On 10th December, the European Parliament will host the 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.

The initiative comes at a pivotal moment, just days before the presentation of the EU’s simplification and reform package on the regulatory framework for organic agriculture—an opportunity, in our view at Eat Europe, to reinforce consumer trust, strengthen the EU organic logo, and enhance the sector’s credibility in the face of increasing greenwashing and misleading labelling practices. Against this backdrop, the event will gather policymakers, sector representatives, experts, and stakeholders to discuss the strategic role of organic farming in European competitiveness, in rural resilience, and in the transition towards sustainable agri-food systems.
Among the speakers, Members of the European Parliament, representatives of the European Commission, Luigi Scordamaglia, President of Eat Europe and CEO of Filiera Italia, Maria Letizia Gardoni, President of Coldiretti Bio, Eduardo Cuoco, Director of IFOAM Organics Europe and Luc Vernet, Secretary General of Farm Europe.
The event aims at generating an open discussion that leads to increasingly effective solutions for ensuring fair competition at both European and international level, through clear and coherent compliance standards and stronger integration throughout the value chain. In this regard, more robust and harmonised controls and strict labelling rules not only improve the functioning of the supply chain but also provide consumers with greater certainty, trust and transparency—elements that are indispensable in today’s food system.
“Promoting such integration is fully in line with the spirit of Eat Europe, which advocates for value-chain cooperation, inspired by the successful model of the organic sector”, commented Luigi Scordamaglia, President of Eat Europe.

The gathering will open with solid data and concrete examples illustrating the socio-economic contribution of organic agriculture to EU competitiveness and the development of rural communities. It will reinforce the narrative that organic farming represents a strategic investment in resilience, innovation, and food security, while promoting regulatory coherence, fair competition, and the valorisation of genuinely sustainable models.

For the continued growth of the sector, it will also be essential to address critically the risks of greenwashing— including certain corporate-driven “regenerative” initiatives and narratives around cellular agriculture—examining how such approaches may undermine consumer trust, improperly influence policymakers, and divert resources from authentically sustainable pathways.

This event represents a strategic moment for the future of European organic agriculture. Ahead of upcoming institutional discussions, it will offer a platform to reflect on the role that organic agriculture can play in strengthening European agri-food value chains, supporting the vitality of rural areas and contributing to a competitive model grounded in quality, transparency and sustainable innovation.

If you want to attend, please register here.