comprehensive agricultural environment measure is long overdue. BIO AUSTRIA appeals to keep the environmental impacts of European agricultural policy up and further strengthen. Debocratization and high environmental ambitions are not a contradiction“, Bio Austria reports on the chairwoman Barbara Riegler.”However, the suggestions come very late to significantly relieve Austrian organic farms“, Riegler continued.”With the vision for agriculture, the European Commission started the discussion about the reform of the GAP for the period from 2028 in February. From the beginning, agricultural policy must be aligned so that the more sustainable path is also designed as the simpler and more economically attractive“In conclusion, Riegler emphasizes.