The European Green Deal is at the centre of the Commission’s policy agenda. Its prime objective is a sustainable, climate-neutral Europe by 2050, acting as a vehicle for investment and growth . The Green Deal emphasizes that it is ‘key’ to manage the transition towards a more sustainable food system, strengthening the farmer’s efforts to tackle climate change, protect the environment and preserve biodiversity’. The farming community has an essential role to play in the achievement of these objectives. Farmers are at the forefront of the consequences of climate change and biodiversity loss while unsustainable agricultural practices remain a major driver of biodiversity loss. Organic farmers are the pioneers of the sustainable agriculture of the future.

The COVID-19 pandemic has meanwhile produced an unprecedented challenge for the EU. It is having a far-reaching impact on the economy, people’s health and food systems. The EU’s response comprises a recovery plan supported by the ‘Next Generation EU’ instrument and the new multiannual financial framework. ‘Next Generation EU’ funds could be used to support investments in the organic sector, provided that they meet the relevant conditions and objectives. Europe’s recovery from the COVID-19 crisis provides an early opportunity to make the Green Deal a reality, by providing a broad platform for sustainable production and consumption patterns, including in the field of agriculture and aquaculture. Organic farming plays a central role in the achievement of Europe’s recovery, which should be green and digital, through bolstering rural incomes. It generally involves shorter supply chains and provides opportunities for small farmers, enhanced by the new provisions introduced in Regulation 2018/848 on organic production. This regulation aims to modernise the sector and harmonise the rules, providing a stable regulatory framework.